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  • Wicked

  • The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
  • By: Gregory Maguire
  • Narrated by: John McDonough
  • Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (310 ratings)
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Wicked cover art

Wicked

By: Gregory Maguire
Narrated by: John McDonough
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Summary

Heralded as an instant classic of fantasy literature, Maguire has written a wonderfully imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch's point of view. More than just a fairy tale for adults, Wicked is a meditation on the nature of good and evil.

Elphaba is born with green skin, a precocious mind, and a talent for magic. An outcast throughout her childhood in Munchkinland, she finally begins to feel as though she fits in when she enters the University in the Emerald City. While she hones her skills, she discovers that Oz isn't the Utopia it seems. She sets out to protect its unwanted creatures, becoming known as the Wicked Witch along the way.

Narrator John McDonough draws you in to Maguire's magical world of witches and talking animals, making it possible to believe in a land somewhere over the rainbow.

©1995 Gregory Maguire (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A staggering feat of wordcraft." ( Los Angeles Times)
"McDonough's excellent portrayals of Elphaba's outspoken, gravel-voiced nanny, Glinda's snobbish friends, and the wide-eyed, soft-spoken Dorothy make this excursion to Oz worthwhile." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Wicked

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Great story, dull presentation

Struggle to finish this amazing story as the reader was dull and monotone. Let down

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

A fantastic retelling of the life of Elpheba the wicked witch of the west in Baum's world of Oz. Detailed and rich this is evocative and draws you in instantly. A great reading too.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great audiobook

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've always loved the book Wicked, and listening to it as an audiobook was a new experience entirely. I would recommend this to a friend as it really makes the story come alive.

What other book might you compare Wicked to, and why?

I don't think you can really compare Wicked to anything - it's a reworking of The Wizard of Oz, making a child's story into an adult novel.

What about John McDonough’s performance did you like?

The narrators pacing was very good, and he got the humor of the book well - be prepared for a few snorts of laughter when listening! There were lots of characters who's voices he managed to make individual and memorable, so you can recognise them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending of course is memorable, and with the narrators pacing he manages to make it moving.

Any additional comments?

I had already read Wicked before listening to the audiobook, and I would definatly recommend it! It really brings the book to life.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hard Going

I found this audiobook really hard going and it turned into more of a chore than a pleasure, i found that the story was really hard to keep track off at places moving to quickly and at others dragging out. Overall I didn't really enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Keep listening

This book starts off quite weird and you have to keep ploughing through, until you get to the good part. Im not sure I would have pursued it if i hadnt have seen the play and knew the story line. - its a prequel to the wizard of oz. That in itself was enough to keep me listening. How the wicked witch became wicked

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

I couldn’t stop listening fans of the musical will love this book can’t wait to start the next in the series

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I hated all the characters.

All the characters were vile. the mother walks around with her boobs out trying to get laid constantly whilst high on drugs...characters should have some redeeming qualities but after 7 chapters I still hated them all. vile book!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

ooooooh!

Extremely well read. Nice to listen to. A great story. tough to start, but in the middle now and can't put it down and look forward to it every night!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

A stumbling mess with no point

The story is only told from the point of view of someone close to the witch. The witch isn't very relatable and nobody in the book ever does anything interesting.
There is some nice dystopian world building but it never leads anywhere.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

This book didn't "defy gravity"

I came to this book having seen the west end musical, and loving the "untold story". This book didn't live up to any expectations, taking unnecessary detours into derogatory stories of Elphaba's mother and at best is a dark story, but in my view - the book is horrendous ramblings which disappoints further with each chapter.

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1 person found this helpful