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amanda_mh 's review for:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A highly political and fantastical fantasy book. There is a lot going on in this story we start from when Elphaba is born all the way to when she becomes the Wicked Witch of the West we know.
Throughout the story he uses the characters of Elphaba, Galinda/Glinda, Nessarose and more to discuss the concept of what it means to be evil, and what it means to be good … and is someone really truly evil or good. It made me think lots and I really enjoyed it, it’s interesting definitely strange …but I like strange.
It’s pretty amazing that Gregory Maguire looked at the original story of the Wizard of Oz and built an entire world and backstory for Glinda and Elphaba. I already love the musical Wicked and Elphaba as a character but this gave me even more of an understanding and appreciation for who and why Elphaba is who she is. I don’t know if I’ll read his other books in the series, but I do want to read his other books about the different villainous characters in fairytales.
Throughout the story he uses the characters of Elphaba, Galinda/Glinda, Nessarose and more to discuss the concept of what it means to be evil, and what it means to be good … and is someone really truly evil or good. It made me think lots and I really enjoyed it, it’s interesting definitely strange …but I like strange.
It’s pretty amazing that Gregory Maguire looked at the original story of the Wizard of Oz and built an entire world and backstory for Glinda and Elphaba. I already love the musical Wicked and Elphaba as a character but this gave me even more of an understanding and appreciation for who and why Elphaba is who she is. I don’t know if I’ll read his other books in the series, but I do want to read his other books about the different villainous characters in fairytales.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment