Currently reading... may turn into a ray when I'm done

On the whole, this was a very enjoyable book which I found to be a quick read. I think taking a fairy tale that most "everyone" has grown up with, and retelling it with any degree of believability is always a most difficult task. Overall, I think Gregory Magquire did a very good job in doing this, and I will definitely be seaching out his other novels.

First, let it be known that I love the story. However, I also love the original story of Oz. This is not a prerequisite -- in fact, it may even have hampered me a little. I know the original Oz story inside and out -- read the books, seen the movie, and acted in the play -- as the very Wicked Witch. My idea of Oz, then, was quite established, and I'm not sure it entirely mesh's with Maguire's idea of Oz, and how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be. Specifically, I found the voices of the characters weak -- specifically in the dialoge. Right up until the very end, I had trouble matching the character voices and personalities (i.e., from the movie) with those in the books. The Witch, to me, seemed more like Hermione in Harry Potter than the Wicked Witch of the West. The only voice he did seem to get exactly right was Dorothy's -- but she plays such a small (if pivotal) role in the novel that it didn't seem that hard to do.

Looking at it as a standalone story, however, it is wonderful. It has plot, characters, wit, and social commentary besides. Maguire writes of a fictional world, with modern-day themes that apply to our world, if we care to see them. Furthermore, Maguire makes the fairy tale true -- The Emerald City isn't a purely happy and perfect city, but one with a dark side, just as all cities have. The people are not all shiny happy people plauged by two mean and horrible witches -- but rather a people divided, some liking the rulers and others not.

Overall, Maguire succeeds enormously in making the story of the Wicked Witch, and of the land of Oz in general, real.

This is not just another fairy tale.

This book is being offered as a BookRing.

Please Remember:

1. When you recieve the book, make a journal entry, so that we know it arrived safely.
2. PM the next person in line for their address.
3. Read the book, in a reasonable amount of time. Feel free to make journal entries letting us know of your progress...so nobody will get concerned if it takes you extra time. Feel free to share your opinion on the book with the group!
4. Please make a journal entry when you post the book, so that we know it is on its way to the next person.
Person highlighted in green currently has the book.

Fleebo -- Sydney, Australia
Doris -- Quebec, Canada
jinxy22 -- Ontario, Canada
AceofHearts -- Ontario, Canada
sharalsbooks -- Arizona, USA
AngelKitty -- Colorado, USA
Mokona -- Michigan, USA
nomadbooklvr -- Massachusetts, USA (skipped)
weareatthebeach -- Florida, USA (skipped)
eureka79 -- Vermont, USA
calicocollie -- New York, USA
FieryFairy -- Wales, UK
concertina8 -- Vienna, Austria
ekaterin4luv -- Germany
blurbren -- Malaysia
Back home to KiwiWonder!

Sent off to Fleebo today!

Received today. Thanks for starting this ring, KiwiWonder.
This book may also go to miss-jo while it's here, but I promise that between us we will have it for less than the requisite two weeks.

A really great book! I'm very fond of The Wizard of Oz movie, and the fascinating but disturbing Return to Oz too, and I've read one or two or three of the multitude of L. Frank Baum books. This book is a different fish altogether, and certainly not aimed at kids. The character of the Witch is a brilliant creation - but I can't reconcile her with Baum's Witch. Elphaba is mostly sympathetic, and always intriguing.
The discussion of the nature of evil really got me thinking. It has been a while since I believed in true "evil" in real human beings. I think that even the most vile behaviour can always explained, although it often involves insanity or wildly skewed perception. But after reading this book I have started to question the ideal of "good" as well, for the first time. I don't think that either exist in purity.

miss-jo did read this book, but it's tough to get her to make journal entries! Anyway, the book is finally on its way to Doris in Canada.

Received this one today. Looking forward to reading it. Will probably get to it around Xmas.

Keep smilin!

Just to update. I am about 1/3 of the way into this book. I really want to finish it but I am finding it to be slow and not as captivating as I thought it to be. I will carry on though and move it along as soon as I can.

Thanks!

RELEASE NOTES:

I enjoyed what I read of this book but I could no get into it. I think it is the style as I could not get into another of this author's book. I found it slow and lacking action or something to draw me in. I am disappointed as I really wanted to like this book and read it cover to cover.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Mailed today to the next on the list.

rec'd today with many thanks

I just could not get into this book. Maguire was ingenious in his interpretation and manipulation of the World of Oz, but his style seems to make a very good story drag. Went to see the musical in the midst of reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The musical is very loosely based on the book.
Not a recommended read

mailed today. My apologies for being so tardy

Received today. Looks to be an enjoyable book. I am a little behind in my rings/rays but I hope to get this read soon and back on the road. Thank you for your patience!

Started this book today!

Must be my mood because I can't focus on the story for some reason. Rather than hold this book up any longer than I already have, I will move it on as soon as I get an address from the next person.

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to AngelKitty in CO. Happy Reading!

