Reread of a childhood favourite!

This is such an exciting experience. Going back to a book that was once a beloved part of my childhood brings back a flood of memories.

I have just completed a full review of this childhood classic, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/4gQOi2i2UYk.

In the review, I not only discuss the story, characters, and themes of the book, but also share my personal reflections and how it has evolved in my perception over the years.

And as an added bonus, I also included my review of the new film adaptation of the same story.

It's interesting to see how the filmmakers have interpreted the book and brought it to life on the big screen.

Overall, this reread and the associated reviews have been a wonderful journey down memory lane and a great opportunity to explore the enduring魅力 of this childhood favourite.

I received my copy of this book as a Christmas present from a teacher and friend. Little did I know that it would become one of my favorite books and introduce me to one of my favorite authors.

My mother had instilled in me a love for stories that presented the other side of the tale. She taught me that things aren't always black and white, and perhaps there's a good reason for the "villain" to act the way she does. Growing up, I was exposed to works like Fractured Fairy Tales from Rocky and Bullwinkle and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.

Wicked does an outstanding job of creating a backstory, motive, and reason for misunderstanding and mistrust. It takes the Wicked Witch of the West from being a two-dimensional villain in a children's book and transforms her into a person you can understand and maybe even sympathize with. The book adds layers of politics to the magical land of Oz and turns Glinda from a fluffy, happy ball of pink cotton candy with magical powers into someone who plays a role in the political game to balance things out. It remembers parts of the original book that the movie left out, introduces us to characters we would have missed if we'd only seen the movie, and teases the parts of the movie that made us wince (like Glinda's pink dress).

In addition to being a book I adore, it also inspired a Broadway show with an amazing soundtrack that frequently rotates in my music playlist. ^_^

I have always loved the classic movie "Wizard of Oz". So, when I came across this book, I was certain that I would thoroughly enjoy it. How wrong I was!

From the very first page, I found myself hating every single second of it. The story seemed to make no sense at all to me.

The plot was convoluted and disjointed, jumping from one random event to another without any clear direction or purpose. The characters were also rather unappealing and lacked any depth or development.

I tried my best to get into the book, but it was just a struggle from start to finish. I was extremely disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone.

It's a real shame that it didn't live up to my expectations, especially considering how much I loved the movie.

3.5 stars -

At first glance, this thing seemed a bit strange. It didn't quite match up with what I had initially envisioned it to be. There was an element of unexpectedness that threw me off at the beginning. However, as I delved deeper into it, I found that it had its own charm.

Despite not being what I had hoped for, it managed to keep me entertained. There were moments that made me smile and others that held my attention. It wasn't a perfect experience by any means, but it did have its redeeming qualities.

Maybe it was the unique approach it took or the different perspective it offered. Whatever the reason, it was enough to make me glad that I gave it a chance. Overall, while it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, it was still an entertaining enough experience to warrant a 3.5-star rating.

It would be an overstatement to say that the book moved nowhere quickly. In fact, it was a slow and agonizing journey.

I had heard wonderful things about the musical and thus thought the book would be somewhat great. But no. The first issue is that it's difficult to get accustomed to the language. A plethora of completely new words emerge, and you get used to reading them repeatedly, thinking you'll eventually figure out what this new vocabulary means, but you won't. The passage of time between the chapters is very strange. Sometimes a new chapter indicates that it's 5 years later, and sometimes it means it's the exact same time as the last chapter, just in a different region with different characters. Sometimes it's a flashback. This makes it extremely hard to keep track of everything.

I will admit that it has some interesting parts. The most prominent in my mind are the sexual elements. It makes you feel "fantasy-special" to read a book that makes you think in terms of the politics of Munchkinland (and surrounding regions) and to empathize with the "wicked witch" who was the neglected sister of a spoiled, red-slippered, armless, political leader. However, this book could have been just 4 pages long and covered all the enjoyable parts. I noticed that I was tempted to cut out a piece of my flesh to reflect my inner pain each time I decided to continue to the next chapter. I probably should have, as it would have saved me a great deal of time. The payoff that you assume must be at the end of the book never materializes. Maybe in the sequel? I won't find out until I feel like punishing myself.

This was truly a fun book to read.

I had recently watched the film "Wicked" and was so enamored with it that it sparked my desire to read the book. I had owned the book for nearly 20 years and had made several attempts at reading it, but without success. At times, the vocabulary used is almost obscure, making the beginning sluggish and nearly indecipherable. However, after persevering for a while, one adjusts, and the story truly blossoms.

The book is hardly comparable to the film. The film is undeniably much better. But in all fairness, it is almost a completely different story.

It serves as a prequel of sorts to "The Wizard of Oz."

Overall, I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars. It has its challenges, but once overcome, it offers an interesting and engaging story.

This book has become increasingly popular, mostly due to the success of the musical by the same name.

However, the truth is that it's not very good. There are many interesting and intriguing plotlines in the book. You wait for them to be clarified and expanded upon, but many never are.

