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  <title><![CDATA[Wicked]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[Following the traditions of Gabriel GarcÍa Marqu,z, John Gardner and J.R.R. Tolkien, <em>Wicked</em> is a richly woven tale that takes us to the other, darker side of the rainbow as novelist Gregory Maguire chronicles the Wicked Witch of the West's odyssey through the complex world of Oz -- where people call you wicked if you tell the truth. <p>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 to overcome the natural disasters of flood and famine. But Elphaba is smart, and by the time she enters the university in Shiz, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz' most promising young citizens. <p>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 it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance. Even 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. <p>In <em>Wicked</em>, Gregory Maguire has taken the largely unknown world of Oz and populated it with the power of his own imagination. Fast-paced, fantastically real and supremely entertaining, this is a novel of vision and re-vision. Oz never will be the same again.</p></p></p>]]></description>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Nobody - literally not one body]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jan 25 10:11:11 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 22 06:52:50 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[     I hated this book.  Maybe it was because I was expecting so much with all the hype, maybe because I thought the original idea was so great, whatever.  End result, I freaking hated this book.  This is a book that makes you want to sit down and re-write it yourself because it is such a shame that...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13519569">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[people who like modern takes on fairy tales and whose can't read beyond a 5th grade level]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Steve W]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Apr 26 22:17:14 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Dec 26 08:00:34 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 26 22:16:16 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I have a confession: I wanted to read this book because I saw the Broadway show, and the idea of a Broadway show based on a book based on a movie based on a political satire intrigued me. I heard the book and the show were quite different, so I wanted to see the difference.<br/><br/>The biggest di...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11025184">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11025184]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
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  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>33</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[absolutely no one]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 02 13:51:34 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 03:27:16 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book as become increasingly popular, mostly due to the success of the musical by the same name. the truth is however, its not very good. There are many interesting and intriguing plotlines in the book, and you wait for them to be clerified, and expanded upon, but many never are. many fantastic ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3983954">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3983954]]></url>
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      <review>
  <id>2453498</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Max]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>28</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 27 12:58:36 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 22:54:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[From the first page, I couldn't put the book down. I loved it! And as my love for the book Wicked and the Wicked Witch of the West grew, my hatred for George Lucas grew in direct proportion. How could he have gotten it so wrong? <br/>I never pretended to like the new trilogy. It could have been a n...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2453498">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2453498]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2453498]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>10085654</id>
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    <id>111921</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Madeline]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Mountain View, CA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>51</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Dec 07 08:08:42 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Dec 07 08:18:25 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Instead of my usual griping style, we'll do this review in list form.<br/><br/>Things That I Really Wish Gregory Maguire Had Bothered To Explain That Might Have Made <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/search/search?q=Wicked" title="Wicked">Wicked</a> Worth Reading:<br/>-Why Elphaba is green <br/>-Why Elphaba cannot touch water<br/>-The &quot;Philosophy Club&quot; which s...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10085654">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10085654]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10085654]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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    <id>146213</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Nina]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Miami, FL]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
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  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>19</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jun 22 08:23:41 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 22:20:37 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[As far as fairy tales are concerned, adults recall them to be simple moral stories of how things go wrong if you want the wrong things. As fond of them as adults may be, the stories aren't often dissected, interpreted, or believed in for much farther than that.<br/><br/> The brilliance behind Magu...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2251706">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2251706]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2251706]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
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  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>22</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[book clubs; fans of the stage show]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[a particularly messy houseguest]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jan 11 11:07:52 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jan 11 11:40:14 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I don't remember the original impetus for reading this book - I do recall discussing it with a particular friend, but whether I read it on her recommendation or because I wanted to all on my own I don't recall.<br/><br/>As is evident from my star-rating, I can't say that I liked this book. I did rea...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12258678">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12258678]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12258678]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>22129306</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Jennifer]]></name>
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  <id type="integer">10750</id>
  <isbn>0060745908</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060745905</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166307053m/10750.jpg</image_url>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10750.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.41</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1214</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?</p> <p>Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.</p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>17</votes>
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  <date_added>Tue May 13 00:11:49 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue May 13 00:12:20 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com<br/><br/>Have you ever read a popular book and wondered why it was so popular? That's exactly how I felt as I worked my way through WICKED. Actually, that's not entirely true. I know why it's a New York Times Bestseller. Part of it has to do with...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22129306">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22129306]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22129306]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>9797697</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Natalie]]></name>
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  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>12</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 01 06:42:10 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 01 06:42:28 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book was bad. The idea is that you get to see how the Wicked Witch of the West grew up, see her side of things, and get some backstory about Oz. The book failed to make any of this engaging.<br/><br/>The backstory dragged on for far too long. Of course, I wouldn't complain if the backstory had ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9797697">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9797697]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9797697]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>20507019</id>
    <user>
    <id>940777</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Anne]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Omaha, NE]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/940777-anne]]></link>
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  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>10</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Diane]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Apr 18 22:00:57 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Apr 18 22:32:07 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I enjoyed reading <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/search/search?q= Wicked" title=" Wicked"> Wicked</a>, but found it perplexing. <br/><br/>Maguire's Oz is a complex, political society, and his Wicked Witch Elphaba and her contemporaries are fascinating, moving, <em>original</em> characters--but the landscape and people are so far removed from their base story that the purpose of th...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20507019">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20507019]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20507019]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>27365130</id>
    <user>
    <id>1310564</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Beth(MN)]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Saint Paul, MN]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1310564-beth-mn]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1260648346p3/1310564.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>16</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 15 17:27:10 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 16 11:06:29 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Here is yet one more instance that supports the old adage that “hindsight is 20/20,” because had I known how much I’d have enjoyed this book, I’d have read it sooner.  I have no one to blame but myself for taking all the negative reviews so seriously.  <br/><br/>For starters, there are sev...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27365130">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27365130]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27365130]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6368023</id>
