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mnemo's review against another edition
2.0
I had heard the hype about this book/musical and was honestly intrigued about the premise, but I was disappointed overall. I understood the themes the author wanted to explore, but it was either the writing style or the words themselves that left me to skip paragraphs here in there just to get the book finished. Obviously this is a spinoff of a children's story, but it seemed more distracting to have this kind of story set in a land like Oz with all the weird phrases and terminology that no enjoyment was added to the experience.
The last section of the book where the time line is supposed to meet that of the original story I found to be the most interesting but still really confusing as to who these characters are and how they came to be. It's as if all the back story that was established previously within the book came undone in that last section. I understand that the Wicked Witch is supposed to be so filled with conflict over what has happened in her life that she's so unstable in the end, but it just turns her into another shallow pathetic female protagonist.
The last section of the book where the time line is supposed to meet that of the original story I found to be the most interesting but still really confusing as to who these characters are and how they came to be. It's as if all the back story that was established previously within the book came undone in that last section. I understand that the Wicked Witch is supposed to be so filled with conflict over what has happened in her life that she's so unstable in the end, but it just turns her into another shallow pathetic female protagonist.
evbot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
disneyfreak627's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
avesmaria's review against another edition
4.0
I almost want to give this five stars. It was surprisingly unusual and complex and definitely worth a re-read.
l3vy's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The only good thing about this book is that it ended.
Boy was I disappointed by this book, and I don't think I even went into it with terribly high expectations.
The pacing (or lack thereof) of the narrative is tedious, at best, which is to say, nothing happens. Wicked is a bloated mess of a book with long-winded passages that meander aimlessly and grind the narrative to a halt. Just when you think something interesting might happen, Maguire veers off into another tangent, leaving the reader bored, frustrated, and knowing that whatever plot point briefly piqued their interest will never be expanded upon or brought up again.
This snail's pace of the narrative is even more grating when compared to the rushed sense of relationship in this book. Multiple times in the book, Elphaba is described as being infatuated with Glinda however the reader sees a single nice conversation that the two have together then they basically never interact for the rest of the book. As the reader, we know Fiyero for like less than 20 pages before he becomes the love of Elphaba's life. It is rushed and makes no sense.
But it is not just the supporting cast that gets so little development. The premise of offering a backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West held promise, but the execution fell very very very flat. Maguire's portrayal of the character felt contrived at its best moments and utterly forced at its worst. Elphaba's transformation from misunderstood outcast to still misunderstood villain lacked depth and nuance, instead she is reduced to a dull and uninspired caricature of villainy. Her motivations are shallow, her actions are predictable, and her transformation lacks any semblance of emotional depth.
Additionally, while I appreciate the author's attempt to tackle themes of social injustice and political corruption, these elements felt shoehorned into the narrative without proper development. As a result, they came across as superficial and insincere, failing to resonate on any meaningful level.
Finally, the ending of the novel left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed. After investing time and effort into following Elphaba's journey, the resolution offered little closure or catharsis. It felt rushed and anticlimactic, as though Maguire had simply run out of steam and opted for the easiest way out.
Boy was I disappointed by this book, and I don't think I even went into it with terribly high expectations.
The pacing (or lack thereof) of the narrative is tedious, at best, which is to say, nothing happens. Wicked is a bloated mess of a book with long-winded passages that meander aimlessly and grind the narrative to a halt. Just when you think something interesting might happen, Maguire veers off into another tangent, leaving the reader bored, frustrated, and knowing that whatever plot point briefly piqued their interest will never be expanded upon or brought up again.
This snail's pace of the narrative is even more grating when compared to the rushed sense of relationship in this book. Multiple times in the book, Elphaba is described as being infatuated with Glinda however the reader sees a single nice conversation that the two have together then they basically never interact for the rest of the book. As the reader, we know Fiyero for like less than 20 pages before he becomes the love of Elphaba's life. It is rushed and makes no sense.
But it is not just the supporting cast that gets so little development. The premise of offering a backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West held promise, but the execution fell very very very flat. Maguire's portrayal of the character felt contrived at its best moments and utterly forced at its worst. Elphaba's transformation from misunderstood outcast to still misunderstood villain lacked depth and nuance, instead she is reduced to a dull and uninspired caricature of villainy. Her motivations are shallow, her actions are predictable, and her transformation lacks any semblance of emotional depth.
Additionally, while I appreciate the author's attempt to tackle themes of social injustice and political corruption, these elements felt shoehorned into the narrative without proper development. As a result, they came across as superficial and insincere, failing to resonate on any meaningful level.
Finally, the ending of the novel left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed. After investing time and effort into following Elphaba's journey, the resolution offered little closure or catharsis. It felt rushed and anticlimactic, as though Maguire had simply run out of steam and opted for the easiest way out.
“One never learns how the witch became wicked, or whether that was the right choice for her~is it ever the right choice? Does the devil ever struggle to be good again, or if so is he not a devil?”
mikmoonlight's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
orcacake's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
radagast_the_brown's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
yeah i was way too young when i read this the first time in 2005