"Wicked" the book...

[DizBelle]

We saw the Wicked musical last week so I decided to read the book on which it is based. I'm barely over 10% in and I'm like "What the &*$*&$%!!!!"

Has anybody else read the book?

 

[soccerdad72]

Tried reading it - it sucks.

 

[MainMom]

Tried reading it - it sucks.

Same. Forced myself to finish. Not worth it.

 

[alicat8]

I read it years before I saw the play. Several "WT#$^%$?" moments but I did enjoy it. I like most of his books. To me the play was a cheapened version of the story. (Though much happier )

 

[Christine]

I read it SOOOO long ago that I can barely remember. I think I enjoyed it. Read it before I saw the show. It's definitely out there.

 

[porschegrl]

I read it years before I saw the play. Several "WT#$^%$?" moments but I did enjoy it. I like most of his books. To me the play was a cheapened version of the story. (Though much happier )

Same here. I know the novel contains a lot of subtext/allegory/symbolism that sailed well over my head, but I enjoyed it on a literal level, anyway.

 

[Disney_traveler]

Bought it as a fancy covered 2 book set with "wicked" and "son of a witch". I've never seen the musical. I'm biased against it just because of Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel. Can't stand their voices. anyways, I've read all the L Frank Baum too and love the old Wizard of Oz and just can't get behind anything except the Wizard of Oz movie. Both books did have some freaky stuff in it: how elphaba came to be, her limbless sister, some pg-13 moments.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Saw Wicked twice in two different cities. Favourite musical ever. Book is hell to read.

 

[L&Lfan]

Love Wizard of Oz (the original book series and the 1939 film). Not into Wicked at all.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I also read it long before I saw the musical---and was not particularly impressed. I am amazed by what an awesome script they made from such a so-so book.
There was far too much in the book that felt like it was trying to be edgy or push teh envelope or something and didn't really need to be there or come across like it fit well as presented.

I read Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister first and liked that one quite a bit, so I was taken aback by how much I disliked in Wicked

 

[superme80]

I really liked the book. Son of a Witch I will rate as the worst book I have ever read. My friend complained to me about this horrible book she just read. I asked if it was Son of a Witch. She admitted that it was.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Wow. I thought the book was excellent. I honestly loved the whole series... In fact, the musical was really watered down and somewhat awful in comparison. They changed so much in the musical that it is tough to even give both of these works the same name...what they did was take away all of the important storylines dealing with the prejudice of society and added in a really terrible love triangle that really didn't exist in the first place. And on top of it all, they changed all the characters around so much as if to try and tie in with the original Wizard of Oz more...but in doing that, all it did was create humongous plotholes that will never be explained. And the worst part is that in the musical, she CHOOSES to be Wicked...she states it many times within song. Whereas in the book, she NEVER made that kind of a decision...it is only up to the READER to make that decision.

Why do I love the book so much? I love how it skews good and evil so much that you are actually forced to come up with your own opinion as to which characters are good and which characters are plain awful, rather than the author just telling you as they do in most stories. The book is about how there is no perfect world. Once you think you stumble upon it, you finally realize that the rainbows and puppies will always come with the price of vengeance and dark thoughts. I love this book, because it touches on race, class, gender, animal rights and religion all without trying to GIVE you an answer. It's so filled with strength and hope..but also filled with despair and non-triumphs. But mostly because the story is so intriguing. Following Elphaba through her childhood, college years, adulthood, etc. she is faced with so many trials, in a quickly deteriorating Oz. I love the way that no matter how much good she does, it is brilliantly spun as evil by outside forces. You can take a lot from this book. The only thing you can take from the musical is "hey look at the pretty costumes and the catchy songs..." Ah well, too each their own

 

[elgerber]

I tried to read the book, I couldn't finish it. My dd finally took it from me, and she did finish it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Wow. I thought the book was excellent. I honestly loved the whole series... In fact, the musical was really watered down and somewhat awful in comparison. They changed so much in the musical that it is tough to even give both of these works the same name...what they did was take away all of the important storylines dealing with the prejudice of society and added in a really terrible love triangle that really didn't exist in the first place. And on top of it all, they changed all the characters around so much as if to try and tie in with the original Wizard of Oz more...but in doing that, all it did was create humongous plotholes that will never be explained. And the worst part is that in the musical, she CHOOSES to be Wicked...she states it many times within song. Whereas in the book, she NEVER made that kind of a decision...it is only up to the READER to make that decision.

