An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Gregory Maguire just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature.
Wicked
If you've seen and loved the musical, be warned the novel is very different. Brilliantly written the novel is the story behind the musical but much much darker. The book is excellent and takes the magical world of the Wizard of Oz and manages to modernize it. Wicked takes the the antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West and fills in her back story, from infancy to adulthood. It leads to questions such as what is so really wonderful about a lying, manipulative wizard and why the citizens of Oz can't make up their minds about who they love and who they fear. An excellent read for those who loved the original tale or the new musical. Not recommended for younger readers.- Reviewed by 08vs
QBD, 27/08/2014
