Wicked

[Shea]

I gave up forcing myself to read this book. For those of you who don't know it, it's by Gregory Maguire. And it's subtitled, "The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West." I didn't get very far into the second section of the book when I finally threw it in the garbage can (literally). I was expecting a new twist on the land of OZ. Instead, the author makes you feel sorry for the bad guy, the plot line dragged, and it was just poorly written. I can't stand that I wasted money on a book like that! :x For that reason it is so aptly named! Did anyone else happen to read it?

[Arteum]

Nope, or as we say it in Russian (as emphatically as "nope"), ne-a. That is, I didn't read this book.

I understand that this post won't help you much in the analysis of the book, but at least for you to know that I didn't is better than nothing (because, maybe I read it and now conceal my opinion? :))

I also had some sad experience with poorly written or even disgusting books. Then I learnt to do an extensive background research on something I'm about to read. This way only the best books come into my hands now!

[piquant]

Well... I did read this book, and did not find it as excruciating as I expected it to be. I borrowed it off a friend while trapped in the wilderness with no library nearby. While I didn't finding the writing to be in the style I prefer, I thought the plot was entertaining. Its been a few years, so I don't remember what the point or moral of the book was, but I do remember that it did have one. In my opinion though, any book that does not stay with me and become part of who I am (example-something that years later I can't remeber the point of) is not really worth my time. For instance, I once went through a Mary Higgins Clark phase :oops: and now I don't think I could tell one off her books from the other. In essence, they were all the same...pointless!

[Shea]

Too many times when I try reading from a modern writer, I find that I hate the book. Or maybe the book's well written but I didn't like the demoralizing value of it. Anyway, I think that maybe I should stick to my favorite time-tested classics and wait for the others to survive the 'weeding out' so to speak. :-?

[Koa]

lately i've started to think exactly the same as shea: i can't seem to like modern literature, while i love classics... (though i don't know this book you're talking about)

[piquant]

I also have trouble with modern literature, when I was younger I enjoyed it, but as soon as I started reading classics I couldn't go back. I think part of the problem is that modern books use such short sentences that they really lack meaning and beauty. You can just fly through a fast-paced plot and really not get anything deeper from it. I'll hold out for time-tested classics.

[kadamba]

All agreed about classics vs. modern. Maybe there should be a new thread on that subject? For me it is most obvious with poetry. It could be that I don't know where to look, amidst all the volumes of modern nonsense out there.. but there are sooo many good classic poets. *sigh* yes I have a soft spot for classic poetry..

[NATAS_miss_understood]

I read wicked about a year ago and loved it. It wasn't the storyline or the way maguire depicted Oz, it was the underlying themes of the book that caught my attention. I liked how it made me look at the dogma of organized religion (with the dragon clock thing), and at prejudice (with the professor who was a goat). It made me think about what the definition of evil really was, and whether or not i believed there even was such a thing as evil. I liked this book because it caused me to question a lot of things that are going on around me. Now, I know the first couple chapters are horribly bland and boring, but slowly the book starts to pick up. I've lent this book to four other people and three of them feel the same way that I do. But one person (who still has the book after a year) refuses to read it because I told them that it makes you question things (and God forbid my friend ever question anything... that would be horrible... but that's my problem with her... and I'm getting off subject) Anyway, I suggest trying to read it one more time. And if you absolutely hate it, at least you'll know not to buy Maguire's other book Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

[Shea]

Well then... perhaps I was too hasty in throwing it in the trash. I had seen the other book and was wondering if I should try reading it instead, but maybe I'll give Wicked another try since you say that it does pick up. But I think I'll let it 'shelf' for a while first and continue with my classics.