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A review by dwdillydally
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (1995)
#fantasybook #moviewasbetter #dwreads25
First book finished in the new year! I've been in a strea of rereading books, and this is continuing it.
Wicked is such a soap opera! I like this book, but I don't love it. In fact, this is a rare case of 'the movie was better.' I am impressed that Maguire found room to expand Oz lore in an already stuffed universe... Oziverse? But the author tends to 'tell' rather than 'show.' More description than action. Not sure if he does that in all his books, tho. If Maguire is your jam, there are plenty to choose from. Also, his use of the third-person narrative just doesn't connect for me, but I'm not entirely sure why. Because I desperately want this story to be told first hand by "the Witch?"
Back to #moviewasbetter While I'm not a hardcore Wicked musical fan, the stage and movie adaptations are improvements to this story! Thanks to their fun tone (which closer to the original Oz stories) and their spotlight on friendship. But if you're looking for a serious epic with much higher stakes, try Maguire"s books.
Unless there is a novelization for young folks, don't let your kids read this story. Too much sex, danger, and violence. (Peek at the list of cotent warnings! 👀) If your kids or tweens are interested after seeing the movie, offer them the original books by L. Frank Baum.
Audiobook note: the male narrator has a slow, folksy drawl. I normally listen at x1.2 speed, but for this, I shifted up to x1.4.
Memorable quote: "The real thing about evil," said the Witch at the doorway,[...] It's like the old saw: What does a dragon in its shell look like? Well, no one can ever tell, for as soon as you break the shell to see, the dragon is no longer in its shell. The real disaster of this inquiry is that it is the nature of evil to be secret."
#fantasybook #moviewasbetter #dwreads25
First book finished in the new year! I've been in a strea of rereading books, and this is continuing it.
Wicked is such a soap opera! I like this book, but I don't love it. In fact, this is a rare case of 'the movie was better.' I am impressed that Maguire found room to expand Oz lore in an already stuffed universe... Oziverse? But the author tends to 'tell' rather than 'show.' More description than action. Not sure if he does that in all his books, tho. If Maguire is your jam, there are plenty to choose from. Also, his use of the third-person narrative just doesn't connect for me, but I'm not entirely sure why. Because I desperately want this story to be told first hand by "the Witch?"
Back to #moviewasbetter While I'm not a hardcore Wicked musical fan, the stage and movie adaptations are improvements to this story! Thanks to their fun tone (which closer to the original Oz stories) and their spotlight on friendship. But if you're looking for a serious epic with much higher stakes, try Maguire"s books.
Unless there is a novelization for young folks, don't let your kids read this story. Too much sex, danger, and violence. (Peek at the list of cotent warnings! 👀) If your kids or tweens are interested after seeing the movie, offer them the original books by L. Frank Baum.
Audiobook note: the male narrator has a slow, folksy drawl. I normally listen at x1.2 speed, but for this, I shifted up to x1.4.
Memorable quote: "The real thing about evil," said the Witch at the doorway,[...] It's like the old saw: What does a dragon in its shell look like? Well, no one can ever tell, for as soon as you break the shell to see, the dragon is no longer in its shell. The real disaster of this inquiry is that it is the nature of evil to be secret."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy