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Wicked (Unabridged): Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Average rating: 3/5

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Wicked (Unabridged): Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

by Gregory Maguire

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS | July 17, 2003 | Audio Book (Cassette)

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what 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?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy 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 notions about the nature of good and evil.

Performed by John McDonough.

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This item is found in: Fiction and Literature

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Reviews

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    Rating: 1/5

    Not good

    Samantha

    2 years ago

    I read this book before it became a play, mostly because of all the hype around it. It was awful. The plot dragged, the author barely went into the issues (political oppression, racism, etc.) that Oz was supposed to have, and the unnecessary and vulgar sexual references distracted and ruined the story (eg: mountain passes likened to a very vivid description of a woman).

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 2/5

    High Expectations Ruined it

    Lindsay

    2 years ago

    I think the book's downfall came from the fact that I saw the Broadway play first (which was absolutely magical)...this story is only remotely similar to the play that was based upon it. I found the book to be much darker, much slower, much more convoluted and slightly boring

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    This is my second book by Maguire, and I have to say it was a wonderful, exciting and yet exploring story. By inventing a 'back story' for the infamous Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz, Maguire tells an epic tale of a bizarre and fantastical land and a woman who struggles to find her place in it. Elphaba (a homage to L. Frank Baum) is born with green skin -- marked as different in a land where Animals can speak and magic is taught in schools. As she struggles to both fit in and stand out, Elphie (as she is known to her friends) struggles with questions of religion, with politics and with loyalties to friends and family. Obviously we know how the story ends... but its the getting there that is so fantastic. And the ending is, somehow, a wee bit different now. Not quite so black and white...

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?
    John Watson

    Rating: 5/5

    Wicked is...well, wicked!

    John Watson

    13 years ago

    I apologize if I am gushing over this tome, but it truly is a memorable read.

    This spin-off adult novel, combining elements from the original "Wizard of Oz" children's series by Frank Baum and the classic MGM movie musical pays homage to Elphaba, the infamous Wicked Witch of the West.

    From the earliest moments of a little green child, to her university days as roommate to Glinda (the Good Witch), to her eventual confrontation with Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the West is portrayed as a strong woman, full of heart and compassion...and even, dare I say it...a soul.

    You'll never be able to look at the Witch in the same light again.

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From the Publisher

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what 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?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy 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 notions about the nature of good and evil.

Performed by John McDonough.

About the Author

Gregory Maguire is the bestselling author of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror, and the Wicked Years, a series that includes Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. Wicked, now a beloved classic, is the basis for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. Maguire has lectured on art, literature, and culture both at home and abroad. He lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Audio Book (Cassette)

July 17, 2003

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

English


0060573767
9780060573768

From the Critics

“A staggering feat of wordcraft…would that all books with this much innate commercial appeal were this good.” (Los Angeles Times)

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