Books - Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Dommie · 02-17-2004, 09:43 AM

I was at the bookstore yesterday trying to use a gift certificate and came upon this book. The sales clerk said it was even made into a Broadway play.

From the Back cover

When Dortothy trimuphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But waht about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregoy Maguire creates a fatansy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notitions about the nature of good and evil.

igloo155 · 02-17-2004, 03:57 PM

I just bought this book too a couple of days ago. I've been sort of running into the book all year in the bookstore, but now with it 20% off I couldn't pass it up. Has anyone read anything else by him?

Carrie99 · 02-20-2004, 03:11 PM

I haven't read this book, but it sounds really fun to read.

Dommie · 03-02-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carrie99:
<STRONG>I haven't read this book, but it sounds really fun to read.</STRONG>

i don't know...I tried to read the Lord of the Ring books but when the hobbits go on a rampage thinking, talking their talk....well i was lost and stopped reading. This book had this one character from Quadling Marsh talking to the parents of Elphaba. AND once again...i was totally thrown for a loop trying to figure out what exactly he is trying to say. The writer too has jumped just now from when Elphaba was two to her meeting Glinda(who is this huge big time snob and her roommate at a university). So the childhood trauma of growing up green with teeth from the day she was born. Well i guess that is up to us reader's to fill in? I hope not. i want those missing years to be filled in.

Stars_And_Sunsets · 03-03-2004, 05:35 AM

I've never heard of this book, but it sounds really interesting.

I might go looking for it. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

American Weasley · 03-03-2004, 10:36 AM

I have this book multiple times. It is very good as well as his other books. I also recommend if your ever in the NYC area to check out the Broadway play.

Dommie · 03-05-2004, 07:00 AM

i wonder how the play would be. I am loving the university years..and through this..we are finding out about Elphie's & Glinda's friendship. Glinda is changing and Elphie hasn't yet found her calling. The Witch of the East, Elphie's sister Nessa ...i can't even imagine that she would have been such an evil force. Right now the one everyone is worried and talking about is the Wizard of Oz. His reign of terror to the munchkinlander's and the Animals seems so tyrant.

~*Echo*~ · 03-05-2004, 06:23 PM

I just read this book a couple of months ago. It was pretty good, although I liked Elphie's university years the best as well. I probably won't read it again, but I liked it well enough that I might read more stuff by Gregory Maguire.

-Beth

I am Susie · 03-06-2004, 05:17 PM

I bought this book a few months ago. With school and what not I haven't really had a chance to get into it, but I am looking forward to a time when I do have enough time to read it. I have always loved the Wizard of Oz and had a particlar soft spot for the Wicked Witch, so I was super excited to find this book about her.

I can't wait to really have the time to give it the chance it deserves.

onedur · 03-09-2004, 12:02 PM

I just picked up this book on Saturday. I had seen it before, and always thought it looked interesting.

I've just got to make time to read it. Atleast Spring Break is here.

AdriaMichelle · 03-09-2004, 01:17 PM

Sounds like it would be a great book to read. Thanks for the information Dommie.

**onionroach** · 03-09-2004, 02:28 PM

I received this book and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister which is a take on the Cinderella story. Anyway, I love what he does with the books and I enjoy the story. I didn't care for his writing style which made it hard for me to stick with the books.

Dommie · 03-09-2004, 04:42 PM

Dorothy has killed NessaROSE who was the Wicked Witch of the EAST...i didn't expect the story to have gone that far into what was once OZ to me.

Didn't the writer seem - hmmm..what is is i am trying to say. He is forever leaving me wanting to know how exactly did Elphie decide to change so much. When you first read about Dorothy in the prologue...it is exactly how we remember the WWof the West...but right now....Nessa has died from the house falling on her. Elphie went to the memorial service...the wizard oh my gosh HE IS WICKED!! and i have perhaps another 100 pages to go....what will happen....

as if we all don't know already? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

I'm melting....melting(ecccchhhhoo)

**onionroach** · 03-12-2004, 03:41 PM

The thing that slowed Wicked down was all the politics he put in the book. It was interesting in a way. After reading the book, I can't watch Wizard of Oz the same way.

Dommie · 03-13-2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onionroach:
<STRONG>The thing that slowed Wicked down was all the politics he put in the book. It was interesting in a way. After reading the book, I can't watch Wizard of Oz the same way.</STRONG>

I was worried too that it would affect the way i have always felt about the Wizard of Oz. BUT really he didn't make me sympathize with Elphie as much as i expected. He did make me think about Glinda a tad bit more. BUT as you stated the politics he wrote about in the book...didn't justify or take away from the Original theme - "That there is no place like home". The Dwarf and the oracle - of the Dragon Clock still left you wondering why they were in the book...if only to move the mystical qualities around.