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Topic: Gregory Maguire - Son Of A Witch (I Just Read Wicked)

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cheezygirl avatar
Subject: Gregory Maguire - Son Of A Witch (I Just Read Wicked)
Date Posted: 7/8/2008 11:32 PM ET
Member Since: 7/20/2007
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I have a question for anyone who has read this book. Is it advisable to read Wicked before reading this book? Will i be lost if i don't read it?

I noticed my copy is wish listed by 90 members... and i've already ordered way too many books to pile on my TBR pile as it is lately. I have read conflicting things about Wicked... and i managed to pick up Son of a Witch at a yard sale for very cheap, and thought about just reading it and posting it, but i'm generally one of the people who has the compulsion to read books in the order they are written.

I hope someone can help me out! Thanks in advance!



Last Edited on: 7/19/08 1:52 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
VickyJo avatar
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Date Posted: 7/9/2008 6:49 AM ET
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Oh, I'm glad you asked this, because I have both Wicked and Son of a Witch on my TBR pile...but was thinking about reading Son first, because of the long WL..

Momof2boys avatar
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Date Posted: 7/9/2008 8:45 AM ET
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I have read Wicked, and SOAW is on my TBR pile.  My sister, who has read both, said that you should read Wicked first.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 10:00 AM ET
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Let me preface my statement by telling you I didn't finish Wicked, but I read more than half.  From what I remember, the story is complicated, so you'd be better off to read W before SOAW. 

That said, the 2nd story might stand aloneI don't know your reading tastes, but you could start SOAW to see if you like the writing.  I don't think you'd want to waste your time on both books if they're not your style.  I know lots of people who loved W, but many - like me - did not.

I LOVED the musical WICKED and it helped that I had read part of the book.

cheezygirl avatar
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 11:26 AM ET
Member Since: 7/20/2007
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Thanks! I may try reading a bit of it first... but if i feel lost, i will probably end up picking up Wicked. Ah, you just never know about some of these things, eh? If i had found the first book as part of a deal, i might have ordered it by now, but i have been mainly ordering deals off of here, in order to get max usage out of my credits, haha.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 11:53 AM ET
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Read Wicked first for sure, it's pretty involved story and you'll need some of the history to really understand what's happening in SOAW.

That being said, I didn't like SOAW very much, it is not nearly as good as the rest of Gregory Maguire's books. Wicked is by far my favorite though.

(If you do like Maguire though I'd say check out Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister... and Mirror Mirror, I loved them both!)

GigiPR avatar
Subject: Did y'all like Wicked?
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 10:45 PM ET
Member Since: 7/7/2008
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I was so excited to read Wicked (maybe because the musical had so much exposure) but I''m not sure how I feel about it.  I thought parts were interesting but overall...eh.  What are some other opinions of the book?

KittKatz avatar
Date Posted: 7/10/2008 6:43 PM ET
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The book is much darker than the show.  I'm glad I didn't skip the show based on the book.

mimima avatar
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Date Posted: 7/10/2008 7:01 PM ET
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I felt used when I finished the book - it was confusing, poorly written and didnt' have a point. I was quite frankly shocked when I heard they made a musical.

musyklvr avatar
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Date Posted: 7/10/2008 7:40 PM ET
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the musical is quite different from the book.  i enjoy the show very much.

as for the book...it was meh for me.  i don't care for maguire in general, and probably won't read anything else by him.

sorry i can't help with _son of a witch_, but i agree with the people who said that the backstory in _wicked_ is quite complicated.

auntnecee avatar
Date Posted: 7/11/2008 9:27 AM ET
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I read both books and you do need to read Wicked first for the history....I like both but Wicked was better than SOAW.

sevenspiders avatar
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Date Posted: 7/11/2008 10:03 AM ET
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Wicked is one of the only books I've ever put down without finishing.  It was confusing from the start, and I felt I was getting nothing out of it.  I like Maguire's other books though, Ugly Stepsister & Mirror Mirror & Lost.  And I loved the musical of Wicked, but as people say it's much different.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/14/2008 3:55 PM ET
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I have never made it through Mc Guires books.  only tried two.  I know now that I simply do not like the writing .  It  used to be that I thought I should finish every book.  But as I have gotten older I have decided that I wanted to spend my time with things I like to do and books I like to read.   

achadamaia avatar
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Date Posted: 7/14/2008 4:36 PM ET
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I really liked Wicked (the book). It was a really interesting take on the story. But I haven't read Son of a Witch as I heard it wasn't as good.

