Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.
Oz is a land gone crazy. A political coup has taken the beloved faerie queen from the throne, replaced by the Wizard and his genocidal policies, enforced by his secret police. A world of intelligent Animals are victimised and their rights removed. Religious fanaticism sweeps the land as rival forms vie for supremacy of the hearts and minds of the people.
Born into this world is Elphaba, daughter of a conservative minister and his unravelling socialite wife. Cursed with green skin and a severe allergy to water, her intellect leads Elphaba to shun all religion and study life sciences. The murder of her mentor pushes her to appeal to the Wizard for change.
This book cuts to the heart, playing out as the tragic smothering of a bright mind by injustice and fundamentalism, and the rise of violent activism as the only voice of the downtrodden.
Flash Review: Wicked
A mini review for the Flash Fiction group challenge here.
Wicked was a book I hadn’t come across prior to RB, and I enjoyed the read and the alternate view of Elphaba, despite its tragedy.
Alison Pearce, 2 months ago
Great review Damian!
Damian in reply to Alison Pearce’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks Alison!
deliriousgirl, 2 months ago
Fantastic!
darkestartist, 2 months ago
very nice, succinct and a great read, just like the book :) This is my favorite McGuire book so far, and there were two i actually didn’t care for, but Elphaba is a compelling and amazing character.
jcmontgomery, 2 months ago
Oh dear, more books to add to my To Be Read pile…uh stack. LOL
Thanks for this Damian, seriously. Between what you have said here, and darkesartist, I don’t see how I can not go check these out.
Damian in reply to deliriousgirl’s comment, 2 months ago
Cheers Jen!
Damian in reply to darkestartist’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks darkestartist :)
I admit I started to become frustrated with the end as she could have hit back, and I wanted her to hit back, and everything was falling apart. So very unfair.
Damian in reply to jcmontgomery’s comment, 2 months ago
LOL, well, we’re even then, as you’ve added a few to mine as well!
Wicked is certainly worth a read.
I’ve seen negative reviews, but they seem to centre around the idea that they wanted it to be a kids story, when it just isn’t.
darkestartist, 2 months ago
very true, Damian, I think all of us wanted her to hit back. I was frustrated at the end, but after about a week I thought, hm, i think he WANTS me to be frustrated to realize just how unjust it was the way she was treated. but then, maybe i read too much into it (not to make a terrible pun LOL)
F.M. Gore-Kelly, 2 months ago
I’ve had this book for quite awhile… It’s inspiring….
Damian in reply to darkestartist’s comment, 2 months ago
LOL, I know, and I did the same thing. The book is really trying to push buttons, and did for me.
Damian in reply to F.M. Gore-Kelly’s comment, 2 months ago
I agree, and I’m glad that I heard of it to hunt it off Amazon (as I’ve never seen it in a shop where I am)
F.M. Gore-Kelly, 2 months ago
They released a special Green Edged edition for the opening of the musical in Melbourne. I was just lucky enough to win another copy off of WICKED website…
Miri, 2 months ago
this looks like a great book, yes must add to my list too! nice review, enough said to leave one wondering & want to read the book
Damian in reply to F.M. Gore-Kelly’s comment, 2 months ago
Cool, well done on scoring a the extra copy of the book :)
Damian in reply to Miri’s comment, 2 months ago
Haha, thanks Bex! I carefully stayed away from the full reveal (even though we know how things sort of line up) as the last third of the book diverged from where I thought it would go.
F.M. Gore-Kelly, 2 months ago
Have you signed up on the Musical Website? They give stuff away each month…
Damian in reply to F.M. Gore-Kelly’s comment, 2 months ago
Oh, I didn’t know! I hadn’t bothered since I don’t live anywhere near the musical show circuit, but will check it out now :)
Zolton, 2 months ago
I was wondering what the plot of this was. Thanks!
Damian in reply to Zolton’s comment, 2 months ago
That’s cool :)
I’ve tried to be careful with what I’ve said, and I’ve avoided the last third of the book cos I thought there’d be many who hadn’t read it yet :)
F.M. Gore-Kelly, 2 months ago
the plot… Pretty much anyone Elphaba forms a emotional attachment to suffers, greatly
Damian in reply to F.M. Gore-Kelly’s comment, 2 months ago
Haha, nicely done! That’s even better than 150 words, LOL!
F.M. Gore-Kelly, 2 months ago
Well… Haiku’s are more my forte.
Can only put so many words into them.