Unrest for the Wicked

[spectralbovine]

Since the musical is coming to San Francisco, I thought it was a good time to finally read Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. As everyone knows, it's the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and the book assumes familiarity with the basic story of The [Wonderful] Wizard of Oz, if not all the details. I've never read the book, but I want to now to see

Comments

[gymble]

I think Wicked is a book I admired more than I enjoyed.
Yes, this exactly (along with everyone else, I think). The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite childhood books, and while I could sort of appreciate what Maguire was trying to do, I didn't like the extremes with which he messed around with it. All the political commentary kind of fell flat for me, and the Dorothy section felt positively shoehorned in.

I'll agree with corbeau though - I really enjoyed Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I think that Maguire does better when he has the looser framework of a fairytale to work with. I haven't read anything else by him though, so maybe that book was a fluke.

Also, did I see correctly that you haven't read the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? ARGH. What is wrong with American youth? Movies are not books - even when the movie is wonderful in its own right. Which reminds me, I need to go harangue my husband about reading that book again.

I've been trying to see the musical for three years now, dammit, and keep not being able to get tickets. Drat.

[spectralbovine]

I didn't even see the movie until college. It was totally cracked-out. I do want to read the book now.

the Dorothy section felt positively shoehorned in.
Heh, yeah. I think that only works because you're expecting it as part of the story. Otherwise, it's a terrible narrative choice.

I've been trying to see the musical for three years now, dammit, and keep not being able to get tickets. Drat.
Come up here and see it with me!