Wicked tells what happened in Oz before Dorothy got there - the story of Glinda, who becomes known as the good witch and Elphaba, who becomes known as the wicked witch of the west. See, Elphaba wasn't born wicked and what she ended up as explores the concepts of good and evil. Was she wicked? Or was she misunderstood? Can her actions be explained and justified?
I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the world that Maguire created. The politics of and differences between the many regions of Oz were all so real and so believable - fueled by the same emotions that politics in our world are led by.
The characters were all so well-defined and, again, so real. I could feel what Elpie felt at her college, I could understand that she wanted to do something about the injustice.
It was so much more than a fairy tale and I didn't expect it to be.
I loved it and want to re-read it and also read everything else Maguire has written. I love being transported into a different world like that.
Definitely high on my favorites list for 2011.
6 comments:
It's a brilliant book, isn't it? So thoughtful and layered. I keep hearing the sequels are not as good, but I still want to read them.
Nymeth - yes, layered is exactly the right word. I just looked the sequels up and they're judged pretty harshly. But I want to read them too, can't resist finding out what happens to Liir!
I was so sure this would be an easy sugar-coated thing - I guess kind of the way I looked at The Wizard of Oz, and my only attraction to the story was for the musical.
But now you convinced me to get a try at the book!
For whatever reason I am not a huge fan of this book... I should reread it...
SO glad you enjoyed it! Especially with the big differences between the musical and the book. Musical was really tamed down a lot, I think.
I haven't read any of the sequels but maybe one day. Like Ana I heard they weren't as good. :(
the musical was what inspired my reading the book too. nice review!
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