Book Review: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

By georgelthomas on 6 Oct 2023 • ( 2 )

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and that means it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing the book that inspired the iconic musical of the same name, Wicked by Gregory Maguire.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire was first published in 1995 by ReganBooks, and (my copy) is 495 pages long.

The Plot
Wicked is a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s timeless favourite, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Set in the Land of Oz, the book tells the story of two central characters, Elphaba and Glinda, and their complex friendship amidst political turmoil and social upheaval.

Characters
Elphaba Thropp
Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West, made famous in the original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is the green-skinned main protagonist here. She is a complex character known for her green skin, sharp tongue, and extraordinary magical abilities. Elphaba is a powerful and intelligent sorceress, though she is also a social outcast who struggles to fit in with others due to her appearance and personality. Despite all this, Elphaba is compassionate and generous, always trying to do the right thing, even if it means going against the system.

Throughout the story, Elphaba struggles to reconcile her desire for social and political change with the harsh realities of a world ruled by the Wizard’s oppressive and corrupt government. Eventually, she becomes increasingly disillusioned with The Wizard of Oz, eventually joining the resistance in an attempt to overthrow him.

Galinda Arduenna Upland (Glinda)
Glinda, a beautiful and highly privileged girl of noble descent, is paired as a roommate with Elphaba at Shiz, where she is popular but not necessarily loved by everyone.

Glinda is initially portrayed as shallow, but as the story progresses, we see her character develop, showing her growth into a more aware and empathetic person. She is elegant, charming, and, ultimately, kind-hearted. In contrast to Elphaba, Glinda comes from an affluent background with a privileged lifestyle, which, along with Elphaba’s green skin, is the reason for their initial dislike of one another. Throughout the book, however, the two become great friends.

Nessarose Thropp
Nessarose is Elphaba’s sister, who, due to their mother’s preoccupation with making sure she wasn’t born green like her sister, is born without arms. Although her character is not as straightforward as her older sister, as the story progresses, she emerges as a pivotal player in the complex political landscape of Oz. Becoming ruler of Munchkinland, Nessarose, now a witch herself, has become a bit of a religious dictator, declaring that the spells she performs are the miracles of the Unnamed God.

Nessarose’s fate is sealed when a farmhouse falls out of the sky in the middle of Munchkinland and lands on her. Returning to Munchkinland for her sister’s funeral, Elphaba learns that the house had a passenger in the form of a young farm girl called Dorothy Gale, who arrived from ‘Canziss’ with her dog, Toto. Glinda confesses that she gave Dorothy Nessarose’s slippers and cast a spell on them to ensure she wouldn’t be harmed, which causes Elphaba to fly into a rage, determined to get the slippers back because they are all of her sister has left.

Dr. Dillamond
Dr Dillamond is a professor at Shiz University, where Elphaba and Glinda attend school. He is a goat and represents the plight of the Animals in Oz. Dr Dillamond is a kind and wise mentor to Elphaba but is eventually silenced by the Wizard’s oppressive regime. His mistreatment and ultimate fate underscore the theme of discrimination throughout the book.

The Wizard of Oz
In Oz, the Wizard is a revered figure. He is seen as a benevolent leader who has brought prosperity to Oz. However, as Elphaba and her friends delve deeper into the Wizard’s secrets, they discover that he is not what he seems. The Wizard is a manipulative and oppressive figure seeking to maintain his power and control. I won’t say more about the Wizard because he is integral to Elphaba’s storyline – and I wouldn’t want to ruin anything for those who have yet to read the book.

Fiyero Tiggular
Fiyero Tiggular is a handsome prince who attends Shiz with Elphaba and Glinda. At first, he is portrayed as a shallow and privileged person, and we get to follow his arc as he transforms into a thoughtful and compassionate character who falls desperately in love with Elphaba. While their relationship is complex and full of challenges, Fiyero plays a significant role in Elphaba’s life.

Writing Style
Maguire’s writing style in Wicked is engaging and thought-provoking, and the descriptive language used in this novel paints a vivid and vibrant picture of the story world. I couldn’t help but get lost in the magic, mystery and intrigue as Maguire weaves a captivating tale of friendship, love and betrayal. He has a gift for mixing humour and tragedy, keeping readers on their toes and making the book hard to put down.

The plot of Wicked is incredibly layered and intricate, with Maguire’s deliberate and measured style immersing the reader into a believable world of politics, corruption, and power struggles. The novel shines a much-needed spotlight on issues like social injustice, identity, and oppression, delving into the moral ambiguity of good and evil and dismantling the conventions of the fairytale genre.

Final Thoughts
Overall, Wicked is an extraordinary book, filled with rich characterizations, twists and turns, and an intriguing storyline to boot. The book is a must-read for lovers of fantasy and fairytales or anyone who loves an immersive reading experience.

I loved the original stories by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and this book doesn’t take anything away from those. In fact, it adds to them by giving us the parts of the story we weren’t previously privy to. It allows us to experience familiar events we know well, such as Dorothy receiving the slippers from a different perspective.

Those familiar with The Wizard of Oz will find themselves drawn in by the rich world-building and character development, and those new to the Land of Oz will find a fresh and compelling take on a familiar tale.

I would surely recommend giving it a read.

I am giving Wicked an 8/10.

Have you read Wicked or any of its sequels? Have you watched the musical? I haven’t seen the musical, though I have read that there are some differences between the novel and the stage show. I’m intrigued to find out what they’ll do with the film adaptation, the first part of which will be released at the end of 2024.

Anyway, enough from me. This has been rather long, so I’ll say thank you, as always, for stopping by to read my review. It really means the world.

Until next time,

George