Many fantastic characters are introduced and are hinted at playing an important role later in the book, but that doesn't happen. The book doesn't even really give you the background you want on the witch.

It is made clear from the beginning that she has an aversion to water, but you never find out why. There are some vague mentions of some connection to the ocean, but it is never followed through. You never even get a really good explanation as to why she is green! That part of the story is very quick and pretty uninteresting.

The book is full of cool little interesting things that you swear will play a part, but they don't. I really wish someone would take this book and expand it to its true potential. The idea for the story is so cool, but the ideas are just so unorganized that it was truly a let down.

My advice is to borrow the book and see the musical. It is completely different from the book, but the story is much more thought out. The most disappointing part of the book for me was the ending. It was just awful and very lame. It's like the author gave up and just let her melt. There was no explanation and no insight into the witch.

Now, I'm being pretty harsh. I should say that I loved the beginning of this book, the first half even. But, well, the last half was what a letdown.

If historical-fiction is indeed a "thing", then Maguire has most definitely and firmly established "alternate-fiction" as a legitimate and worthy genre. This he has accomplished through his incredibly detailed and rich backstory of L. Frank Baum's villainous witch.

As I delved into his work, I was left with a profound reminder that evil is often not an absolute but rather a matter of perception. What one may view as evil, another might see from a different angle.

Moreover, revisiting childhood literature with an adult perspective can be an absolute delight and a source of great fun. It allows us to see the familiar stories in a whole new light, uncovering hidden depths and meanings that we might have missed as children.

Maguire's exploration of the witch's backstory in "alternate-fiction" not only enriches our understanding of the original work but also offers a fresh and engaging take on a beloved character. It shows the power of imagination and the ability to reimagine and reinterpret the stories that have shaped our childhoods.

Overall, Maguire's contribution to the world of literature through the establishment of "alternate-fiction" and his unique approach to childhood literature is truly remarkable and值得celebrating.

I didn't watch the musical, so my only comparison is the original Baum (and only the first one because I didn't read the others). While the original is simple, direct and, why not, magical; Wicked is a huge, complex, rich and adult version. Gregory Maguire gave a life and a personality to the story. The tone is darker, the clashes more political, the questions more philosophical. I was impressed with the richness of each people, from their physical constitution to their customs and religion. Ah! And Elfaba! The Wicked Witch of the West. What a character!! In this book, we see from her birth until her encounter with Dorothy. And even though I already knew what her end would be, I was devastated, rooting for her! I'm in love!!

The expansion of this story by Gregory Maguire is truly remarkable. He has taken the well-known tale and transformed it into something entirely new and captivating. The detailed descriptions of the different peoples and their cultures add depth and authenticity to the world he has created. Elfaba's character is particularly well-developed, with her struggles and triumphs making her a truly sympathetic and engaging protagonist. Overall, Wicked is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story and is looking for something a little different.

I discovered Wicked long before I had strayed from my youthful literary preferences. Back then, I found it a struggle to read anything other than Stephen King. I was drawn to Maguire because his writing style bore a resemblance to King's (and there were certain elements that would later become part of my own style as well). He employed hefty diction and crafted tall, seemingly precarious syntax that would soar upwards and then trickle down, creating a splash. I was able to embrace his beautiful style, and as a result, I persevered with Wicked. It is a brave and progressive reimagining of a well-known legend that focuses on disabled women. As a disabled reader, I deeply identified with the main character, who was constantly judged for her appearance and expected to behave in specific ways solely based on that. I believe this book is not only well-written but also addresses crucial issues. It is worthy of being read and discussed by any readers, but especially by young readers and those grappling with image issues due to disability or mental illness.

Update 2024 - I am definitely overdue for a reread of this!

Alas, I initially thought I would be getting rid of this book to make room for others. But no! My wife took it, read it, and absolutely loved it, so she kept it. I really can't recommend any book more highly than I do this one! It's the perfect choice to take to the beach.

I'll admit that I have no idea how someone who has no knowledge of The Wizard of Oz story would react to this book. However, in my opinion, this is a great read, far superior to the follow-up books the author wrote. Everyone is familiar with the story of The Wizard of Oz, and Maguire had a brilliant idea of writing the life story of a rather minor, yet important, character in that tale. Not only that, but he transformed her from an utterly frightening, "bad" character in the original story into someone we can sympathize with and care about deeply (at least I did). This was one of my very favorite books during the few years around the time I read it.

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This book was just okay.

On one hand, I really enjoyed delving into the back story of Elphaba. It was fascinating to learn about her early life, her struggles, and the events that shaped her into the character we know.

However, on the other hand, the book did have its dull moments. There were certain sections where the plot seemed to drag, and I found myself losing interest.

Overall, while the back story of Elphaba was engaging, the book as a whole could have been more exciting and less tedious at times. It had its moments of brilliance, but also its lulls.

I would recommend this book to those who are interested in the character of Elphaba and her story, but be prepared for some slower parts along the way.