Wicked Audiobook By Gregory Maguire cover art

Wicked

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

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Wicked

By: Gregory Maguire
Narrated by: John McDonough
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The New York Times bestseller that inspired the Tony-winning hit musical and major motion picture

OVER 6 MILLION COPIES SOLD

Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin—no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome the natural disasters of flood and famine. Still, Elphaba is smart, and not long after entering Shiz University, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz's most promising young citizens.

But Elphaba's Oz is no utopia. The Wizard's secret police are everywhere.

Animals—those creatures with voices, souls, and minds—are threatened with exile. Young Elphaba, green and wild and misunderstood, is determined to protect the Animals—even if it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance.

Ever wiser in guilt and sorrow, she can find herself grateful when the world declares her a witch. And she can even make herself glad for that young girl from Kansas.

"An astonishing achievement."—Philip Pullman

©1995 Gregory Maguire (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC #BookTok Magic Users Fairy Tales Fantasy Witchcraft Fiction Magic Epic Fantasy Classics Epic Suspenseful Paranormal Contemporary Witty Scary Paranormal & Urban

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)
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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.

It's not easy being green

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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.

Suprise!!

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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.

Wandering.

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

So depressing...

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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.

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

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