Anyone else read works by Gregory Maguire?

[nuhmah]

I have read "Wicked" a couple of times, and just completed "Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister." I am trying to get into "Mirror, Mirror" but I am having a hard time.

Anyone else reading works by Maguire? I would be interested in starting a thread to chat, and even possibly use the questions in the back of the book for discussion.

DH and I are currently in rather heated debates about the book "Wicked" vs. the musical, and if the writers of the play were more correct than Maguire in the liberties they took in changing things - or did Maguire imply the changes to begin with?

[scarlett]

I've read Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister. While I liked the idea of the books, I thought Maguire's writing style a little hard to get through.

I read Wicked before I saw the musical and, even though I was looking forward to seeing the show, I was skeptical as to how much they might change and make it too different from the book. That said, I LOVED the show. Even more than the book. Though the writers of the show changed the story just a bit, I believe they kept true to the characters of the book. In the CD booklet for the original cast recording, Maguire says pretty much the same thing, and that he was happy with the outcome of the show's story.

[framboise]

I've read Wicked and Confessions... too. I liked Confessions better because it was less "fantasy". Sometimes I found it difficult to remember which places were being discussed, which people were from which group & things like that while reading Wicked . It's just not generally my genre. But i did really enjoy the story, those details aside. I saw the show too & LOVED it. My friend loaned me Lost and another one (can't remember the title) and I hope to get to those soon too.

I think his concept is really interesting - the well-known stories as seen from another viewpoint is fun.

[citylove]

I've read Wicked a couple of times now, and really enjoyed it. He weaves so many storylines together - political, family, romantic, etc. I enjoyed the musical as well - they did as good a job as can be expected in the conversion. I prefer the book's ending, though. **edited so I don't give anything away**

I'm really looking forward to his next book, it'll be out in September. It's called "The Witch's Son" or "Son of a Witch" or something like that - all about Liir. It should be really good!

[laura]

I've read Wicked and Confessions... and I liked W much better. I just couldn't get into Conf. as much, and I don't know why since normally I am not a "fantasy" lover and Conf. was much more realistic (?).

I'm interested in all of you who've seen the show and liked it. It's here now, I believe, and my husband was just saying we should go see it since I liked the book so much. Hmm...

[citylove]

Yep, I'm pretty sure it's in San Fran now. It is really a great show! If you enjoy musicals, that is. It is pretty traditional as far as the musical format goes. Not lots of dancing or anything, but very much based in the music (more especially in the first half). Be prepared --- the plot is *quite* different. It's based on the same premise, but they had to adjust it to fit into a 2.5 hour musical. Very well done, though! I throroughly enjoyed myself (I got the $25 rush tickets and sat in the front row!!).

[kiddo]

I've read Wicked and Mirror, Mirror. I really enjoy his writing style and the premise is very interesting.

I want to read his other books, also. Which one would you guys recommend I read next?

[amberfiddles]

i've read wicked & mirror, mirror. i enjoyed mirror, mirror more than wicked.

[apoppy]

I've read Wicked, Confessions..., and Mirror, Mirror.

Wicked was my favorite by far. Confessions was okay, but I couldn't get into Mirror.

[StacieLady]

I just finished Wicked and although I enjoyed the idea of getting the back story of everything, I was very bored of the discussion of the roots of evil by the end of things. I would probably love the Musical because I can't imagine that would be its focus.

I will say I was disappointed with how quickly he brushed though the ending, and how quickly he let her deteriorate into the crazy wicked witch we all remember...I assumed it would be more gradual...what do I know! :D

[nuhmah]

I will say I was disappointed with how quickly he brushed though the ending, and how quickly he let her deteriorate into the crazy wicked witch we all remember...I assumed it would be more gradual...what do I know! :D

I agree with those whole-heartedly! I thought it would be this gradual process where she went wack-o over a long period of time. But I do like the picture he paints of her as a caring, thoughtful, and kind person. She genuinely comes across that way in the show - it made me feel sorry for her!

What is this book coming out in October - Son of a Witch ? Does it pick up where Wicked left off?

[StacieLady]

In the version of Wicked I read they had an excerpt from Son of a Witch at the end. It was a chapter that said that the wagon train that took Elphaba and Liir to the Vinka's (Sorry, my spelling is horrid) finds a body (with practically every bone broken) in a field when they are making a trip back to the center of Oz. They take the body to a Mauntery and the elder Maunt recognizes him as Liir. At the end she is forbidding the sisters to discuss that he might be the son of the Wicked Witch of the West, and they assume that Liir will die of his injuries

I don't know if this was the first chapter of the book or not. But, now you know as much as I do! :)

[postkalidurga]

I think I've read most of his stuff (except Lost) which is odd because I don't really like his writing. I like the idea of showing the other side of well known stories but I find his writing a bit too forced. There rarely seems to be actual flow to it - something I found really jarring in Wicked. The three parts seemed so disconnected. I'll probably keep reading him just because I'm curious about what he does with the stories but I am always disappointed by the delivery.

[RobynScott]

*bump*

saw the Musical last night and I LOVED it. Wondering if I should read the book or if I will be disappointed (in the book or the musical)

Looks like I should read it anyway - but interested in finding out if anyone thinks otherwise - thanks :)

[Asha]

i started reading "cofessions of a..." couldn't finish it, though, because i thought it was really boring.

i loved the musical, wicked, but i won't read the book since i didn't like the other book i read part of.

[StacieLady]

I have not seen the musical but I have the CD, and I love it! I have also read the book. The plot is not exactly the same, the end of the book is MUCH different than that of the musical. The book is also a lot darker. But, if you like to read...it wouldn't hurt!

[mili04]

I haven't read through this whole thread (don't want any spoilers!), but just want to let you all know the CC book club chose Wicked as our book to read in April. So if you are interested in discussing the book, you should join us at the end of the month. Here's a link to the CC book club thread:

http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=17601

[Angelfish]

I LOVE the musical and I just finished reading the book. I can't say that I enjoyed the book that much, but it was interesting to get a different perspective on the characters/events. Blah. I just preferred the musical by far.