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

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)

Definitely not the Broadway show!

it's good but it's not the story you're maybe expecting. Lots of discourse on politics, religion and sex. I'm still a bit unsure of the point.

Loved it! Different take on the Wicked Witch.

I have heard about the play and as a kid always loved the Wizard of Oz. I like the different take on the whole story. At the end, I actually was sad that she died. She got so crazed because of the wizard and the rumors. This take made me actually think of her as a good souled person (even though she kept saying she didn't have one) but was born to a bad situation.

Disappointed

Just disappointing ending, after trying so hard to make the world a better place all your efforts go unappreciated and un noticed and you die, yay

Cool Idea

Wow, this is either a "Love" or "Hate" relationship with this book. I did like it. It was not 'action packed' but did bring up interesting ideas and a pretty good perspective to her life. If you are ready to sit back and enjoy a good tale, then this is good. If you think that, after listening to this, you wasted 20+ hours of your life, then Geez, don't listen past the first 3 hours. d'uh.
Good book, good narrator, good story.
Steph

Second read

This is my second time reading this, the first time I read the physical book in 2010 and always wanted to read it again and now I was able to listen to it and it was even more amazing thanks to such a great narrator.
Its basically the other side of the story we all know of Oz, it starts with the birth of the Wicked witch of the west, all her childhood, the school, her teenage years, love interests and more, and it ends with Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.

Depressingly well-written

The story is well-crafted and tackles difficult subjects, but also delivers a deeply depressing message. No one cares about anything but themselves and even the ones that do are usually weak and vacillating. If you have good things, you don't deserve them. If you deserve good things you won't have them.

Oh, and there's mild cursing and lots of sexual vulgarity, though it's not overly descriptive.

I will not read this book again, despite its quality, and will not read the rest of the series. I would not recommend this book.

A Brillant take on the witch

I loved it couldn't wait to hear it. kept me wanting to know what was happening next

Beautifully Written, Worth A Read

It took me years to finally pick up this book, for no reason other than I knew little to nothing about the story. After seeing Wicked, The Musical and falling in love with Elphaba and Glinda, I decided it was time to give the book a chance!

The book is, without a doubt, well-written! It is imaginative and descriptive, but I do feel the timeline/structure could have been different. Chapters 18-32 felt too slow (18-30) then too rushed (31-32). I felt Elphaba’s character wasn’t developed as much as I hoped; Glinda was tossed aside following the half-way point.

The author definitely shifts his narrative towards Elphaba to make her seem Wicked, which was disheartening. I can see, however, why the book is popular.

Recommend for anyone interested in immersing themselves in Oz with the Charmed Circle!

Interesting take on the early years

I enjoyed this story. There were some points that drug on a bit, but became necessary to tie everything together.

Unexpected

A very evolved, believably built world surrounding the witch's life from birth to death. Not an action story; flawed and interesting characters, more human than I would have thought.