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A review by emilywemily6
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
If a black woman had written this, it could have been a 5 star.
Be warned, this is a dark book. Part of me appreciates what the author was trying to do, but there were so many moments where there was something really vulgar or crass that seemed meaningless, or where the themes of good vs evil were too heavy handed. It was a strange combination that left me feeling like I didn’t quite understand Macguire’s goals for the book. It was also such a slog to get through and felt so slow. I also felt like I was watching Elphaba from above for most of the book instead of looking inside her head, which made this book lacking in a lot of ways. It felt more emotionless than it could have, considering the dark topics and themes. Again: if a black woman wrote this, it would have been a much better story. The storytelling in the musical is better in regards to pacing and understand the depth of Elphaba’s character and struggles.
Be warned, this is a dark book. Part of me appreciates what the author was trying to do, but there were so many moments where there was something really vulgar or crass that seemed meaningless, or where the themes of good vs evil were too heavy handed. It was a strange combination that left me feeling like I didn’t quite understand Macguire’s goals for the book. It was also such a slog to get through and felt so slow. I also felt like I was watching Elphaba from above for most of the book instead of looking inside her head, which made this book lacking in a lot of ways. It felt more emotionless than it could have, considering the dark topics and themes. Again: if a black woman wrote this, it would have been a much better story. The storytelling in the musical is better in regards to pacing and understand the depth of Elphaba’s character and struggles.