From the Bookshelf of Around the Year in 52 Books …

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

Gregory Maguire

Why we're reading this: 7/8 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
[close] 7/8 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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What Members Thought

Jul 15, 2008 Beth F rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2008, i-reviewed-this-bad-boy, witches, fantasy, infidelity, wizards-r-us, fairy-tales-and-fables

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.

For starters, there are several types of people who should not read this book because it will make them angry. The biggest one is that group of folks who is opposed to S-E-X appearing in books. The sexy scenes in this book are not graphic. They aren ...more

111 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2008 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2006

I really enjoyed this book too, although I hadn't really expected to. Elphaba is an extremely strong character and is written with a skill that makes it difficult not to empathise with her. It got to a point where I didn't really want to finish the book as I knew the outcome was inevitable thanks to L. Frank Baum & his Dorothy.

I enjoyed it so much that I lashed out and bought Son of a Witch. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2008 Jessica rated it did not like it

Shelves: fiction

The premise of the book is really intriguing. Unfortunately, the author chooses to spend his time writing a novel that is about confusing political machinations rather the than interesting premise. I agree that the novel jumps around far too much - as soon as you are comfortable with the characters it seems that they are suddenly completely different! Characters appear and are important, only to disappear for most of the rest of the novel. I didn't find Elphaba to be especially sympathetic, as I ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2011 Tara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: from-library, fiction, 2012

Started this yesterday evening...and then stayed up until 3am reading it.
Fun, smart, fascinating.

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Apr 24, 2008 Jessica rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-best-scifi-fantasy-challenge, audio-book

Finally finished. I got about half through a few years ago and put it down. To finish it I had to use an audio-book, and I'm glad it's done but my final review is "meh". ...more

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