The book "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" is a fantasy novel written by Gregory Maguire. It was published in 1995 and explores the untold story of the infamous Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's classic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The book presents an alternate perspective on the events in Baum's original story, focusing on Elphaba, the green-skinned witch who becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. Rather than being depicted as purely evil, Maguire portrays her as a complex, misunderstood character with a complicated backstory and motivations. The story delves into Elphaba's childhood and upbringing, revealing how she became the green-skinned witch.
"I knew that Gregory Maguire had come up with a genius idea the moment I heard about Wicked. It's a book that has changed a lot of lives, including mine." -- Stephen Schwartz, composer and lyricist of Wicked: The Musical
Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. We also have sub specialities in the areas of Anthropology Archaeology, Nautical Fiction,and general fiction to include Science Fiction,Texana, and Mystery.
The story delves into Elphaba's childhood and upbringing, revealing how she became the green-skinned witch. It explores themes of identity, power, and the consequences of one's actions. The novel also introduces other characters from the land of Oz, such as Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard himself, and provides different interpretations of their roles and relationships to Elphaba.
Wicked - (Wicked Years) Large Print by Gregory Maguire (Paperback)
This is the book that started it all! The basis for the smash hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Gregory Maguire's breathtaking New York Times "bestseller Wicked "views the land of Oz, its inhabitants, its Wizard, and the Emerald City, through a darker and greener (not rosier) lens. Brilliantly inventive, Wicked" offers us a radical new evaluation of one of the most feared and hated characters in all of literature: the much maligned Wicked Witch of the West who, as Maguire tells us, wasn t nearly as Wicked "as we imagined."
Book Synopsis
This is the book that started it all! The basis for the smash hit Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Gregory Maguire's breathtaking New York Times bestseller Wicked views the land of Oz, its inhabitants, its Wizard, and the Emerald City, through a darker and greener (not rosier) lens. Brilliantly inventive, Wicked offers us a radical new evaluation of one of the most feared and hated characters in all of literature: the much maligned Wicked Witch of the West who, as Maguire tells us, wasn't nearly as Wicked as we imagined.
From the Back Cover
When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked?
Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West--a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
Review Quotes
"Maguire did something truly remarkable with this novel, in managing to inhabit, enlarge, deepen and find new dimensions in a world that had been invented by another writer, and in doing so make something entirely new. It's an astonishing achievement." -- Philip Pullman
"Gregory gets the complications and uniqueness of women very well." -- Kristen Chenoweth
"At the heart of this remarkable, unforgettable novel is a wildly original premise-- one that only a writer with Gregory Maguire's intellect and daring could have dreamed up: that the Wicked Witch of the West was a real woman, with an actual name, and her own story to tell. It was radical when Gregory first wrote it, and remains radical. It has the power to reshape one's view of the world." -- Winnie Holzman, co-writer of Wicked: The Musical
"Long before there was any thought of a musical, I read Wicked. I felt a quiet joy that sisterhood had made its way to the Yellow Brick Road. What happens when a witch, green or otherwise, gets to tell her own story instead of being vilified and misrepresented by dominant cultural authority? We witches know how that turns out!" -- Holly Near
"I knew that Gregory Maguire had come up with a genius idea the moment I heard about Wicked. It's a book that has changed a lot of lives, including mine." -- Stephen Schwartz, composer and lyricist of Wicked: The Musical
Book Synopsis
"Wicked" delves into political intrigue and social commentary, addressing themes of discrimination and social injustice. It examines the oppression of Animals (sentient beings with animal traits) and the oppressive regime of Oz's government. The book was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical of the same name, which premiered in 2003. The musical gained immense popularity and received critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling and catchy songs. It brought the story of the Wicked Witch of the West to a wider audience and is still running on Broadway today. Overall, "Wicked" is a thought-provoking and entertaining spin on a beloved children's story. It challenges preconceived notions about good and evil, and invites readers to question their own assumptions about the characters they thought they knew..
Reviews for "The Importance of Morality in Wickey Witch of the West Book"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't get past the first few chapters of the "Wickey witch of the west book." The storyline was confusing and lacked direction. The characters were shallow and lacked depth. It felt like there was no clear plot development or resolution. Overall, it was a complete waste of my time, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging book.
2. Mike - 2 stars - I found "Wickey witch of the west book" to be quite disappointing. The writing style was choppy and inconsistent, making it difficult to connect with the story. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the descriptions were lacking in detail. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. I would not recommend it to others unless they are specifically looking for a light and nonsensical read.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - I was extremely let down by "Wickey witch of the west book." The characters were one-dimensional, and their actions and motivations were not believable. The plot lacked originality and seemed like a poor attempt to mimic other popular fantasy books. The writing itself was mediocre, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structure. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a well-crafted and captivating story.
4. Alex - 1 star - "Wickey witch of the west book" was a complete disappointment. The story was confusing and lacked coherence. The author introduced too many unnecessary characters and subplots, which only added to the already convoluted narrative. The dialogue was unrealistic and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I found this book frustrating and tedious to read, and I would not recommend it to others unless they have a high tolerance for poorly executed fantasy novels.