Jackie S. reviewed on 7/4/2010

Helpful Score: 1

Maybe the reason some people were so disappointed in this book is that they were expecting something along the lines of the Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz movie or "Wicked", the Broadway musical. I think the real taking off point for this novel is the original "Wizard of Oz" and "Marvelous Land of Oz" books written by L. Frank Baum, which have always had serious political and religious overtones in them, and are way "darker" than either of the musical versions. It's puzzling to me how anyone could expect that a novel told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West would be all sweetness and light. Even in the MGM movie, the character played by Margaret Hamilton always pursued her own agenda. I loved how Gregory Maguire pieced together a psychologically astute portrait of an emotionally damaged green-skinned girl who from birth was treated like an outcast and who never fit into Ozian society. He explains everything the original Oz books left out, like why the Witch was so obsessed with the silver shoes and what was her strange connection to the flying monkeys?
I enjoyed the characterization of Elphaba; I found her fascinatingly complex, and I was rooting for her all the way. Even when her behavior was selfish and hard to understand, she still had my sympathy. She was a tragic figure, lived apart from others, and was wracked with guilt.
This is a great novel, very interesting and different. Just let go of your expectations and let the author lead you where he wants you to go. It's a fun journey.

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