A while back, late high school or early college, I bought the book, ***Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West|http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060987103/qid=1085532950/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-5301877-2541663*** by Gregory Maguire,at building 19. I had never heard of it, but it looked interesting. I remember thinking that it was a decent read, despite having some strange bits.

Now that there has been such a huge clammer about Wicked (with the musical on Broadway and all) I thought I would read another novel by Maguire. Because I appreciate the experience of reading varied works of literature, I am glad that I read this book. The story told from the point of view of one of Cinderella’s stepsisters is certainly original, but unfortunately a bit lack luster.

Mr. Maguire, I feel, was more interested in writing side stories about “sensational” things (dwarfs, the Queen of the Hairy Chinned Gypsies) than the actual plot. He weaved in and out of coherency. The alternate view of the Cinderella story sheds light on what the ‘evil Stepmother’s’ motives might have been, and why the girls acted the way they did.

I think that perhaps Maguire was hoping to write a very ‘adult’ fairy tail full of sexual innuendo and magical creatures and events. My humble opinion is that he tried to hard. The plot starts out okay, but I had a very hard time turning pages in the middle I struggled to finish. The story wanders and lacks drive.

Anyway, I would recommend this book if you like to keep up on ‘popular novels’ but I is not something I pass on to others for pleasure reading. If you’ve read it let me know what you thought. I love to hear other’s opinions!