Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West | 
pickThis has been on my TBR for 15 years! I‘ve read a couple other titles by Maguire and they‘ve been hit or miss for me. Once I got into the writing style of this I was hooked! The gaps in years between sections left holes in the story that I desperately want answers to. I may have to give Elphaba a go when it‘s published this spring. Maybe the others in the series? I was hoping to just read this and be done but I after finishing, I want more 😆
panIt took me 4 months to finish. It is an affront to my beloved childhood books. I can understand Maguire's need to explain evilness in some people. But, I don't understand his theory. Is he saying revenge is the cause of evil or how they were raised? I didn't have any sympathy for Elphaba, except when she was a baby and a child. I have read Glinda was the villain, but she is barely in the last half. Glinda is hated because of the shoes. SHOES!!!
Half way through book 3 for the year. This is a re-read of WICKED. I read the original in 2001, before the musical and well before the movie based on the musical that was based on the book. I shall be adding the other books in this series to my reading list.
Am I the only sentient being in the universe who vehemently dislikes this book?
I first bought it, with glee, 20 years ago. I didn't get through Part 1 before I donated it to the county library.
When I heard about Broadway, in disbelief, I thought it won't last. Never went to see the show, but my devotion to Jonathan Bailey, I started reading again before I saw the movie. Loved the movie so I can't wait to see it on stage. WHAT AM I MISSING?⏬️
bailedI just couldn‘t. Made it to about 60% through. Did get better the further in, just didn‘t get interesting enough to stay with it. It was all over the place. Liked the political atmosphere more, and wished it went that way more than this odd form of attraction.
Movie was better. (What an odd thing to say)
bailed😆 I needn‘t have felt bad about bailing on this one. It was essentially a flop for the bookclub. Only two actually managed to read/listen to the whole thing.
I always enjoy looking back at the books I‘ve read throughout the year. I didn‘t do a reading challenge in ‘24 but kept up with my monthly book club friends and hosted the book club at the senior center quarterly for work. I‘m looking forward to the books ‘25 has in-store for me. I‘ll continue the book clubs and add Litsy‘s #FoodandLit this year for something new! My current read is Wicked 🧙
so-so12-31-24: My 51st finished book and my final book of 2024! This was a re-read because of all the Wicked screenings and paraphernalia my daughter and I have purchased since the movie came out. When I read this the first time I loved it. Then I saw the musical and eventually the movie and I have to say I don‘t love it as much. Besides the characters names there is so much that is different. It was a tad disappointing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣1️⃣
bailedAlways intended to read this as I love the musical. I got the book for Christmas and I couldn't get past page 100. This was just not for me!
IRL Bookclub - I have appropriately themed flags. 🧙🏾♀️
I‘ve been having great difficulty getting into this one. 🫤 I will feel like a heel if I bail so I‘m hoping it picks up.
pickWith the continued success of the musical and the triumphant movie based on this book, I decided it was time to venture into this book. If you are living under a rock, Gregory Maguire's book delves into the life of Elphaba, otherwise known as The Wicked Witch of the West. His vision of Oz and the characters we all know and love is filled with heart, emotion, and societal and morality questions. What are good and evil, and who defines them?
11-29-24: My Wicked Tree! You can‘t see Glinda‘s wand but you get the idea 💖💚
#wicked #amandagorman #wickeddousgood
What a national treasure! Amanda Gorman performs Wicked/Do Us Good
https://youtu.be/BPOVo3_pyos
Reading for movie-bookclub.
I'm going to see it tomorrow. I liked the book better than the play so I hope I like the movie.
I saw the Wicked movie and it was AMAZING!! 🤩
I can‘t wait for the next one!!
(I love this photo🤪)
I have no words for how much I loved the wicked movie and I can‘t wait to go see it again!!
Trying to finish this book before the movie come out!!😬
I was driving in the countryside yesterday, listening to Wicked and came across a tin man mailbox!!
What a #coinkydink !
I‘m re-listening to this since the movie is coming out soon.
I read the book years ago and really did not enjoy it. It‘s still not my favorite book, but I‘m enjoying it a little better this time.
I have never seen the musical, which must have its own life, with such great music. It will be fun to see the movie adaptation.
