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)

Doesn't get good until the last book

Like many, I read this because I adore the musical. This has little in common with the musical. Parts drag on and feel unnecessary, and the story doesn't get good until the final book.

Love Love Love

Absolutely great story and well written. I love John McDonough as the narrator. He is easy to follow and fun to listen to. Highly recommend.

A pleasant, nostalgia-challenging surprise

Wicked is one of the most clever books I've heard or read in a long time. I'm impressed by how the author has completely changed the way I feel about characters I've "known" most of my life. In Elphaba, he has taken a character I've always considered completely villainous and made me like her, and he exposes the goodness of characters like Glinda and Dorothy as simply a mask for shallow self-absorption. I also appreciate how the author's explanations for things are seamlessly woven into the story: why Elphaba wants the ruby slippers so much, why the monkeys have wings, why Elphaba is sensitive to water, and so on. Now I'm looking forward to watching the movie The Wizard of Oz again to see how irritating I'll find Dorothy and friends to be now!

This is a book that, in my observation, generates strong reactions and isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind having your perceptions of characters you've known and loved since childhood challenged, then perhaps you'll find, as I have, a new favorite book in Wicked.

So Good!!

It has an odd cadence when the guy reads and he didn't really show much emotion, but I Loved The story!!

Great story!

Amazing story, and fantastic narration. This book is everything the hype claims. I enjoyed every moment.

Wonderfully imaginative book!

Read this book some time ago and enjoyed hearing it read by a narrator, who did a great job. The book is much darker than the Broadway musical, of course. At times the tale doesn't seem to hang together but eventually the author brings clarity to almost everything, by the end of the book. The story is filled with conspiracy theories which make the retelling of this story (The Wizard of Oz) more interesting, with a multitude of alternative explanations of characters and their motives. Have read several of this author's other books, but this is truly his masterpiece.

WOW the Wicked witch was misunderstood all along!

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

Exciting; Surprising; Wow

What about John McDonough’s performance did you like?

He transforms each character as he reads the story, he is great at this job.

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

I was horrified when all of her animals were slaughtered

Any additional comments?

I have been a life long fan of the Wizard of Oz and always pulled for and cried for Dorothy, now it is Great to have another point of view. I have recommended this book to several of my friends. I though it was great. I will read / listen to this book over again.

One of My Favorites

This is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West from her birth to her death. She is not protrayed as evil but as a misunderstood failed liberator. Maguire gives us a neglected child, a young rebel, a tragic lover, and neglectful mother. The Witch always questions if she has a soul and alway believes she doesn't. This is the begining of a four part series that focuses on her and her desendent. Well one book focuses on a Lion cub she saved.

Not my kind of book

What did you like best about Wicked? What did you like least?

I liked the "Before the story" story of this book. However, I was constantly confused and getting distracted because I felt the book just dragged on.

Was Wicked worth the listening time?

I would say no just because it felt like a job to try to finish this book.

Any additional comments?

I got this book because I was wanting to see the Musical that is coming locally. If anything it has made me not want to see it. It was just not my type of book.

A Lovely Listen

This was an absolutely lovely read. The narrator, whose name I can never recall, is a wonderful reader and most of the voices he chooses for characters are amusing and spot on!