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)

It's not easy being green

From reading the reviews, this looks like a book that few are lukewarm about. Listeners either really loved it or really hated it! I'm of the group who loved it. And I feel compelled to say so after writing a negative review of the disappointing sequel Son of a Witch. I didn't truly appreciate John McDonough's excellent narration until listening to the author narrate the sequel. No comparison.

I'll admit that I didn't take to the story right away. It took about an hour. But a person driving a long distance is a captive audience and by the time Elphaba got to Shiz I was hooked. It's an odd story that takes place in an odd place and is certainly not for everyone. But it was for me.

Suprise!!

I was very excited that this book finally came to Audible! It is a wonderful story and grips you from start to finish. It makes you want more. I can remember, since I was a little girl, wondering about the Wicked witches and wondering what they were like and why were they so hated!? After all I would be mad too if someone dropped a house on and killed my sister. This book tells you all you ever wanted to know about them in a very mature way. This book is not for children, but any Wizard of Oz lover that is an adult will totally enjoy this book. It is highly recommended.

Wandering.

This story was... long. And in my opinion, not terribly interesting. It was filled with long mundane descriptions and many of the characters lacked depth. I was expecting more.

ehh...

it had a nice plot line, but the political and religious overtones were a bit much.

The best fantasy adult tale.

This is my favorite book.I listened to it for the first time thirteen years ago.

Captivating proof that there are always 2 sides!

I couldn't stop listening. Nostalgia beckons you- and then blows your mind.. chapter by chapter!

One of the best books I've ever experienced!!!

What did you love best about Wicked?
That it completely turned upside down my pre-conceived notions about what is wicked and evil.

Who was your favorite character and why?
Elphaba. I was utterly engrossed in her story and how she would meet her eventual fate.

What about John McDonough’s performance did you like?
He's a very solid reader and a great storyteller.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I was shocked at how exquisitely the author was able to bring everything full circle and actually preserve some of the context from the original story.

Any additional comments?
My favorite moments of this book was the love affair between Elphaba and Fiyero and how she's not quite become the angry, bitter, hardened women she eventually becomes. At that moment, she could have gone down another path in life. I also loved how the ending scene between Dorothy and Elphaba played out.

A great story entirely different from the musical

It seemed a little odd to me to have a male narrator for a novel featuring mostly female characters but nevertheless it was pleasant to listen to.

If you're listening because you are a fan of the musical abandon any foreknowledge you think you have of the plot and characters. Aside from Galinda and Elphaba the characters in the musical share names with characters from this book and that's about as far as it goes, with the most strikingly different character being Fiyero. For the most part, the increased depth and complexity of the character's motivations and backstories makes them more sympathetic if not always more likable.

The story reads like a historical fiction or s biography which is incidentally set in a fantasy world. After establishing who Elphaba is by covering her early childhood and her college days, the narrative splits to focus on the personal circumstances as well as the political climate and events which lead her to become "The Wicked Witch" in her struggles to resist an oppressive regime.

The Beginnings

I was really interested in finding out all the hype around the play and the story behind the wicked witch. The story is good however when it comes to timing around the original movie it misses a beat and it doesn't always fit. The reader does a great job portraying the characters and the story is good. I'm glad I read it.

Almost Fully Satisfying

Provided an intriguing back story to the well-known Wicked Witch of the West. Seemed as though some of the threads were insufficiently left hanging, however. At the conclusion, I was still wondering what I'd missed. Good listen, but mildly dis-satisfying.