Book: Wicked
Author(s): Gregory Maguire
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Audience: Adult
I knew absolutely nothing about the story of Wicked until November 2024. I knew it was a stage play, but I had no idea what it was actually about. Honestly, I had zero interest in seeing the movie—until Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo went on their infamous 2024 promo tour. I loved their chemistry and their voices are phenomenal.
I saw Wicked Part 1 and was instantly hooked! I wanted to run out and see the play to see the conclusion of the story, but it was not in my area at the time. So I decided to do the next best thing: I listened to the book!
Boy-oh-boy was I in for a surprise. I did not realize that the play while “loosely” based on a portion of the novel, is much, MUCH different than the book. (Tap in below if you’ve read/listened to the book.)
The book is MESSY. Elphaba’s parents have an affair… with the same man. Elphaba kills Madame Morrible, has an affair with Fiyero, has his child, and then ends up living with his wife. And that’s not even half of it.
We spend way more time in Elphaba’s childhood. Learning what is was like for her growing up. In an effort to socialize her, Elphaba’s grandmother starts taking her into town to play with other kids, one of whom is Boq. We get to know Elphaba and Nessarose’s mom. The loneliness she experienced from her husband always being gone. The unhappiness she experienced living a life she never wanted. The pivotal (and surprising) role Turtle Heart played within the family.
The book doesn’t spend nearly as much time at Shiz as I expected. It touches on the major parts we see in the movie: the fear campaign against the Animals, Elphaba’s relationships with Glinda, Nessarose, and Madame Morrible, her realization that the Wizard is a fraud, and her discovery of the Grimmerie.
Then we move into their lives after Shiz—which I actually found more interesting. Since I haven’t seen the stage play, I don’t know how the play or the final movie ends, but I think it’s safe to assume that it ends differently than the book.
After Shiz, Elphaba is living undercover in the Emerald City, plotting revenge against the Wizard. While there, she runs into Fiyero and they start an affair. Elphaba knows full well that Fiyero has a wife and kids. KIDS plural.
One night, Elphaba goes to an event she believes the Wizard will attend. Fiyero tries to talk her out of it. The Wizard doesn’t show, but Madame Morrible does—and she’s also on Elphaba’s shit list. I can’t remember exactly what happens (it’s been a year since I listened to the book) but chaos ensues. Elphaba and Fiyero get separated. As Elphaba returns home, I think she sees OZ’s version of police at her door. Fiyero is already there and answers the door. There’s an incident and he’s killed. Elphaba flees the Emerald City.
Ya’ll…. at this point, I was STRESSED!
After leaving the Emerald City, she takes refuge in a monastery. Unbeknownst to her she’s pregnant with Fiyero’s child. While at the monastery, Elphaba falls ill and ends up unconscious. During this period of unconsciousness, she somehow gives birth to Liir. After she wakes up, she decides to leave the monastery and go looking for Fiyero’s family. She plans to tell the wife what happened to Fiyero. As she’s planning to leave the monastery, the nuns insist that she take her child (that she doesn’t know is hers). She begrudgingly agrees.
When Elphaba finds Fiyero’s family, she doesn’t immediately share the truth. The wife ends up inviting Elphaba and the boy—Liir—to stay. And they DO!
Fiyero’s children are little menaces who take pleasure in tormenting Liir. That is until one day, Manek (one of Fiyero’s sons with his wife) decides to “play a trick.” During hide-and-seek, he tells Liir to hide in a fish well, then shuts the lid and pretends he has no idea where Liir is. After a frantic search, Liir is found — barely alive. Needless to say Elphaba is furious. Her rage causes an icicle to fall on Manek, killing him.
At the end of the book, Elphaba is killed and I was left with mixed emotions. During this entire journey Elphaba is not likeable. I’m rooting for her, but I don’t like her. She’s mean, nasty, and at times downright cruel. Especially to her son, Liir. Because of everything that’s happened to her and around her, her disposition is understandable. But at times it’s just feels ………. unnecessary. Uncalled for. I don’t know how to properly explain it. She’s justified in her feeling, but damn girl!
I don’t know that I’ve ever been so conflicted about a character after finishing a book. Especially because she’s so likeable in the movie. I cannot WAIT to see Wicked: For Good. I’m dying to know how the story—based on the stage play—ends.
For reference: I listened to Wicked by Gregory Maguire, narrated by John McDonough, on Libby. It’s 20 hours—FYI.
Major Morris 