Gregory Maguire

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked

the depths more this would have done had he had a lesbian editor

hannah overmyer

So interesting to read this after seeing the musical and the movie musical. This is intensely more gripping, nuanced, and fun. I have so many questions that are probably only answered by reading the rest of the series. This is a “Google discussion posts after reading” kinda book! 

Emma

If you can get past the idea that it will not be like the play it’s a good read. Themes of politics and impersonality of society rather than friendship. 

Melissa

sacred cunt

I love wicked but NOT this wicked. It was such a hard book to get through. I knew it was different from the musical/movie but I wish it was just a little bit similar. Tbh excited to be done with this one.

Lauren Dale

Not what I was expecting, a little odd, but glad I read it 

Emily Lucie

taylor

Such an enjoyable read! Now need to watch the film!!! 

ophelia ross 

I have no idea how they got the musical storyline from this book.

Jessica

so you're telling me that the yellow brick road was not invented by the beatles

nien

Sarah Sammis

Another waste of time. Either read the actual Oz books or A Barnstormer in Oz.

Ruby Emmeline Fisher

Babies first class conscious novel. Musical lwk outsold this but both still fire 

Have to say, the ending was a bit anticlimactic after everything. But I did enjoy it. This book has really mixed reviews - I think mainly from people who have seen "Wicked" on stage and are confused how different the book is - I've never seen the play so have nothing to compare it against, the Oz books aside. 

If you're not a fan of flowery, ridiculous, ever-so-slightly-cringy prose this isn't for you. However i've read a lot of Catherynne Valente so I eat that shit up. 

Liir seems very dull but I'm tempted to find out what happens to him...ah, sod it. I'm gonna read the sequel!

Laura Mauler

The familiar story is suddenly fresh when told from the Wicked Witch's perspective. Surprisingly for me this book brings up weighty issues, such as how far do the rights of animals extend; the questionable differences between religion and politics; and the nature of evil. This book makes me want to read the original "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" to see if any of these issues were present in the original tale.

Audrey Lord

very hard read. and once you get to the end it makes sense about what happens. jealousy and wanting to be loved

Ivy X

** spoiler alert **
           This book is not at all like the musical. I didn't hate it as much as some other people did but I didn't love it either. The story is very compelling in the beginning and I really enjoyed it. I found humor in it such as how Melena was sleeping around and how the author described it as "dragon-snaking." Like...wth? 
Also a lot of controversial issues were presented in this story that could almost be relatable to real life. It involved prejudice and manipulation and all sorts of things to hide the truth and it was very interesting. I actually really liked Dr. Dillamond and the fact that he wanted to preserve the rights for Animals of Oz was a huge factor in the beginning and it gives a glimpse of what Elphaba was passionate about and what she wasn't. The characters felt very human. I liked how Elphaba was not this wicked witch we remember her as in The Wizard of Oz and Galinda (later on Glinda) isn't the nice little sorceress only capable of good. Elphaba was passionate about a lot of things but growing up green definitely has its scars as she sees how much Nessarose is pampered compared to herself. She loves her sister but you can see the envy as well. Nessarose was just a little brat which is understandable considering she was raised as a princess almost. Boq didn't seem that obsessed with Galinda as the book went on and Galinda is a good person. But she's the kind of girl that is secretly smart but hides it away and just worries about small petty things because she feels that it is her role in society. But other than that, Galinda isn't the sweetest thing either. She is very judgmental and all that. I hated Madame Morrible in the beginning for many reasons. I was so sad when I found out that Fiyero wasn't the prince charming as portrayed in the musical but rather an affair-having man. I also was very confused with the book at times and slowly that confusion turned to boredom as I reached the middle of the book. Did Elphaba have a child? How did she have a child? Is something wrong with her private parts below her waist considering she was never allowed to be touched there when she had sex with Fiyero? And a lot of other things. It's interesting but also confusing and sometimes boring. It also felt kind of perverted at times. For example: Melena was sleeping around even after having Elphaba, there was this philosophy club thing in the book that only was explained for that short section but it seemed like a sex club, and etc. 
I don't know how to feel about this book but I did enjoy reading it in the beginning. But the interest it definitely faded as confusion took over by the middle.

tina

It took me two whole weeks to finish this book. It was either because of my reading slump, or I just wasn't interested at all with the story. The problem with my reading Wicked was I had high expectations. I love fairytale retellings most especially if it's about the villain's past. I was expecting something like Marissa Meyer's TLC novella, Fairest. In that story, I pitied and loathed Levana (evil queen). I was so angry at her by the end of the book. Fairest didn't shy away from the evil that was supposed to be there. Everything that was happening just made me feel so much emotion and feeling. In Wicked, I never felt sorry nor angry at Elphaba. I read it without feeling any kinds of emotion at all towards the characters, minor or major. For me, being attached to the characters of the story is very important. If these characters don't make you love 'em, then you'll just go through the story numbly. 

This could've been better.

Sian Wadey

I read the book when I knew I was going to see the West End show, however, it's fair to say I was disappointed. It was so wrapped up in the politics of Oz, and other underlying characters that weren't really significant that I lost interested. I made myself a vow that I will always finish a book, because the author has obviously put a lot of work in to it, but I really struggled with this one. The main character of Elphaba I found hard to sympathise with as well, in fact most of the characters were unlikeable.

die Hexen von Oz ; die wahre Geschichte der bösen Hexe des Westens : [Roman]

Sonja H

Ich hab wirklich versucht, in dieses Buch reinzukommen, aber selbst als ich mich über die Hälfte hinausgekämpft habe, konnte ich der Geschichte nichts abgewinnen. So zäh, so passiv, so langweilig.

Brigid prior 

This is really a 4.5 star rating... The book was engrossing and well-written and clever and I loved it!

Melanie Richards

The author takes on too much (attempts to make parallels to historical events) and fails in every regard. At each point in Elphaba's life, the author builds and builds action and just lets the tension go without resolution, jumping instead ten years into the future. A major disappointment. Could have been a great book if Maguire had finished any of the stories he began telling.

Robin M Cabana

I originally read this book several years ago. I finished it the night before I went to see the Broadway musical which is so very different. And after years of listening to the soundtrack, I had forgotten how dark this story is. I listened to the audiobook version this time, and it was easier to get through. I found the book boring at time, but the narrator made it more interesting. But it's still a nice spin on the classic story and an interesting exploration of history through the eyes of the underdog.

Sarah Vaughan

I wouldn't say this book kept me enthralled until the very end, but that's also probably in part because I am not as familiar with The Wizard of Oz as many readers may be. I will say that one doesn't have to have seen the movie to be able to follow the narrative, but it does make things more interesting. I enjoyed the twists towards the end, but I can't say I was absolutely impressed by this book. I would have given it three stars, but the writing itself was beautiful. I do plan on reading the sequels in the series now as I'm curious to find out where the author takes the story from here.

Iris vd S

2,5 🌟 for the love of the unnamed god just watch the musical

Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Reviews

Highlights