"Wicked" - The Book - Opinions?

[Nomi]

Uhhh ... how inappropriate is it? Because I had a 6th grader in my class read it for his latest book report ... haha, oh no!

Some parts involve sexuality, though not explicitaly, but I would label it perhaps PG13.

 

[crz4mm2]

I didn't like it. I don't think I even finished it.

 

[swilphil]

Hated it, but loved the musical-- read the book about 5 years earlier.

It seems like people who are into fantasy like it.

 

[helenabear]

I agree. I tried to give it a second chance and gave up. It's horrible writing. No offence is Gregory Maguire is reading these boards, but it's just so hard to follow. I felt like I was reading Lord of the Rings all over, but this time it was worse.

LOL... funny thing is I love LOTR! I agree with what you said aobut it being bad writing. I love to read and I love all types of books, but these were just poorly written IMO.

 

[punkin]

I liked the book. I did not love it, but really liked it. I also read his snow white and Cinderella retellings. Out of all of them I liked the Cinderella one the best (Diary of an evil stepsister?)

 

[Abbie]

I am a person that ALWAYS has to finish a book I start. If I wasn't one of those kinds of people, I probably would have given up on this book.

Me too. I hate giving up on a book so I kept at this one but HATED it. A girl I work with just loved it, read it over and over, so I kept going thinking it might get better. But it was one of those when I finally finished it all I could think was "well, there's wasted time I'll never get back!"

I've always wanted to see the musical but the book really ruined that. I'm really glad to hear it's nothing like the book, maybe I'll try it! I do love the music.

 

[Nomi]

So, am I the only person here who absolutly loved the book?

 

[Mocharilla]

Uhhh ... how inappropriate is it? Because I had a 6th grader in my class read it for his latest book report ... haha, oh no!

It talks about erections and stuff, and also there are very strong refrences to sex.

I would find it totally inappropriate for a 6th grader, as there is violence and other things, along with sex. I would NOT allow a 6th grader to read it.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I've tried to read it a couple of times. Haven't given it up totally, but I'm in no hurry to pick it up. My niece loved it, and keeps telling me to try it again, and get through the 1st part of it, and it gets better.

 

[profdsny]

I read a lot, and so does DW. We loved the show, and both of this thought this book was one of the worst we have read in years. And we both read 50+ books a year. It's too bad, because the potential for it was great, but what a terrible job.

 

[Soubrette]

I read the book first, then saw the musical. Have to say, I didn't like either. I like the concept (telling a familiar story from a different perspective). I guess it's the whole Wizard of Oz thing...that movie always creeped me out too.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Hated the book. Love to read, but I could not finish this one.

I got through the first 100 pages and thought that was bad, surely it must get better.

After the second 100 pages, I just had to quit. I too thought it was just poorly written. What could have been a very interesting story just got bogged down in weirdness.

I felt guilty not finishing the book -- I think it was the first time I had ever done that! -- but then my friend (who started it as well, but couldn't finish) reminded me...

"Life is too short to read s**t!"

I agreed!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I read it and have not seen the musical.

The book is certainly erotic and dark, lots of sex and murder. I mean, I could have done without some of the sex stuff but I suppose he wanted to paint a picture that these people were not as "good" as you think.

There was really no one I can recall that had any redeeming quality except one, which I will not spoil for the OP.

I would imagine the musical is "based on" the book.

 

[janette]

I've read it and liked it. I tend to like involved darker stories so it wasn't a stretch for me. I also read Son of a Witch; it wasn't as good but has a better ending.

I do audio versions and that might be part of it; this type of book is easier for me to do when I listen and don't have to worry about the strange names etc. I love Lord of the Rings audio versions but find them difficult to get into the regular version.

There was an interview with the author where the play is discussed and he talks about how he knew the play would follow the spirit of the book when they showed him the song "No One Mourns the Wicked". The play is a masterpiece that takes a dark novel and turns it into a fantasy. It is fabulous but only follows the ideas of the book.

 

[Kathi OD]

Read it and really liked it. Saw the musical and LOVED that, although as PP's have said, it really was quite different from the book.

 

[Mocharilla]

I would imagine the musical is "based on" the book.

Yes, definatly just based. Very loosely based.

I mean, you can definatly see the similarities, like, um, the characters, and who they are in relation to the original characters, and the fact that they go to Shiz. Other than that, not much... Those who've seen both know what I mean. Fiyero is one of the huge differences. Also, what ends up to Glinda and Elphie is very different from the book.

Also, they took the first 1/3rd of the book and turned it into the short flashback in "No One Mourns The Wicked".

I'm so amazed that the Creative Team of Wicked took such a horrible book and saw the potential, and turned it into such an amazing, beautiful musical! That's some serious talent!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I am interested more in Son of a Witch and the Confessionds of an Ugly Stepsister just out of curiosity.

Elaine, if you'd like DD can give you her opinion of Son of a Witch. She read Wicked and said once she could get through all the political stuff, she liked it pretty well. Just not as much as the play.

She loved the musical so much, that she read the sequel to find out what else happened to the characters. Not sure if she liked that one as much or not? But she loves, loves, loves fantasy. She has read LOTR so many times that she wore out her first copy, and she can dive into any Harry Potter book and immediately find any part you are looking for. She can probably recite those in her sleep.

BTW, she's 17 and has been reading books like these for a number of years.

 

[RUDisney]

I am a person that ALWAYS has to finish a book I start. If I wasn't one of those kinds of people, I probably would have given up on this book.

I am a person who reads a few chapters and if it's going nowhere for me, I can easily put it down and move on from it. That's what I did with Wicked.

I read "What the Dickens" aloud to my kids a few months ago. That is a Maguire Young Adult book about rogue toothfairies. That was very good and my kids kept asking when we could turn off the TV so I could read more of it to them. I had such high hopes about Wicked after reading WtD, but it was in no way as good.

Hated it, but loved the musical-- read the book about 5 years earlier.

It seems like people who are into fantasy like it.

See, I hate to read fantasy. I don't mind watching it in a movie, but I hate to read it.

Last night, one of our friends said that DH and he had just finished up a big case and he was planning to take us to NYC for a show and dinner. What do I want to see? "Wicked," I told him. So, he's going to have his secretary work on planning the day for us. I can't wait!

 

[profdsny]

I don't mind fantasy, dark, or sexual content. I don't like poor writing, which this was. I wonder if he actually had an editor.

 

[Lanshark]

I enjoyed Wicked but did not like the sequal Son of a Witch at all.

It is definitely a different kind of book