I was quite disappointed by this book, to be honest. I knew and had expected it to be different to the musical, but I hadn’t expected it to be quite *this* different. A shame really because it seems such a good idea!

This follows the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her life (as the title suggests). It’s more of an autobiography, showing her parents and their life before she was born, then later on as she grew up and went to Shiz University, where she finally manages to fit in and make friends despite her green skin. She and Glinda run off to the Emerald City to try and speak to the Wizard about the crisis with the Animals (animals that have the power of speech and understanding), but fails; Glinda goes back to Shiz, while Elphie goes into hiding, helping an Animal Rights group. While there, she bumps into an old friend (Fiyero), and they have an affair. When he dies, she goes back to his tribe to apologise to his widow and children and explain what happened and seek forgiveness. She lives there for most of her life, while conducting experiments into Animals and animals, and what separates them, while her younger sister Nessarose becomes the ‘Wicked Witch of the East’ and is killed by Dorothy’s house.

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I’d read it before seeing the musical. However, it was quite confusing, and a lot more ‘adult’ than I had expected, and the author does seem to ramble a lot. It just felt dull, to be honest. I wanted to like it so much, and I could’ve excused it for not being anything at all like the musical if it hadn’t been quite so slowly paced. The last chapter was my favourite, when everything seemed to come together. ( )

OK, I thought this book looked interesting. We don't know much about the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. This book is supposed to show us her life and why she was the way she was in the movie. It starts very early in her life and while I found it to be a good book-not 5 star material. I kind of wish that I had just left it alone and stuck with the Wizard of Oz's version. I will say that this is the best book of any that this man has written. I was was pretty much disgusted with Son of a Witch. But that is another review. I would recommend this book. But it takes a certain kind of reader to enjoy this book. I do like that he made the Wicked Witch more of a person to me and I enjoyed learning his interpretation of her life and circumstances. It was a quick read for me and I did enjoy it. ( )

This is an awesome book. Very interesting twist, a story about the Wicked Witch from West. From her birth to her first encounter with Dorothy, my eyes were glued to the pages. The not-so-happy fairytale like world she lives in, with animals that talk and roommates that are wonderfully sweet (Glinda, the good witch), is full of emotion. The text is at a higher level reading and expanded my vocabulary. ( )

I came away from reading "Wicked" by Gregory Maquire with mixed feelings. I've always loved the story of the Wizard of Oz, and from that perspective it was a TON of fun to read some new "back story" to what was happening when Dorothy came to Oz! I really enjoyed the character development and how he explored the character of the Wicked Witch of the West.

I was a little disappointed by some of the things that Maquire chose to include. I think some of the sexual scenes he threw in were unnecessary and that his book would be appropriate for a much wider audience if he hadn't included them. Some of them did fit, but some of it just seemed like extra fluff to help the book sell.

One thing I found fascinating about this book was all the psychological elements he put into the story. There is a lot of discussion about the nature of good and evil, and what leads a person to either. The characters are complicated and interesting. The journey he takes the Witch on, as she becomes the "monster" we know her as, is full of interesting turns and twists!

Over all, I did like the book, but I wouldn't recommend it to a young reader. I'm wondering what the next book, "Son of a Witch" holds, and I would love to see the musical some day! I've heard some of the music and loved it. ( )

An alternate history of the "wicked" "witch" of the west. Gives backstory and explains how she might come to behave the way she does in the original Oz tale.

Upon second reading of this book, I find it more dense and adult-themed than I had remembered. I still enjoyed the story, but not as much. The political and philosophical meanderings seemed to draw the reader away from the story and not further into it. This may be because I am ten or twelve years older and understand better things that went over my head before. I only finished it a second time because I've been meaning to read Son of a Witch for a while now, and when I started it, I couldn't remember enough about this book to know what was going on in that one. I guess I'll go read it now.

Edit: One thing that hit me the first time, and still resonates: "People who claim that they're evil are usually no worse than the rest of us...It's people who claim that they're good, or anyway better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of." -pp. 357 ( )