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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
dark
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Having had to listen to the musical numbers from the play for the past 2 months, I was surprised at how much darker the book was. I don't think I would even recommend it to teens, given the graphic sexual scenes, sadistic behavior, and overall disagreeability of most everyone in Oz. Definitely a grown up book, and a dark one. Still, a gripping read.
I really wanted to like this book!!
I just didn't expect so much unnecessary politics. I also thought Elphaba fell flat. She was so anti climactic. She just starts calling herself a witch at the end - with not much context. The same with Nessarose. I don't see why they called her the Wicked Witch of the East. The same went for Glinda, the Munchkinlanders called her a witch once, and it stuck. I also think Elphaba could have done so much more for the Animals, but she didn't. She wasn't wicked. Maybe a little mean, or stoic, but not wicked.
In the last chapter, the book almost redeemed itself because Dorothy comes into the story, and the plot finally takes off, but too quickly it then comes to a doldrum pace with Elphaba's conversations with Nanny and the Wizard.
The story of the flying monkeys also was a letdown, and the army at Kiamo Ko was never under her power.
I guess I wanted a larger-than-life villain that I could cheer for. She had great causes, but did nothing with her ideals.
I so wanted to read the whole series, but I think I won't.
I just didn't expect so much unnecessary politics. I also thought Elphaba fell flat. She was so anti climactic. She just starts calling herself a witch at the end - with not much context. The same with Nessarose. I don't see why they called her the Wicked Witch of the East. The same went for Glinda, the Munchkinlanders called her a witch once, and it stuck. I also think Elphaba could have done so much more for the Animals, but she didn't. She wasn't wicked. Maybe a little mean, or stoic, but not wicked.
In the last chapter, the book almost redeemed itself because Dorothy comes into the story, and the plot finally takes off, but too quickly it then comes to a doldrum pace with Elphaba's conversations with Nanny and the Wizard.
The story of the flying monkeys also was a letdown, and the army at Kiamo Ko was never under her power.
I guess I wanted a larger-than-life villain that I could cheer for. She had great causes, but did nothing with her ideals.
I so wanted to read the whole series, but I think I won't.
Boring. Not good writing. Misogynistic.
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is no better description of tyranny's salient insanity than Maguire's "Wicked." Using animals and Animals to discuss systemic oppression, repression, and depression was ingenious, and allows me (and hopefully others) to see the problem objectively. We need a dash of Elphaba, a dash of Glinda, and some may argue, even a dash of Nessarose to be fully competent, capable, cordial, and compassionate citizens: all resistant to "Evil," but not afraid of it or unfamiliar with it. We need a dash of all three to battle the wars waged on intellect and critical thinking; all three Crage Hall roomies should live within me, and from their discussions, I hope to make myself a better person. I hope others enjoy this beautiful saga of triumph and disaster as much as I did, especially those of us who are disabled. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death