Book of the Week: Wicked

Okay, so this is two...or is it 3 days late since it is now Tuesday and this usually goes up on Sunday?  Either way, it's up now!  So I didn't slack too much! 

I've been obsessed with all things Wizard of Oz for some time now, and one of my absolute favorite series of the retelling of the story is The Wicked Years series by Gregory Maguire.  

The first book of this series is this week's book of the week!  So without further adieu...this week's book of the week...

Wicked

Gregory Maguire

I love everything about this story.  The background given for the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't really all that wicked at all.  This re-creation of the land of Oz is something that makes me enjoy things by Gregory Maguire.  His writing is absolutely wonderful, and the world creation or rather re-creation from the original Wizard of Oz is stunning. 

The fact that this book has been turned into a Broadway musical, filled with a fantastic soundtrack, does not surprise me in the slightest.  I must say, that I am however, some what relatively new to the Wicked bandwagon, despite my love for all things Wizard of Oz.  I'd only originally stumbled upon the series in late 2012, when I'd finally checked the book out of the library - and ultimately have been given most of the series as gifts from friends.  I might only be missing one of the books, I'm not certain.  

However, I do highly recommend this wonderfully rich re-creation of the Land of Oz.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Vol. 2

It's TUESDAY! You know what that means! Another Top Ten Tuesday! This week's Top Ten is focusing on Series...some of my favorites..from duos, trilogies, quartets, and series that are already up into the double digits.  With these, I have absolutely zero commitment issues, and dive in head first! These are in no particular order, and the order does not reflect my level of adoration for these series...other than the fact that I love them all equally and think they are fantastically awesome!

TOP TEN SERIES

1.) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

2.) Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

3.) Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy - Lani Taylor

4.) A Song of Ice and Fire - George R.R. Martin

5.) Lord of the Rings Trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkein

6.) Lexy Cooper Mysteries - Christa Charter

7.) The Sandman - Neil Gaiman

8.) Black Dagger Brotherhood - J.R. Ward

9.) The Wicked Years Quartet- Gregory Maguire

10.) The Giver Quartet - Lowis Lowry

What are some of your favorite series? I am always looking for more series to dive into.  Those series that I love that didn't make this particular list include: 

The Dwellers Saga - David Estes

House of Night - P.C. Cast

Anita Blake Series - Laurell K. Hamilton

The Fever Series - Karen Marie Moning

And countless others that I cannot even call to memory that I've read and re-read multiple times. 

Top Ten Tuesday

TOP 10 TUESDAY

Here you'll find random top 10 book related lists!!! 

Top 10 Fantasy

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - J.K. Rowling

2. Stardust - Neil Gaiman

3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

4. The Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum

5. Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

6. Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkein

7. The Witches of Eileanan - Kate Forsyth

8. The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

9. Wicked - Gregory Maguire

10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

Do you realize just how insanely HARD that list was to compile?  I figure this will be my challenging post every week! 

Book of the Week: July 26-Aug 1 - Wicked

Welcome to this week's Book of the Week!  This week I am choosing one that is by far one of my favorite re-tellings of one of my favorite fairy tales...

WICKED

Gregory Maguire

 

This book...just *sigh* I now, thanks to a good friend of mine own two copies, both of them paperback.  I'm sharing both covers because I absolutely LOVE both covers.  If I ever have the money and the chance, I WILL see this musical.  This book, this series in general is absolutely by far one of my favorite re-tellings of The Wizard of Oz stories, and it's absolutely wonderful.  

We know all about Dorothy and her triumph over the Wicked Witch of the West...however, what is the Witch's back story?  Where did she come from? Who is she really?  These are questions that are answered in Gregory Maguire's books.  Maguire creates a view of Oz that makes us never look at it the same way again.  From the Animals who want to be recognized as first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders wanting middle-class stability, the Tin Man a victim of domestic violence, and so much more.  

We follow Elphaba, a little green-skinned Munchkinlander, who will ultimately grow up to be that infamous Witch who dies at the hands of Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man and a well placed bucket of water.  

I highly recommend you give this book a try, especially if you love The Wizard of Oz, it will definitely be one of those books you keep coming back to!