Wicked

It's been so long since I last wrote anything it's beyond a joke, so I've just decided to review the last book I read, which is in this case Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I know it's an old book, so you might already have read it, but if you haven't, here's my opinion. I went to London and saw the musical a couple of years ago, and it was so great, that I decided that I'd have to read the book it was based on. It took a while to get round to it, but I did. And this is what I think... For me personally, it was interesting and definitely worth reading, I had wanted to read it, and I certainly don't regret doing so. It was such a clever concept, and when it was going well, it was REALLY going well, a fascinating idea of a prequal to The Wizard Of Oz, showing a very different take on the characters and the concept of good v evil that we get from the original story! However, it wasn't all peachy... I wouldn't recommend reading it because you have seen the musical and want to read the story again, the musical was very loosely based on the story, and made much happier, the novel is NOT the same! It was a complicated story, full of ideas and opinions on politics and religion, and there were quite a few times when the action stopped and the chapters moved slowly. The re-designing of the classic characters is done in a very clever, but not always pleasing way, and while humour is added throughout by some of the more silly characters, it is quite a heavy story at the best of times. I'll admit that my expectations were high because of my enjoyment of the musical, but i was slightly disappointed with the overaall outcome of the book. I would however be very interested to read Son Of A Witch, the next instalment of the story, to see if some of the issues are resolved in it. I would recommend this dbook to you if you are patient and clever, can follow a complex story line, and don't mind having to concentrate hard on a book. I'll read Son Of A Wicth as soon as possible and let you know what I think!
Cat xxxx