Booklust Review: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

This is the first of many (I hope) book reviews. Wicked is the novel which inspired the musical of the same name. I went to see the musical a few years ago, not realising it was based on a novel. When I found out it was based on a novel, my sister bought me the books (it is part of a quadrilogy) alongside a copy of The Wizard of Oz for Christmas. I've tackled Wicked a few times without ever actually completing it, so when I broke up for Easter I was determined to finish it. And I did woohoo!

Anyway, the review - I'll try not to include spoilers. Wicked centres around Elphaba, who becomes to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West. It tells the story of how she becomes 'wicked', beginning at her birth. You follow her through her life, we discover her relationship to G[a]linda (who becomes known as the Good Witch) and how they met at school. 

The following description is taken from Goodreads:

'Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.'

I was blown away by this book. It differs from the musical, so if you've seen that, I highly recommend this to you. Unlike The Wizard of Oz the book isn't aimed at children, and contains quite a lot of sexual content, which shocked me at first. It is a political and social commentary on the nature of good and evil, using the world created in The Wizard of Oz. There are issues about different races, religions and the way that the land of Oz is ruled by the Wizard.
Elphaba is an intriguing character to say the least. She begins life as almost feral in the way she acts, but she grows to be eloquent and inquisitive, but also very opinionated and always independent, due the fact that she has always been different.

I don't want to say too much else as I wouldn't do the book justice. It is multi-faceted and I'm sure that the next time I'll read it I'll notice things I hadn't before. I wholly recommend this book to anyone. If you haven't seen the musical, you definitely should too. Because it is AMAZING.

What do you think of the book reviews?

Thanks for reading x

Weekly Summary #9

Driving back to Manchester

Lent is over - first bag of Skittles

Maya Angelou autobiography (see previous post)

All alone in the office

1. I'm writing this post from my room in Manchester! I've been a bit down recently, missing Manchester and getting bored of being home, so seeing as I have an essay due in on Tuesday (eek!) I decided to come home and stay for a few days. I'm so happy to be back. Lydia also comes back on Tuesday, it'll be so good to see her again!
2. I finished my work experience at The Press on Wednesday. It was good fun, but definitely cemented that I do not want to work in journalism. I spent my time writing up small pieces, and as fun as it was for the three days I was there, and even though the team were amazing, I can't imagine doing it full time. It's spurred me on into applying for internships though; I heard back from one place, where I had to do a test, but I don't think I've got it. 
3. I've been working more at Ikea too, so I can build up my savings over the Summer, seeing as I currently have £0 in a savings account, which isn't good. I've been there for near enough 4 years and it is really grating. I know I complain about it all the time, and I'm lucky to have a job that is so accommodating, but I just want to concentrate on uni now.
4. Tomorrow is a day full of essay planning and writing. Abbey is going to come pick me up and take me to Asda once she's finished uni, which I'm sure will be a welcome break. Tonight I'm waiting for my chips to cook, and am going to settle down in bed with a book, catch up on blogs and have an early night. We're also going shopping into town on Wednesday to try and find outfits for her birthday night out in a couple of weeks. Agh I love Manchester. (#mancophile ?)
5. This week I'm going to brave it and do an 'everyday make-up' post, possibly with my mug in it. Maybe. If I feel brave enough. I'm also going to try and review Wicked seeing as I should finish that tonight, so that should be up after my essay has been handed in.

Weekly Summary #7

Absolutely HUGE iced finger, 

Best quesadilla from Chiquitos

Currently reading: Wicked, 

Professional set-up at my work experience.

Slightly scary photo of my hair cut.

1. This week has been busy. I had my first meeting and started my work experience, which is going really well so far. Everyone in the office has a iMac, but I'm kind of on the reject computer that nobody really uses (I think), hence the fact that the monitor is stacked on two packets of paper. I'm enjoying myself though, and everyone is really friendly. I've been writing a few small articles, I'm not sure if they made it into the paper as I haven't read it yet. I had the super-huge iced finger as part of my lunch on Tuesday, when I was sat in the sun on my dinner break. They are my absolute favourites! Don't my pasty legs compliment it; I always have been, and always will be pale and freckly, not tan to be seen on my skin. I also had a hair cut, and finally go around to dying it. I love my hair when it's freshly dyed and back to bright red.
2. Friday was pay-day. I went shopping, I think I might do a small 'haul' type post on the few things I bought. I didn't spend too much, but this month is still going to be tight, at least until my student loan comes through as I went out for a friend's birthday last night, and it's my best friend Ryan's birthday next weekend. My bank balance is seriously bruised, but as of next month, due to working more shifts at Ikea, I am attempting to save, save, save.
3. After shopping on Friday, Rose, Colette and I went to Chiquitos, which I can honestly say was the highlight of my week. I had the spicy chicken quesadilla for my main which was delicious. I was nursing a serious food baby.
4. I'm currently taking a break from University reading by re-reading Wicked. I say re-reading, but I've never managed to finish it before so I'm trying to get it finished. I love it. I have seen the musical which is fantastic and makes you view what happens in The Wizard of Oz in a completely different way. So good.
5. This week is more work experience, another meeting with the guys from the magazine, working at Ikea and hopefully a bit of research done for an essay due in after Easter. Right now though, I'm curling up in bed after this exhausting week and reading until I fall asleep (or go watch Titanic, whichever). Tomorrow I might be going into Leeds with a friend, unless he bails, which is highly likely. Either way it's my only day off this week so I'm not doing anything unless I need to!

How have your weeks been? 

Thanks for reading x