Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West

I was  rather pleased today when asked to bring in my favourite book to my next seminar for discussion. It is widely known that I am a massive fan of 'Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of The West' and the series to follow: 'Son of a Witch', 'Lion Among Men' and 'Out of Oz'. But before you judge, please note the series is very different from the Musical that some of you may have seen. More importantly it isn't 'just' a retelling of 'The Wizard of Oz', I feel compelled to address such opinions. Fictional Revisionism is the retelling of a story with considerable changes to environment or character, and that is exactly what Gregory Maguire does with 'Wicked' not only does he take us back into a place that millions of people fell in love with as children, but he allows us back there as teenagers and adults. We are invited back to the magical Emerald City, but from a different perspective.

'Wicked' as you might have guessed from the title is from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West - Elphaba. There is a slight mention of Dorothy towards the end, but otherwise she doesn't feature, the story focuses on life before Dorothy. Oz is an extremely complicated place economically and politically with the Wizard running riot, causing all sorts of chaos. Not to mention the unrest between the different religions throughout Oz. This book is about liberation, well the fight for it, lead by the head-strong Elphaba who we almost fall in love with. She isn't the nasty green witch she is painted as in 'The Wizard of Oz' but instead we are shown a softer side to her where she experiences love, friendship, heart-ache, rejection & acceptance. She becomes a loner for the good of Oz trying to keep the Grimmerie (book of spells) out of harms way, very much a selfless person =]

'Wicked' has not only sold millions of books around the world, but is also on stage in numerous countries (the award winning musical is definitely worth seeing, I've been twice) and is rumoured to be made into a film (which I warmly welcome) =]

What you can expect from 'Wicked':

• An explanation into how the Cowardly Lion came to be a coward
• Elphaba's family life
• Elphaba's love life
• The difference between animals and Animals
• The love/hate relationship between Elphaba & Glinda (formely Galinda)
• Who Dorothy's house actually landed on
• and so much more 

I really do suggest you give 'Wicked' a go if you find yourself wondering what to read next, it really is an amazing place and a great book =]