I would just like to say I'm am absolutely thrilled about this thread I can hardly think of a place to start. I'm going to get myself fired because I should be working but I want to dish about Maguire work instead
I initially grabbed
Confessions off of the bookshelf based on it's cover, I really liked the size and smoothness of the cover (I know the old saying but what can I do I'm a sucker for a neat cover), but then I read what it was about and was hooked! Initially it took me a while to get into
Confessions but before I knew it I was sucked in and couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed my first Gregory Maguire experience, who doesn't like a Cinderlla story (even if it isn't the traditional plot).
From there I borrowed a copy of
Mirror Mirror from my boss. I'm not a fan of Snow White but wasn't initially put off since Maguire did such a wonderful job with
Confessions. I figured maybe I'd even like Snow White after reading
Mirror Mirror, unfortunately that wasn't the case. I didn't really care for Mirror Mirror, it was a little too bizarre for my taste.
Don't get me wrong one of the things I really like about Maguire's work is that it's darker and different. Although I will admit that he can get a little weird at times and his books aren't always easy to read. I find that sometimes (at least once in all of his books) I've had to stop and re-read certain chunks of the book to make sure I've understood what had happened. *like the Philosophy Club part in Wicked
I'm still not sure I understand what went down....
WARNING: Wicked description and analyzation below contains spoliers if you have not read the book or seen the Musical avert your precious eyes please
So finally I bought Wicked a month or so before I was to see it on the stage, and started reading it. I'd heard the rave reviews of Wicked from Broadway and was all excited, but as I read I'd be scratching my head wondering how in the world they were going to translate the book into a play. So naturally I bought the soundtrack and would listen to it, again scratching my head wondering what I'd missed. I got a little worried that I misinterpreted the entire book! But then I found a web site that explained each song and discovered how different the play was vs the book. I'm not slow I knew there would be some differences but these were pretty serious differences.
Wicked the musical was a candy coated version of Wicked the book, to say the least. And I really think that a little bit of the Gregory Maguire "spirit" was lost in translation. They took the darkness and made light of it. Glinda was not nice in the book and that's who she was, where in the musical she was more of a slow to warm type. I think the there was a hint of the Glinda from the book in the begning of the play when she denies actually being Elphaba's friend to the Munchkinlander, but then she got bubble-gum cute and even felt friendly feelings towards Elphie. I think my biggest disapointment with the play was what they did to Fiyero's character. They took his life and rewrote it completely editing out one of my favorite aspects of the book and insterting a love triangle. Because I really did feel that the only Wicked thing about Elphie was her relationship with Fiyero in the book, but I liked it! I liked that she was getting "some" and making herself happy even though Fiyero was married. I liked that he really cared about her and she him yet they were both so stubborn about their feelings for eachother. I also think that Nessa's character was toned down too much for the play. Nessa was baaad. She was a wicked witch and she didn't care what you thought.
Overall I loved the book and I loved the play. But I sugest readin the book before you see the play. I think there would be more disapointment if you saw the play and then read the book hopeing for the same happy feeling, because the book is much darker and less fluffy than the play, but still really darn good! Don't get me wrong I really liked how the play ended because let's face it I wanted Elphie and Fiyero to be happy together forever (mushy I know), so I was plesantly surprised by that, but I liked the books darkness.
I have yet to read Lost but I will eventually get there. I hope it is as good as it sounds!