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  • Wicked

  • The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
  • By: Gregory Maguire
  • Narrated by: John McDonough
  • Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (9,801 ratings)

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Wicked

By: Gregory Maguire
Narrated by: John McDonough
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Publisher's summary

Heralded as an instant classic of fantasy literature, Maguire has written a wonderfully imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch's point of view. More than just a fairy tale for adults, Wicked is a meditation on the nature of good and evil.

Elphaba is born with green skin, a precocious mind, and a talent for magic. An outcast throughout her childhood in Munchkinland, she finally begins to feel as though she fits in when she enters the University in the Emerald City. While she hones her skills, she discovers that Oz isn't the Utopia it seems. She sets out to protect its unwanted creatures, becoming known as the Wicked Witch along the way.

Narrator John McDonough draws you in to Maguire's magical world of witches and talking animals, making it possible to believe in a land somewhere over the rainbow.

©1995 Gregory Maguire (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A staggering feat of wordcraft." (Los Angeles Times)
"McDonough's excellent portrayals of Elphaba's outspoken, gravel-voiced nanny, Glinda's snobbish friends, and the wide-eyed, soft-spoken Dorothy make this excursion to Oz worthwhile." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Wicked

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,380
  • 4 Stars
    2,375
  • 3 Stars
    1,546
  • 2 Stars
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Performance
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,403
  • 4 Stars
    1,486
  • 3 Stars
    1,012
  • 2 Stars
    548
  • 1 Stars
    512

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

So depressing...

I'm not sure using a male narrator for a largely female cast was the best move.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it, Loved it Loved it

It was a wonderful treat. The idea that the WWW (Wicked Witch of the West) could have a motive for being so evil completely left our minds. We thought, "well, she's bad.." to give this character a face and a life is an ingenious idea and a great story. Read it! I did. Love it! You will.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story, great telling

Narrator did well with keeping the characters separate, caring his portrayal of their emotions just enough as was necessary to further the story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Nice book, but only for adults

I thought this would be a great book. It is such a neat idea and since it was so popular I had to check it out. This is an adult book. Don't think this is a Harry Potter kind of story about a little green girl's adventure. This book is surprisingly sexually graphic in some parts. Eventhough it is "unabridged", I think the story is a bit slow in some parts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story

I now want to see the show even more now.I just love this story,and the narrator was wonderful and brought it to life, I'm going listen to it again. I give this story and the narration 5 stars!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book to listen to

I thought this book was excellent. It was very entertaining and really makes you think back to the original Wizard of Oz story in a more imaginative way. I highly recommened this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Now to see the Broadway

If you could sum up Wicked in three words, what would they be?

Enthralling, Green, and Partiality

What does John McDonough bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It definitely did. I tried just reading the book. I actually got it for my birthday. I kept getting lost in all the unusual dialect. Hearing it made it a much easier experience. Now I adore the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It would have to be the moment when Glenda realized she wasn't the same as she had always been. That being around Elphy had changed her some how.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great fun!

History is usually written from the perspective of the victors. This story covers the wonderful Baum stories from an entirely different perspective allowing us to see that things are not always as black and white as they initially appear.

Gregory Maguire has done his homework and stayed true to the books that most people don't know Baum wrote beyond the Wizard of Oz. I'm going to go through them all, but I expect I will be very disappointed when I reach that last of his books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story, engaging narrative

loved this book. my first audible experience, and one of my favorite books of the modern age. the narration was also amazing!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Huge Fan Of Wicked

Any additional comments?

I am in love with Wicked the musical, that is what inticed me to listed to this book. It definitely puts things in to perspective for the Wicked Musical fans. I love love love this book!

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