 2009-01-08 - Disappointing
I so very much wanted to like this book...and I kept trying all the way through it. I came into it with no particular expectations; I'm not one of those who expected a re-telling of the Wizard of Oz nor am I in love with the OZ books (although I have read several of them). Even though Wicked is a "literary" work, it was readable and it wasn't difficult to follow the plot. But somehow it just didn't work. We get to see sections of the life of the titular character but each section seemed to be describing a different individual. Her very personality and even the way she reacted to other people changed in fundamental ways.
And it was boring. Just when I started to care about the characters, we'd jump a few years into the next section of her life and I more or less had to start all over again. The result was a perpetual feeling of "let's get on with it." When I start to daydream about books I've read in the past or would like to read next, I know I'm in trouble. But I stuck with it and it never got better. The book smacks of wanting to be a literary work of art but the author pads the plot with conflicting characterization. And I never felt the texture of the environment or story backdrops like I hope for when reading literary works. Great potential subject; flat execution.
 2009-01-04 - this book needed years more of work
Having just finished Wicked, I find consolation in the 1-star reviews. The author, with all his noble intentions, fails - like the poor Elphaba -in all of them. So much promise, and such an annoying and depressing result.
 2008-12-31 - wicked: the life and times...
If I could, I would probably give this book 3 and 1/2 stars, because I did like it. Maguire takes so much time and detail to create the land, and what we're seeing the characters doing. The structure and symbolism of the story is great too, and I'm sure if I read it over I could pick out even more layers in the plot.
However, I had disagreements with a few things. First, was that the characters seemed a little flat--I didn't get a glimpse into their minds very often, and it was as if I was only being told what they were thinking instead of being shown so it could be more believable. I especially would have liked to get inside Elphaba's own thoughts more, rather than being told what she was planning.
There was also a lot of year skippping, which wasn't so bad, but the use of that may have taken away from the story. And I can handle just about 'x-rated' scenes when they are relevant, but frankly, the bizarre one here seemed out of place and I only found myself disgusted by it. But that's just me.
Overall I would say this story is entertaining and thought provoking, and worth reading aside from those complaints. I knew the book would be very different from the musical beforehand, so be aware of that also.
2008-12-30 - Overly Dirty
After seeing the amazing stage production of the same name, we bought this book and were excited to read more about it. We were shocked by the opening chapters to be reading such filth! Why were such dirty details necessary--the musical didn't need them in order to be successful! We kept reading for a bit to see if it cleaned up to get on with the story, but unfortunately it did not. It was sad to have to put it away, unfinished.
 2008-12-29 - very good read
This was my first book that I purchased on my kindle. This was for sure a great first choice. I can't wait to read "Son of a Witch", the sequel to "Wicked".
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