Ultimately, the story leaves us wondering still about the motivations of some of the characters, so fails as an expose of these events. Many lovingly developed characters, such as Glinda and Fiuro, are essentially tossed into the trashbin. The reckless, but lovable character of Elpheba (the witch) strangely disappears, to be replaced by an almost characterless stereotype. However, as the book starts to move towards the familiar plotline of the Wizard of Oz, there is a feeling of events rushing headlong to inevitability. Oz loses much of its magic, with the magic made mundane through its commonality and ultimate futility - in fact, magic doesn't play much of a role at all in the book. The story quickly deviates from the expected with its exploration of adult themes, ribald humour, and extensive political commentary. Wicked starts off well enough, with the birth of the Wicked Witch of the West to an ordinary enough family, with a bored, unfaithful heiress as a mother, and a stiff boore of a minister as a father. Talk about the motivations and the story behind some of the non-core characters, and best of all, turn the concepts of good and evil upside down. I had already read Wicked before listening to the audiobook, and I would definatly recommend it! It really brings the book to life.Ī fresh concept - take a common childhood tale, and tell the story behind the story. The ending of course is memorable, and with the narrators pacing he manages to make it moving. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? The narrators pacing was very good, and he got the humor of the book well - be prepared for a few snorts of laughter when listening! There were lots of characters who's voices he managed to make individual and memorable, so you can recognise them. What about John McDonough’s performance did you like? I don't think you can really compare Wicked to anything - it's a reworking of The Wizard of Oz, making a child's story into an adult novel.

What other book might you compare Wicked to, and why? I would recommend this to a friend as it really makes the story come alive. I've always loved the book Wicked, and listening to it as an audiobook was a new experience entirely. Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Wicked by Gregory Maguire