Why do I love the book so much? I love how it skews good and evil so much that you are actually forced to come up with your own opinion as to which characters are good and which characters are plain awful, rather than the author just telling you as they do in most stories. The book is about how there is no perfect world. Once you think you stumble upon it, you finally realize that the rainbows and puppies will always come with the price of vengeance and dark thoughts. I love this book, because it touches on race, class, gender, animal rights and religion all without trying to GIVE you an answer. It's so filled with strength and hope..but also filled with despair and non-triumphs. But mostly because the story is so intriguing. Following Elphaba through her childhood, college years, adulthood, etc. she is faced with so many trials, in a quickly deteriorating Oz. I love the way that no matter how much good she does, it is brilliantly spun as evil by outside forces. You can take a lot from this book. The only thing you can take from the musical is "hey look at the pretty costumes and the catchy songs..." Ah well, too each their own

I think you missed a lot of the subtext of the musical (or, rather, all of it). Pretty much everything you say is in the book is in the musical too, and presented better IMO
(and, she does not choose to be wicked, she chooses to allow people to see her that way--I mean that is a a major plot point right there---she knows if she does what she needs to do she will be "cast" as wicked, but she does it anyway)

 

[cabanafrau]

I read the book a few years before seeing the musical. Walked out of the musical saying, so that's how they made such a dark book play out on a stage musical.

Now I have a confession to make. I read the book after my daughter did -- when I gave it to her in her Easter basket . . . when she was ten. Proud parenting moment.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I read the book a few years before seeing the musical. Walked out of the musical saying, so that's how they made such a dark book play out on a stage musical.

Now I have a confession to make. I read the book after my daughter did -- when I gave it to her in her Easter basket . . . when she was ten. Proud parenting moment.

I can totally imagine that happening---you probably just knew it was a retelling of The Wizard of Oz from the Wicked Witche's point of view---which, if you knew nothing else about it, would sound like a good book for a 10 year old. I bet you were mortified when you read it But you have a great story now

 

[cabanafrau]

I can totally imagine that happening---you probably just knew it was a retelling of The Wizard of Oz from the Wicked Witche's point of view---which, if you knew nothing else about it, would sound like a good book for a 10 year old. I bet you were mortified when you read it But you have a great story now

Oh, my daughters are writing their own book. About their crazy mom!

The reviews I read on the book did emphasize the retelling of the story we all know from an entirely different vantage point. What could possibly go wrong there? Gulp.

DD read the book and never said one peep to me about it to clue me in.

 

[MrJT]

I saw the musical on Broadway about 8 years ago, I loved it. I've read most of the books, they were ok. I read them after seeing the play. They have very little in common. A lot of characters share names, and very little else.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think you missed a lot of the subtext of the musical (or, rather, all of it). Pretty much everything you say is in the book is in the musical too, and presented better IMO
(and, she does not choose to be wicked, she chooses to allow people to see her that way--I mean that is a a major plot point right there---she knows if she does what she needs to do she will be "cast" as wicked, but she does it anyway)

Yeah, I didn't miss the subtext. I've seen the show many times (my friends always make me do the lottery with them...and I do enjoy the performances, regardless of the plot). But I am merely stating what is presented to the audience in the show. Yes, they TOUCH on certain aspects, but they're all thrown to the wayside for a love story and a story of "friendship". When one is asked what Wicked was about after seeing the show, they will either go into the relationship between Galinda and Elfie or the love story with Fiyero... You know it's true. And I'm not going to spoil anything, but the entire last 20 minutes completely negates anything that happens in the actual Wizard of Oz books...And THAT'S poor storytelling.

 

[okeydokey]

I found the book hard to get into. Once I got past the beginning though, I really enjoyed it. Loved the rest.