Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Wicked is my favorite book, and has been since I read it last year. A colleague of mine recommended it to me even before I knew it was a new Broadway musical. This is basically the unauthorized biography of the wicked Witch of the West, it is not a retelling of the Wizard of Oz. It is a fantasy novel, with enough references to the original Oz to keep you entertained. This is not an easy book to read, and I must admit that I still don't understand some of the political themes. The story itself is engaging. The prologue alone drew me in me right away. I was so thankful for Hurricane Frances last year (in a morbid sort of way) because it gave me enough time to read this book. I have gotten many of my students and friends interested in Wicked. If you like fantasy, effective word-craft, and imagination, Wicked is the book for you!

"Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, has gotten a bum rap. Her mother is embarrassed and repulsed by her bright-green baby with shark's teeth and an aversion to water. At college, the coed experiences disapproval and rejection by her roommate, Glinda, a silly girl interested only in clothes, money, and popularity. Elphaba is a serious and inquisitive student. When she learns that the Wizard of Oz is politically corrupt and causing economic ruin, Elphaba finds a sense of purpose to her life: to stop him and to restore harmony and prosperity to the land. A Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and an unknown species called a "Dorothy" appear in very small roles... The story presents Elphaba in a sympathetic and empathetic manner-readers will want her to triumph! The conclusion, however, is the same as L. Frank Baum's. The book has both idealism and cynicism in its discussion of social, religious, educational, and political issues present in Oz, and, more pointedly, present in our day and time. The idealism is whimsical and engaging; the cynicism is biting. Sometimes the earthy language seems appropriate and adds to the sense of place; sometimes the four-letter words and sexual explicitness distract from the charm of the tale. The multiple threads to the plot proceed unevenly, so that the pace of the story jumps rather than moves steadily forward. Wicked is not an easy rereading of The Wizard of Oz. It is for good readers who like satire, and love exceedingly imaginative and clever fantasy." --From School Library Journal, Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA. Copyright 1996.

Amazon.com has a few pages of Wicked on their site: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0060745908/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-8551803-4692845#reader-link

Aside: If you enjoy this book, check out the musical: http://www.wickedthemusical.com/
I am going to see it when the tour stops in Tampa (January) and in Chicago (March). I'll tell you all about it.

Question: What is your favorite part of Wicked?