Wicked

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

By: Gregory Maguire

Narrated by: John McDonough

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)

Sometimes Hard Listening, but I Couldn't Stop

I found Wicked facinating. The author managed to make Oz a complex land. The narrator was terrific - can't imagine the book being read by anyone else. However, I didn't care for the sexual content. It was sometimes perverted, but never graphic. Saw no reason for some of the sexual references & scenes. ALso, I wish that characters had been better developed.

The book as a whole was disturbing. It was occassionally funny and often depressing. I wasn't expecting a "FUN!" read, but some of the brutal things that happened were over the top from my POV. Overall, this was a good & highly imaginative book, and I recommend it with reservations.

Fabulous!

This book had a profound effect on me. I will never be able to think of The Wizard of Oz, especially the wicked witch, in the same way. My heart goes out to Elphaba.

Wicked is wonderfully written and the narration excellent. I found myself eager to get back to it whenever I had to stop. This reimagined story is so much more believable than any other I have come across. It is well worth the time. And I would listen to it again.

Pure Magic!

Maguire fills in all the blanks, answers all the questions, and steps up to the plate for all those who wanted to know all of the "why's" to all those unanswered questions in The Wizard of Oz. Maguire skillfully winds the tale of yellow brick road making it difficult to do anything but focus 110% of this skillfully written tale.
Contrary to one recent review, this is a tale that NO ONE should skip the opportunity to read and become thoroughly immersed.

Wicked is captivating

This book was an absolute joy to listen to (best narrator I've heard yet) and was not only entertaining but stimulating and thought provoking. I don't consider myself a fantasy reader but this is really no fantasy. It's an adventure of the mind and spirit...and full of good humor too. I will never see the Wizard of Oz in the same light again!

Enjoyed thoroughly

I loved this story and the telling of this story. The characters were well developed and little detail was spared. I would highly recommend this book, and be prepared for falling completely into the world of OZ and its highly charged political climate. Enjoy.


T*

worthwhile listen

Truly a different perspective on Oz. I found it very absorbing and liked the readers use of different voices for different characters.

Good but narrator not so much

I enjoyed the book, however I didn't particularly enjoy the rendition this narrator did of it. Perhaps it was because he had only 3 types of voices for all the characters. Or perhaps he read it in a somewhat monotone voice. Not terrible, but it could've been better.

And I don't even like The Wizard of Oz...

An entertaining and different look into Oz. Makes me think a little bit about what would have happened if Harry Potter had grown up on the wrong side of the tracks.
I've never cared for the movie, so I tried not to like this when the wife put it on, but it sucked me in and took me along for a ride I enjoyed.
Only three stars since I don't care for the author's reading skills. They are passable here, but go rapidly downhill as the series progresses.

Brought me back

This narrator on this book was better than any of the stories my parents told me growing up. He had different voices for each character and really kept the story alive with his passion for storytelling.

Aside from the entertainment value of the great story that is Wicked, I also enjoyed the way the author gave you a choice: either you can take the version of the Wizard of Oz the movie as "fact" for what happened or you can take "Wicked's" version of what happened while Dorothy was in Oz.

My favourite aspect of Wicked was what isn't mentioned. As the author describes the political situation of the day in oz you begin to make sense of some of the things in the Wizard that either never made sense or that you never paid attention to before. But now that you've read them in Wicked it gives the Wizard a whole new dimension.

I truly enjoyed this book and made a great road trip even better.

No kids, Please! Adults only.......

Would you listen to Wicked again? Why?

Probably, not today, but possibly in the future. It was a great fantasy. I loved every moment of it, but when it was done there was a sense of thoroughness about it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wicked?

The parts that people never ever mentioned who saw the play.

Which scene was your favorite?

Elpheba's relationship with Fiyero. Better yet, when Elpheba goes to live with Fiyero's wife later in the story. That's perfect...

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

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