What I’m Reading Now: Wicked By Gregory Maguire
I’m sure that everyone is familiar with this book by now. Maguire takes on the daunting task of filling in the details that The Wizard of Oz left out: Where did the Wicked Witch of the West come from? What was her life like? Was she born green? Or, more importantly, was she born evil?
Maguire fills in the details nicely and tells his own tale while still being incredibly faithful to the original books. Though Wicked is based off of a children’s novel, this is no kids tale. This is a fairy tale for adults, make no mistake about it.
Maguire is also unafraid to tackle serious issues that other writers would have gladly ignored in their first novels: the issue of prejudice and racism, sexism, religion and faith, the nature of good and the true nature of evil and the human heart.
The novel is a fairy tale, parable, comment on society and its people all rolled into one. There are two kinds of people: the ones who love Wicked and the ones who hate it.
Personally, I love it. I’m reading it again for the fourth time. It’s now out in a new mass market paperback edition that has green edged pages. I feel like I’m reading an old pulp novel.
Even on a fourth go, the book reads as it did the first time. There is so much to read, so much to take in. It’s a tall drink of a book and you may have to take several gulps until you reach the end. But the end will be so satisfying.
So, if you haven’t read it, make sure to pick yourself up a copy. It’s a fantastic read about a fascinating character.
NEXT UP: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
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