Born with green skin and huge teeth, like a dragon, the free-spirited Elphaba grows up to be an anti-totalitarian agitator, an animal-rights activist, a nun, then a nurse who tends the dying?and, ultimately, the headstrong Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Maguire's strange and imaginative postmodernist fable uses L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a springboard to create a tense realm inhabited by humans, talking animals (a rhino librarian, a goat physician), Munchkinlanders, dwarves and various tribes. The Wizard of Oz, emperor of this dystopian dictatorship, promotes Industrial Modern architecture and restricts animals' right to freedom of travel; his holy book is an ancient manuscript of magic that was clairvoyantly located by Madam Blavatsky 40 years earlier. Much of the narrative concerns Elphaba's troubled youth (she is raised by a giddy alcoholic mother and a hermitlike minister father who transmits to her his habits of loathing and self-hatred) and with her student years. Dorothy appears only near novel's end, as her house crash-lands on Elphaba's sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, in an accident that sets Elphaba on the trail of the girl from Kansas?as well as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Lion?and her fabulous new shoes.

Book 16 for 2006

A good book I got totally into the story. I found Elphaba an absorbing character and probably can't read the wizard of Oz untainted. Oh well. It is not at all like reading a biography, the lives are rich and you feel along with the poor odd little girl born with green skin. Elphaba didn't seem at all Wicked but opinionated and in some ways as mis-uided as her father. It was a shame the author didn't let her succeed in some of her endeavours.

A great read, I was caught from page 1 to page 406. (Glad it wasn't longer tho)

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Catsalive so she can read the BOM for AustBookclub. Undecided if I want it but if not I would like it to be sent to 5478 as an RABCK. Up to the last person, if they post it to me or 5478.

Thanks, woosang. Now I'm all set for February's reading. Wicked!

I really enjoyed this book too, although I hadn't really expected to. Elphaba is an extremely strong character and is written with a skill that makes it difficult not to empathise with her. It got to a point where I didn't really want to finish the book as I knew the outcome was inevitable thanks to L. Frank Baum & his Dorothy.

I enjoyed it so much that I lashed out and bought Son of a Witch when I saw a copy in Big W yesterday.

Thanks for letting me read this Yvonne. What would you like it to do now. Is there anyone else from the Club that needs a copy. I'll hang onto it until you let me know where it's to go.

Posted to luckaye this morning.

Arrived today just as I finished another book - good timing! :)

Well that took me a little long to read than I thought it would, but was well worth it. It is always interesting to see the other side of the story and I think the author did a good job of giving the Witch a distinct personality.

RELEASE NOTES:

Picked this book up from Luckaye at today's BC meet-up in Brisbane. I've heard so much about this book & the series, that I really want to read it and find out for myself! MadamMuck has kindly offered more books from the series if I enjoy this one. So here goes ...

An enjoyable read - it seemed to drag a little at stages, but really came together towards the end. An interesting idea and interesting story. Thanks to all for sharing the book.

RELEASE NOTES:

Passing this book on to a work colleague to read - she loved it first time round, but has forgotten some of the story, so is keen to read it again....

Was excellent reading - even the second time around. Brilliant.

CAUGHT IN BRISBANE AUSTRALIA

Picked the book up off my work colleague today - reserved to pass on to Michyj who has it on her wishlist... when she returns from her overseas jaunt,