Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1) in Into the Forest

Jan 14, 2009 Mariah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, fantasy, fairy-tale, reviewed, feminist-fiction

Long before Dorothy arrived in Oz in a tornado, there was Elphaba. Born with green skin and ridiculed by both her peers and elders she would one day grow up to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West. But who was she, really? Maguire tells the prehistory of the Wizard of Oz from her perspective, and in doing so imagines a darker and more complex Oz.
Reclusive intellectual Elphaba goes to college and rooms with the beautiful and popular Galinda. There they become friends and rivals for both love ...more

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Sep 19, 2008 Krista rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, bookclub

After reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for bookclub, our group decided it was time to also take on Wicked, an off-shoot from the traditional tale.

I had seen the musical and fell in love with the wonderous music and colorful costumes. Would the book hold true?

My first attempt through this read stopped not much beyond page 75 or so. With the prompting of book club (about two years or so after my initial try), I picked the book back up and pushed through. I was suprised by how much I actually enj ...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Pamela Lloyd rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I found this story disturbing and compelling. Although I read it several years ago, the images and voice have stayed with me. Oz was such a simple place before I read this book, a place my inner child could be happy, but now I see it with an adult's cynical eyes. I can't say I'm entirely pleased by this. ...more

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