    <user>
    <id>66498</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Marigold]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/66498-marigold]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1187330130p3/66498.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>12</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Sep 17 22:25:12 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 17 23:21:46 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very interesting book! Lots to like, and lots to dislike, but overall I enjoyed it, definitely wanted to keep reading, and found a lot to think about. What struck me most is the story of Elphaba alone. She starts life as an outcast for various reasons, &amp; really never recovers, though she's bright, d...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6368023">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6368023]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6368023]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>26635268</id>
    <user>
    <id>1308973</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Polly]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Austin, TX]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1308973-polly]]></link>
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  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>9</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[No one]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 08 07:32:58 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jul 18 09:29:37 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I’ve been trying to get through this book since last summer, and THANK GOD ON HIGH I finally finished it last night.  Given that Wicked was popular with both critics and lay people, AND the fact that there’s a wildly successful stage play associated with it, I figured this book couldn’t possib...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26635268">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26635268]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26635268]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6993856</id>
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    <id>404424</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Helen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>8</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>true</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[People who find the below description appealing]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[The Witch of Fluff]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Sep 29 09:55:37 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 02 22:04:17 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Woah. I'm still digesting this one. It was so fascinating, haunting, disgusting, inspiring, tragic, strange, funny, and danged confusing. And beautiful. This book is kind of in a genre of its own, a combination of psychological analysis, romance, religious theory, and mystery. And no, all those slic...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6993856">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6993856]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6993856]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>21164059</id>
    <user>
    <id>1118970</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jamie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Somerville, MA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1118970-jamie]]></link>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">10750</id>
  <isbn>0060745908</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060745905</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">286</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166307053m/10750.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166307053s/10750.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10750.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?</p> <p>Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.</p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>5</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>true</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Apr 28 08:12:24 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Aug 10 08:35:17 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Just finished re-reading this as a sort of guilty-pleasure getaway between all my thesis readings.  I guess it's been a couple of years since the last time I read it, because there was quite a bit I'd forgotten, and quite a bit that seems less dazzling to me than when I read it for the first, second...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21164059">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21164059]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21164059]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>7634806</id>
    <user>
    <id>379083</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Willie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/379083-willie]]></link>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>5</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Oct 12 12:47:26 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 12 13:26:46 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My own peculiar obsession with The Wizard of Oz, in both its book and movie forms, was both a boon and, at times, a slight disadvantage to reading this book: since our culture's two primary references for the Oz story are so very different, Mr Maguire has a fascinating dilemma in trying to create a ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7634806">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7634806]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7634806]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>25351096</id>
    <user>
    <id>84621</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Rachel]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/84621-rachel]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1182846542p3/84621.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>4</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Adult readers who enjoyed reading L. Frank Baum's Oz books and are not offended by freaky sex scenes]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jun 24 16:23:53 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jun 28 07:46:40 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Reading this book was like returning to an old friend ... it was written in the style of the Oz books I had enjoyed as a kid, except now ... with X-RATED COMICAL PASSAGES! Woo-hoo! I bring this up because I see a lot of people posting that they take offense at the sexual nature of some of the passag...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25351096">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25351096]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25351096]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>25116955</id>
    <user>
    <id>983898</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Nekouken]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Vernon Hills, IL]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/983898-nekouken]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-U-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>4</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>true</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fantasy" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jun 22 08:51:35 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jun 22 08:52:36 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I don't get it.<br/><br/>OK, so I read the book thinking it would be good preparation for possibly seeing the musical while it's in Chicago.  Now I'm not so sure, though I'm told the musical is vastly different from the book.  I'm guessing I'm no more prepared than I was before I started.<br/><br/>...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25116955">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25116955]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25116955]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>18391965</id>
    <user>
    <id>1015045</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Nola]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Pottsville, PA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1015045-nola]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1227995306p3/1015045.jpg]]></image_url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>4</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fiction---drama" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[someone who wants a new look at Oz]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Mar 22 13:29:47 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Mar 27 07:56:01 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[	Wicked is the story of the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, told from the perspective that that the well-known fairy tale may not be all true. The premise of the novel is certainly interesting, and the themes it follows certainly make you think. The characters were well created and three dimensio...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18391965">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18391965]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18391965]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>16360730</id>
    <user>
    <id>659498</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jenny]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Fort Lauderdale, FL]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/659498-jenny]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">37442</id>
  <isbn>0060987103</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780060987107</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">9396</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years, #1)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230m/37442.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255675230s/37442.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked_The_Life_and_Times_of_the_Wicked_Witch_of_the_West</link>
  <average_rating>3.35</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>84390</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p>When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? </p><p> Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. <em>Wicked</em> is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. </p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>5</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="wish-i-had-not-read" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[no one... period]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Feb 25 18:02:16 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jun 05 12:00:43 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I had mixed feelings  about this book. On one hand the plot is very interesting. On the other, the author makes so many sexual references and adds scenes that are not even needed for the plot that it almost ruins the book. It seems he thinks the real learning arena is sexual encounters and sensory g...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16360730">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16360730]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16360730]]></link>
</review>
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