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sadcal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
So much more sad, and realistic, than the musical. Which makes sense. It's tragic really. Everything Elphaba does blows up in her face, she is faced with failure after failure. And then she dies. And that's the end of her story. She is not a "misunderstood good guy" the way she is in the musical. She's complicated and passionate with a strong sense of social justice, but cold and unfeeling on a personal level.
Overall, it's a really well written and thought out book. The political stakes and what is happening in Oz feel realistic, authentic to "human" (even though they aren't human) nature. This book is DEEPLY political in a way that is completely washed away in the musical. It is such a well thought out book. It's the kind you would read over and over and have different takeaways each time. I won't though, I actually had a really hard time getting through it. Not sure why, it was very good and I enjoyed reading it, I just couldn't read much of it at a time.
Overall, it's a really well written and thought out book. The political stakes and what is happening in Oz feel realistic, authentic to "human" (even though they aren't human) nature. This book is DEEPLY political in a way that is completely washed away in the musical. It is such a well thought out book. It's the kind you would read over and over and have different takeaways each time. I won't though, I actually had a really hard time getting through it. Not sure why, it was very good and I enjoyed reading it, I just couldn't read much of it at a time.
cinderoni's review against another edition
I was just not enjoying the writing style. I read it before and thought it was great, but I'm not enjoying the re-read as much
mattmaison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
_kestrel_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
whendles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
5.0
I liked this one more than the OG Oz story lol
shayswiftie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
meliemelo's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
Absolutely not what I expected, having seen the musical first, and I wonder how many parents accidentally get this for their <i>Wicked</i>-obsessed child who is way to young for it - note that this isn't a criticism of the book nor of its author, I just find it funny.
On to the book, so. A lot of its dialogues read like theater, which I enjoyed but took some time getting used to, as the style in general. It is quite bleak overall, meant (to continue on the theater track) as a tragedy. The issue with that is that it is hard to appreciate a tragedy when you don't get attached to its characters, and here even wanting to sympathise with Elphaba proves difficult at times, while others (like plotlines) come in and out of the frame before you have had time to enjoy them.
All in all, it is well-written, I liked that it spanned decades, and I do recognise the fascinating task attempted by the author. It did leave me unsatisfied as everything crashes (not even really together) for the final act, but I am curious as to where the sequels will take me.
On to the book, so. A lot of its dialogues read like theater, which I enjoyed but took some time getting used to, as the style in general. It is quite bleak overall, meant (to continue on the theater track) as a tragedy. The issue with that is that it is hard to appreciate a tragedy when you don't get attached to its characters, and here even wanting to sympathise with Elphaba proves difficult at times, while others (like plotlines) come in and out of the frame before you have had time to enjoy them.
All in all, it is well-written, I liked that it spanned decades, and I do recognise the fascinating task attempted by the author. It did leave me unsatisfied as everything crashes (not even really together) for the final act, but I am curious as to where the sequels will take me.
amco7047's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0