 

 

cheezygirl avatar
Date Posted: 7/19/2008 1:54 AM ET
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I just read Wicked, and WOW. I looooved it. It was one of the best books i have read in a long time. I had to write a review on it. I've been trying to write reviews for the books i have read lately, they get a little long sometimes but not too long i don't think. Better than saying "This was a good book."

I have another library book to read, and then i shall tackle Son Of A Witch. I am looking forward to it!

Thanks guys... i am SO glad i read Wicked.

achadamaia avatar
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Date Posted: 7/19/2008 4:46 PM ET
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Glad you enjoyed it.  I think it's one of those books you love or you don't.  I was fascinated with thinking of the wicked witch in more humane terms.  It was an interesting angle.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 8/6/2008 1:01 AM ET
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I appreciated the angle of Wicked, but it was just too political and boring for me. I'm not going to be reading any more in the series. It took me a week and a half to get through Wicked! That was a 2 day read, so you know I was bored to tears!

Bloomer avatar
Date Posted: 8/6/2008 8:59 AM ET
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I didn't finish it. But I've heard that if you read the original Oz series it will make more sense and the characters will be familiar.  It was too "chore like" for me...not that I don't like complicated characters, but at least provide a guide at the back of the books so my poor brain can keep up.

Maybe I'll look up a characters guide on Sparksnotes and try it again someday...I really want to see the play..it's coming to Atlanta again.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 8/11/2008 2:19 PM ET
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I really liked Wicked. I read it once and then before I went to see the musical I read it again. It was very political, but I enjoyed that angle of it. It brought up a good point, I thought, about questioning what society labels as "good" and "evil."

I haven't read Son of a Witch, but I own it.

In terms of his other books, I read Lost and wasn't too impressed.

WingsPawsNMagick avatar
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Date Posted: 8/12/2008 8:42 PM ET
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i love WICKED..... and i like that Elphabas first word as a child was HORROR..

and right now my daughter is pregnant with a little girl and i taunt her telling her that i am going to nickname her baby girl Elphi and teach her how to say HORROR ....

i love Gregory Maguire books...

Wicked, then Sonofa Witch, Mirror mirror, Lost, COnfessions of an ugly stepsister..

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 8/13/2008 9:45 AM ET
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sidebar: do a PBS search for gregory maguire and you will see that there is a 3rd "wicked" book coming out entitled "a lion among men."  :  )

JReed avatar
Date Posted: 8/13/2008 3:06 PM ET
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It's not necessary to read Wicked before any of his other books as each can stand on its own although it has been my impression with Maguire's books that each one gets progressively worse. I stopped reading his work after Mirror Mirror. His personal best, in my opinion, was Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

That said, Son of A Witch tempts me...

WingsPawsNMagick avatar
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Date Posted: 8/13/2008 6:00 PM ET
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thenerdboy67 (Bob R.)      sidebar: do a PBS search for gregory maguire and you will see that there is a 3rd "wicked" book coming out entitled "a lion among men."  :  )        <------------------- oh my gosh.. i can't wait....

krisbooks avatar
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Date Posted: 8/15/2008 11:57 AM ET
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I second the comment that Wicked is probably more enjoyable if you have a familiarity with Baum's Oz characters and world.  I read a number of the Oz books as a child and I really liked Wicked, but most people in my book group could take it or leave it (although it did wind up generating a good discussion.)  Still haven't tried SOAW, but it's on my enormous TBR pile.

cheezygirl avatar
Date Posted: 8/17/2008 2:40 PM ET
Member Since: 7/20/2007
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Son of a Witch wasn't AS good as Wicked, but i found it compelling nonetheless. I think the spin is different. At times i got angry at the character, at times i felt sorry for him, but i guess that's what makes a good story... when you feel something about the story.

Thanks for the tip about the third book. I will have to keep an eye out for it!

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