It's not easy being green

From reading the reviews, this looks like a book that few are lukewarm about. Listeners either really loved it or really hated it! I'm of the group who loved it. And I feel compelled to say so after writing a negative review of the disappointing sequel Son of a Witch. I didn't truly appreciate John McDonough's excellent narration until listening to the author narrate the sequel. No comparison.

I'll admit that I didn't take to the story right away. It took about an hour. But a person driving a long distance is a captive audience and by the time Elphaba got to Shiz I was hooked. It's an odd story that takes place in an odd place and is certainly not for everyone. But it was for me.

76 people found this helpful

I was not sure for a while then.......

Yes, I'm taken with this novel. Humor, intrigue, and overall a good story. It's not the type of book I'm typically drawn to, but this time I'm glad I was.

47 people found this helpful

Great reading, okay book...

I'd heard so much about the book, I'd built up wonderful expectations for it. I did enjoy the listen, but I am quite disappointed in the novel overall.

First, I have to say the narrator was absolutely wonderful. The quality of voice and character was delightful, and I never tired of hearing him.

The story captivated me for about the first 2/3 and then started losing focus and the characters seemed to tumble out of control. By the end, I had absolutely no idea what the point had been. I had fallen in absolute love with Elphaba, and felt that her character was completely abandoned by the author in the last act. Some of the character turns were unpleasant, but necessary; others seem completely random and confusing.

Plot devices were introduced in the beginning, and then abandoned until the absolute end, when they addressed in a peculiarly obscure fashion, answering virtually none of the questions that were the basis of the story.

Since I have already purchased "Son of a Witch", I can only hope that the questions left unanswered are addressed there, and that its characters are treated with more care.

33 people found this helpful

A long slide into inevitability...

A fresh concept - take a common childhood tale, and tell the story behind the story. Talk about the motivations and the story behind some of the non-core characters, and best of all, turn the concepts of good and evil upside down.

Wicked starts off well enough, with the birth of the Wicked Witch of the West to an ordinary enough family, with a bored, unfaithful heiress as a mother, and a stiff boore of a minister as a father. The story quickly deviates from the expected with its exploration of adult themes, ribald humour, and extensive political commentary.

Oz loses much of its magic, with the magic made mundane through its commonality and ultimate futility - in fact, magic doesn't play much of a role at all in the book.

<spoiler warning>
However, as the book starts to move towards the familiar plotline of the Wizard of Oz, there is a feeling of events rushing headlong to inevitability. The reckless, but lovable character of Elpheba (the witch) strangely disappears, to be replaced by an almost characterless stereotype. Many lovingly developed characters, such as Glinda and Fiuro, are essentially tossed into the trashbin.

Ultimately, the story leaves us wondering still about the motivations of some of the characters, so fails as an expose of these events. It definitely left me scratching my head at the unresolved plot points.

Also, there is a common theme of homosexual tension throughout the book, which felt artificially inserted unnecessarily. I certainly understood the context, but it just didn't seem to make sense.

A good read, but disappointing in the end.

76 people found this helpful

A Wicked Delight!

I've been a Wizard of Oz fan for far too many years to count, and a couple of years ago had the opportunity to enjoy Wicked on the London stage. I was very excited to find the audiobook here on Audible, as it goes into so much more rich detail than could ever be delivered in the stage version. Don't get me wrong, both were awesome, but the audiobook just delivered so much more and kept me enthralled for hours at a time. I literally could not wait to listen to more!

22 people found this helpful

Excellent writing, excellent vision.

This book was well written, first and foremost. The language itself is beautiful. The story it tells is complex and involved, and the fully fleshed characters are consistently believable in their world. Excellent book if you like fantasy of Tolkein quality, or if you liked The Wizard of Oz and want a more detailed view of the world.

My only complaint was that the ending seemed forced, and there was a point near the end where the narrative seems lost, as though the writer had had so much fun with his story that he suddenly realized he wasn't sure how to get back to The Wizard of Oz story. It starts seeming a little more contrived then, and I found the ending a bit weak in comparison to the rest. Minor flaw, really, in the context of such an impressive achievement.

A note of caution: I got this to listen to with my kids. Mistake. This is not kid friendly. Lots of sexual innuendos and some outright sex. Not bad for adults, but you might blush while wondering how much of that your child understood.

17 people found this helpful

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.

21 people found this helpful

Stale and hard to listen to

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I enjoyed the Wizard of Oz books and loved the stage adaption and had high hopes of this story. Sadly it was not what I expected. The heavy religious and political plot was clunky and lacking in sophistication. It was also so hard to like any of the characters; I was apathetic for most of the story.

The first time I tried reading the book I gave up about two chapters in, the next time I made it halfway. I hoped that listening to the story would make it more interesting and it did, but it still grates on my nerves.

Any additional comments?

My annoyance was amplified by the poor audio quality of the recording. Every time I hear the narrator gulp I want to throw my ipod out the window. Even the Audible intro and announcements sound like it was recorded in someone’s bathroom.

4 people found this helpful

Interesting Spin...

A bit of history of the well known Oz.. but VERY little... subtly tied to Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion and Scarecrow and of course, the Emerald City and the Wizard. This book has a hint of the obscure land of Oz where different cultures co-exist, magic is an accepted talent, and the land is ruled by religious zealots, religious heresy, and fear. The awful green child grows to become a beautiful independent thinking, strong-willed young woman. The well-known beautiful Glenda, her ex-roommate during her college days at a University where 'animals' are both Professors and barnyard pets.

An interesting suggestion that the 'wicked witch' was not wicked at all and simply assumed the role that whispers thrust upon her during her quest to do the righteous thing confessing to her murdered lover's widow. A touch of sex, rebellion, mysticism and destiny. Not at all like the Broadway musical by the same name...a bit unnerving but a must finish ending.

13 people found this helpful

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.

24 people found this helpful