I read this way back when it was first released. But someone lost my original copy. My daughter already bought us tickets for the movie. She‘s really excited for our mother-daughter date. But I think a reread is in order. And it gave me an excuse to buy this beautiful edition as a replacement.
When I read this back in '07, I was so impressed. I loved the play, too, but it wasn't nearly as #dark as the book!
#HauntedShelf #BlackCatCrew @BookwormAHN 31 pts
Super excited for my adventure calendar for this year!!
pickI know it was a reread for me but I honestly forgot most of the plot due to reading it when I was having big time memory issues. Still a really good book! Onto the next one in the series Son of a Witch!
Did a audio only review about it as well. I haven't done 1 in yearssss so any feedback from yall is super helpful!
https://youtu.be/NC85_UCRW7o
I finally have the whole series! Along with having the time since I just did some surgery and healing from it. I'm rereading the 1st book so I can just speed through the other 3. When I originally read it, I didn't know it was a series.
panI had to work really, really hard not to bail. Only reason I didn't is that that goes against my general principles.
I got the book because I LOVE the musical. I HATED the book and I don't say that lightly. It is disgusting!
And warning to parents, because of the sexual content, it IS NOT appropriate reading for any of those children, especially young girls who also love the musical.
I still haven't read the book, but teen granddaughter and I loved it on Broadway.
"I do believe I have been changed for the better
And because I knew you
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good"
#Wicked #AutumnPlease @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I really enjoyed this book, much more than the play.
#Witch
#AutumnPlease
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
pan28 July-13 Sep 23
Relieved to have finally finished this so I can move on to something better. Recommended by a former colleague but found it lacked the lightness and humour of the musical (yes I probably should have expected that) and I just could not reconcile the two. It seemed to go forever and I felt Maguire was too busy being clever for me to actually understand what was happening.
I need to learn to bail.
Son of a Witch was kinda disappointing as sequels often are. It's hard to recreate the impact of such an innovative version of Oz. A Lion Among Men redeemed the series a bit, I thought. Tying up all the loose ends is at once satisfying and disappointing. It's bad enough that the story is over. I'd like a little bit of the mystery left to haunt me as I walk the woods at night. The first book is the best but the whole series is genius.
I picked up a copy of Wicked last year but never got around to reading it. Maybe now is the time. I have to admit I'm starting it with a bit of apprehension since I've heard so many mixed opinions on it.
🍭 The Man with the X-ray Eyes (I was a kid.)
🍫 Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
🍬 Burnt orange/rust
I tag @NataliePatalie.
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
Will be trying to catch up today and read a bunch while home with my youngest who is now sick. Lots of Minnie Mouse and cuddles for today. Here is the prompt “Wicked” for #OminousOctober the only book in this series I liked. @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks #Scarathon #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick
I loooooove Wicked!
#OminousOctober #photochallenge #wicked #scarathlon #teamslaughter
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs @Clwojick
pickHonestly, I anticipated struggling my way through this book that was on my TBR so long that I donated my original copy unread - then couldn‘t resist this beauty at thrifting prices. I‘ve seen the touring musical several times and enjoyed reading this book for the whole story. I think I‘ll read Son of a Witch next October!
My favorite book with a #witch. 💚
#OminousOctober
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
Although this is my favorite musical I have never been able to bring myself to read it! #beenonmyshelf4ever #bookmoods @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
Thrift store book haul from Saturday. $1.50 for the lot!
I‘m always on the lookout for leather bound volumes in good condition. I‘m pretty picky when it comes to paperbacks. I actually prefer paperbacks because they are so much easier to travel with and I can fit more on my bookshelves. But even when they are really cheap ($.10 each at the thrift store), I only want copies that are in like new condition. This helps me limit myself!
panMy God. Don‘t read it. Go watch the musical and enjoy it. Skip this hyper sexualized shit. No one will ever be able to convince me that Old Greg wasn‘t 100% fondling himself while writing this book. I‘ve decided I will never be a Maguire fan. He just isn‘t for me.
“Ah, we‘re slow learners,” Nanny countered, “but they (men) can‘t learn at all.”
On a compleatly different note, if you like Oz things, After Oz was really interesting. It is what happens to Dorothy when she gets back to Kansas. No fantasy, but still a little crazy. 4d