danielle_ws's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
When Elphaba left Shiz the plot really slowed and Glinda became practically irellevant.
sadie_stavrou's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mpchiz's review
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wonderful weird world building I loved the book much more than musical and all the talking Animals vs animal politics
flufficorn's review
3.0
It's a good book. It's not too academic, it's not too dumbed down. Elphaba is an interesting person. And based on what we know of her in this book, I think she and I would get along. I can definitely see why everyone loves this book as much as they do.
I feel like Elphaba's development was rushed. In my own experience, female characters as written by men just never feel as complete and fleshed out. I feel that is true of Elphaba. There is a solid foundation here, but she struck me as hollow, and static. Her ideas, passions, and stances never really change. Her friends all seem to grow and develop (except maybe Avaric but he's small potatoes). Elphaba just stays the same, and to me, that is very disappointing. She's someone that is very stuck in the past. It seems to me she never really learns to let go. Maybe that is what the author wanted me to think, but I know that women - and hell, people in general - are just more complex than that.
Regardless though, this book is entertaining. It also very much gives depth to the idea of a villain. As someone who has often been cast as the role of the villain in life, I love the idea that Wicked brought to the table and to pop-culture at large. Villains are people, and they are people we don't know because we never asked them for their side of the story. I relate to that.
Moreover, the world that the author creates is intriguing. Not only do I want to go and read the source material (I have never read a single Oz book), but I also want to see what the author does in the rest of the series, and the other books he has written. I have read Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister. I remember liking it. I will definitely check out other things by this author.
I feel like Elphaba's development was rushed. In my own experience, female characters as written by men just never feel as complete and fleshed out. I feel that is true of Elphaba. There is a solid foundation here, but she struck me as hollow, and static. Her ideas, passions, and stances never really change. Her friends all seem to grow and develop (except maybe Avaric but he's small potatoes). Elphaba just stays the same, and to me, that is very disappointing. She's someone that is very stuck in the past. It seems to me she never really learns to let go. Maybe that is what the author wanted me to think, but I know that women - and hell, people in general - are just more complex than that.
Regardless though, this book is entertaining. It also very much gives depth to the idea of a villain. As someone who has often been cast as the role of the villain in life, I love the idea that Wicked brought to the table and to pop-culture at large. Villains are people, and they are people we don't know because we never asked them for their side of the story. I relate to that.
Moreover, the world that the author creates is intriguing. Not only do I want to go and read the source material (I have never read a single Oz book), but I also want to see what the author does in the rest of the series, and the other books he has written. I have read Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister. I remember liking it. I will definitely check out other things by this author.
crystal_reading's review
3.0
I read this quite awhile ago. I have been listening to the musical so thought I should read it again and refresh my memory about the novel.
The story is intriguing, but sometimes uncomfortably raw and a bit bawdy.
I love that we really see shades of gray and that people are not so simple - wicked or good. We see that there is a bit of wickedness in all and that people and that even the "evil" ones can have some good in them too.
The story is intriguing, but sometimes uncomfortably raw and a bit bawdy.
I love that we really see shades of gray and that people are not so simple - wicked or good. We see that there is a bit of wickedness in all and that people and that even the "evil" ones can have some good in them too.
akiraxxiv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
raes's review
slow-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
0.5
elsafenander's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rebeccatc's review
2.0
I thought this book was boring. it is political and highly philosophical, but instead of demonstrating these concepts in an interesting way, the characters just talk about them. And that's pretty much all they do. yawn.
tris_runner_tribute's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25