[txshusker]

Anybody read Gregory Maguire?

I loved Wicked, but Son of a Witch didn't do it for me. I liked Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, but had a hard time getting through Mirror Mirror. And Lost was just... whatever.

Now, his new one, A Lion Among Men is out; when I was at the bookstore, an employee said she was disappointed by it. I'm always hoping for another Wicked, but don't really want to buy another Macguire and plod through.

Anybody recommend it?

[Rob B]

I read and loved Wicked and was very disappointed by Son of Witch. My wife only had luck with Wicked, I know she read another one, but it didn't work for her.

[Hellions]

I tried reading Gregory Maguire and Wicked is the last book I ever gave up on (circa 2004). I remember I wasn't exactly in a receptive mood at the time but I found the whole thing to be nonsensical, nasty and mean-spirited. I do not thank the reviews which claimed this was a fresh retelling of The Wizard Of Oz and prompted me to buy this "masterpiece". What I ended up with instead was a travesty of a social commentary which defiles and desecrates L. Frank Baum's immortal classic. :eek:

[DailyAlice]

Not to highjack the thread--I loved Lost and Mirror, Mirror though didn't think Wicked was all that--but I'm trying to recall a second, dark retelling of the Oz story. It had a one-word, enigmatic title and the critics loved it, I believe. Does anyone remember?

[Eventine]

Are you thinking of WAS by Geoff Ryman?

[DailyAlice]

Are you thinking of WAS by Geoff Ryman?

Yes, I definitely am. Thank you. I had thought of the title, but punching in Was gets you hardly anywhere.

[Garyfury]

What I ended up with instead was a travesty of a social commentary which defiles and desecrates L. Frank Baum's immortal classic. :eek:
I wouldn't use such strong language, but I thought Maguire's didn't have much of a point to it, and that it veered too sharply at the end just to come back into line with Baum's events.