Just finished this. I'm getting very into the genre of re-writing popular stories (both fiction and non-fiction), and even got to read this right after The Red Tent. (If you like the genre, I *strongly* suggest the musical Into the Woods, also available on DVD.) Elphaba was a fun character, but I felt that Mr. Maguire didn't put the detail where he should have. There was too much detail in parts at the beginning that didn't need to be there except as a smokescreen for the foreshadowing, and not enough in other parts. All we know about the Philosophy Club and the night Fiyero died is that they were incredible life-changing events. It's hinted that the Philosophy Club is even more than what it appears, that something more than just sex is happening, and changing the boys forever, but there's only the barest possible hint. I liked the relationship between Galinda, Elphaba and Nessarose, but wanted more information on the Yackle/Morrible connection. As a story in and of itself, Wicked leaves me wanting more. As just a springboard for thought and speculation on ideas such as "What happens when only the victor writes history?" and "How can sweeping changes be made against an entire group (race, class, gender, and in this case, species) be done so slowly that the general public doesn't act?", I think it serves well.

Quote: "I don't comprehend religion, although conviction is a concept is a concept I'm beginning to get. In any case, someone with a real religious conviction is, I propose, a religious convict, and deserves locking up."

Quote: "Everybody needs to grow up and leave home sometimes, but sometimes HOME DOESN'T LIKE IT."

Quote: "People who claim that they're evil are usually no worse than the rest of us. It's people who claim that they're good, or anyway better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of."

No answer from Stensler
BC says "Whim does not exist"
squirrel818 asked to be skipped
Received Mokona's address July 4th, in the mail tomorrow

Rcvd this afternoon ~ Yay! Didn't realize it's such a whopper! Getting started asap.

PMing nomadbooklvr to have an address ready.

7-10 nomadbooklvr now has a copy-skipping, PMing weareatthebeach!

7-16 weareatthebeach also has a copy... PMing eureka79

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed Saturday morning to eureka79 ~ thanks again KiwiWonder!

I didn't realize I never journeled this when I received it but I've read it and am ready to pass it on.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. I had to separate my feelings for the orginal OZ to really enjoy this book and it was hard at first but I was able to do it. There was one small slow part towards the end but it picked right up and really tied everything together. Also thru-out I liked the Witch so wondered if I would be happy or not that she dies in the end (you know this is going to happen so I’m not spoiling anything) but you really end up seeing her progression toward becoming ‘the wicked witch’ so although I wasn’t happy to see her die it wasn’t quite as bad as if she had continued to be a nicer character.

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Went to see Gregory Maguire speak in my hometown a couple of weeks ago and he is a very interesting and funny guy. He even broke out in song once during the talk!

Arrived in the mail today. Will start tomorrow -- thanks for sharing!

Updated 9/16/05: I really enjoyed this book, especially all of the detail and well-developed characters. I felt teary when Elphaba died. PM'd FieryFairy for her address on 9/14 and 9/16, but just did a forum search and see that FieryFairy has been MIA for months. PM'd concertina8 for the next address.

Updated 9/28/05: Mailed to concertina8 via airmail -- happy travels!

arrived savely. i'm still in the middle of another book, but i can start with this by this weekend (i hope).

i very much enjoyed this book.

only recently, i have read books that explore "traditonal" & well-liked tales from a different angle.

of course, dorothy is nowhere near the center of the story and only appears towards the very end. she is trying to do good. however, a number of animals (or: Animals) lose their life through the hands of her companions - but i think we can all agree that that was mere self defence, right? she is still the sweet dorothy we know from "the wizard of oz", which IMHO is way too sweet...i did watch the movie "wizard of oz" right after finishing the book and the loveliness and sweetness were almost unbearable.

so the book gives an interesting profile to the wicked witch of the west without making dorothy a villain - unlike maguire's "confessions of an ugly stepsister" where cinderella loses some of her glory over the course of the tale.

unlike most maguire-readers i have to admit that i preferred "confessions" over "wicked" for reasons mentioned above. nevertheless, this book is really enjoyable & recommended.

have contacted next participant for address.

RELEASE NOTES:

off to the next participant

The book arrived today; I'm looking forward to it.

Somehow I don't seem to get a hold of this story. It just didn't click. And I must confess that I have just a very faint idea what a munchkin exactly is. But, those dictionary problems aside, it didn't really interest me.
So I gave up and contacted blurbren.

RELEASE NOTES:

On the way to Malaysia

It's here! I'm moving it up my TBR, since I've always wanted to read it. Thanks for letting me join this ring! :)

Many thanks to all those who participated in the bookring. This book made it's way home a month or two ago, and I've been VERY bad about the journalling - but it did arrive safe and sound, largely thanks to all of you!

Book is now up for an International RABCK.

Thank you received this!

Maguire seems to revel in turning our beloved fairy tales upside down, and having us rethink our cherished notions of absolute good and evil. The Wicked Witch wasn't born a witch, nor wicked. In Maguire's delightful telling, we learn of Glinda's obsession with status and fashion, the Wizard's inhumanity, and the friendships, loves, and lost loves of little green Elphalba, the story's moral center, who is ultimately destroyed by innocent Dorothy. This tale is more real, and more like life as we know and experience it, than the original. There's always a different side to a story, and in the case of Oz, this is it. A great read from start to finish. I could not put it down.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Since i have loads of books just lying around in the house, and i need room for more books that i have just bought...............
so a few go to my favourite charity.