I knew I would never get to see the play and I liked the premise of the "wicked witch who was really just misunderstood," but this book never delivered on my expectations. It is wierd and made me feel like I wasn't following the story. It felt like the same characters were being reintroduced in many different (unrelated) story lines without feeling like any of the stories revealed their arc or reached a conclusion. I love science fiction and am not squemish about sexual content. I didn't like this book because it wasn't well told, not because the content offended me. Don't waste your money. I'm sorry I wasted mine. I would give it zero stars if I could.

Great, great book. But do not be deceived by the muscial, which if family friendly. this is a adult read.

My rating is more a reflection of the story than the audio/narration. I simply could not get into the story. Every time I came close to caring about the characters the scene would shift and pull away again. I never felt we were allowed to know Elphaba enough to have any feeling as to her plight. It seemed like the story was trying to cover too much. If it had focused on one part of Elphaba's life and really given the listener a link to the characters this would have been a much more enjoyable story.

This has to be the worst "sequel" I've listened to in my entire life. Seriously, a wicked witch who isn't really wicked, just misunderstood? Thanks, Gregory Maguire, for ruining one of American literature's greatest villains. I wasn't even impressed with the narration. I'm sure that the play is great if you get into all of that, but from a purely literary point of view, this book is awful. I'll stick with dramatized literature from now on.

A bit of history of the well known Oz.. but VERY little... subtly tied to Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion and Scarecrow and of course, the Emerald City and the Wizard. This book has a hint of the obscure land of Oz where different cultures co-exist, magic is an accepted talent, and the land is ruled by religious zealots, religious heresy, and fear. The awful green child grows to become a beautiful independent thinking, strong-willed young woman. The well-known beautiful Glenda, her ex-roommate during her college days at a University where 'animals' are both Professors and barnyard pets.

An interesting suggestion that the 'wicked witch' was not wicked at all and simply assumed the role that whispers thrust upon her during her quest to do the righteous thing confessing to her murdered lover's widow. A touch of sex, rebellion, mysticism and destiny. Not at all like the Broadway musical by the same name...a bit unnerving but a must finish ending.