Comments on: Wicked – Novel vs. Musical

By: Quintcy

Quintcy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:58:48 +0000

I think some are disillusioned about what the musical and the book are like. I, personally, love BOTH of them and have read A Lion Among Men. I love Mcguire’s style of writing. Though the book and the musical are nothing alike, reading the book before hand and afterwords really helped me enjoy the experience of the play much more. The novel, I feel, was far more politically based than the musical was. I also feel the relationship between Galinda and Elphaba was much more precise in the novel than the musical, I felt as if they were STILL trying to make Galinda seem much more ‘good’ than what she actually was. I think people just want it to be the way it was in The Wizard of Oz. The novels portray a much more interesting view of OZ. As for the issue of Liir, I can see why she would do anything. If you think about it, EVERY time she tried to help someone or do some good deed it always went horrible awry. Even in the musical she says, after Fiyero dies, that no good deed will she do, hence the song “No Good Deed”, perhaps she was afraid that if she tried to help Liir would come to harm as well, and after what happened to Fiyero, she just couldn’t risk it. A novel is all about how you percieve what the author was trying to do. I think the sexual innuendos enhanced experiencing Elphaba’s life. Especially the Philosopher’s Club. Although I can see how the POV head-hopping can be maddening (which occurs quite a bit in A Lion Among Men) But I enjoy seeing the different point of views. As for Galinda being ‘shallow’ in the book…it’s because she was. Even in the Musical she only changes her name because she thinks Fiyero would like it, saying “since Doctor Dillamond couldn’t pronounce my name, I will change it to Glinda, in his honor”…how pathetic can you get? She wasn’t a REALLY good friend She gave her the hat because it was too ugly for her, she gave her a make-over because she thought she wasn’t great just the way she was, and she wouldn’t stand by her friend because it would inhibit her ability to move up in the world, made the excuse that the people NEED someone to tell them everything is OK, and that’s just in the musical. Each have their weaknesses and strengths, and I love the idea of them both.

By: FaithNight

FaithNight — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:04:12 +0000

Thank you @JMBauhaus for understanding that I wasn’t asking for help on my project (which I haven’t even received directions on). I was simply giving my point of view on the book that I have read so far ( Trust me, I am and will finish the book because I adore and treasure reading, writing, and everything dealing with literature). Along with asking a question to see what others think, because my other friend that has read this book doesn’t remember it so having a book discussion with her is out of the question. Oh and please do not think I am like some students that don’t read, doesn’t do any work, and asks a group of people questions to help them out on their homework.

By: JMBauhaus

JMBauhaus — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:45:44 +0000

@FaithNight, for what it’s worth, I didn’t get the sense AT ALL that you were coming here trying to get us to do your homework for you. It looked to me like you were just adding to the discussion based on what you’ve read so far, and posing a hypothetical question about our perceptions of a redeeming character or tragic hero.

By: Jerome Stueart

Jerome Stueart — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:20:29 +0000

I just want to laugh at all those who think the book ADDED to the musical, as if the musical came first. There would be NO musical without this fantastic book. The book is complex, the characters are good and bad; the situation is realistic and is fantastic at the same time.

The musical–for all its fine points–is just a sketch of this book. It uses only the barest minimum of the creativity in this book–and makes a musical out of it. The musical is all right on its own, and it has solid songs. But the book, in my mind, will always be superior–because it did MORE with the material, and dammit, it did it first.

By: Jerome Stueart

Jerome Stueart — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:16:28 +0000

Faithnight, you need to finish reading the whole book–no one can tell you what you will find. It’s different for everyone. And rent the movie Wizard of Oz–watch it before you finish the book. You will find a redeeming character, a tragic hero, or whatever else you need to find for your English project. But you have to do all the reading, all the watching, before you ask a group of people to answer your questions. Cheers.

By: FaithNight

FaithNight — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:55:55 +0000

So I started to read this book last week for school (it’s a long story, projects and all) and I am only on the third part, chapter thing, it feels like every other page has some sexual reference/content. I was already forewarned about some of it, but I didn’t know that it was going to be as much as it has been. Before I continue I would like to point out that I am the right age to read this book (please understand that I’m not a little kid, I’m actually older than you think I am).
Because sex is a normal topic with my friends and I, I’m creeped out by it at times yes but the mention of sex I’m not offended by. I have no problem if it actually had a point to the book, so when sex is just thrown in a book for no apparent reason I get annoyed… a lot.
I don’t mind the book as a whole, I like the idea the author had in mind. Seeing that, sadly, I only watched the original movie once or twice so I vaguely remember all the detail but I remember the general idea of it, I am enjoying the book (minus those parts i.e. the Philosopher’s Club). But I am truthfully enjoying the book, I love how we enter the minds of Elphaba and the people around her that effects who she is and will become. I will admit there are time when the switching does a number on my head but all in all I love the multiple view points.
Because I do write, I hate criticizing others’ work because I understand how hard it is to pour your heart and soul into something just for people to attack it like a crazed raccoon and rip it to shreds. But I do find critics useful in sense of understanding an audience and also to be able to go back and think of what could have been different or what a result of something could be.
In my English class we went through Greek tragedies not so long ago and I keep reading through the comments that there is no redeeming character. I know that in Greek plays the ‘redeeming character’ or the ‘tragic hero’ isn’t always the main person or who we at the time feel pathos for. So I’m just wondering, because I haven’t finished the book yet, if you look at it in a different angle isn’t there someone who fits the description as a ‘redeeming character’ or a ‘tragic hero’.
So far I’m not regretting choosing this book to do my project on, I hope that continues.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:18:13 +0000

Could not agree more with your experience. I took my 12-year-old daughter to see the musical in New York and, although I don’t enjoy musicals, the story was so well-crafted in turning villain into hero I like it quite a bit.

So I recently picked up and read the book and was underwhelmed to say the least. I found the plot of the musical far more interesting. SO glad I didn’t buy the other two in the trilogy.

I think the difference for me was that the play explains Elphaba’s history and portrays her as hero.

The book explains her history and explains what causes her to snap and become a villain.

In the former, she never needs redemption. In the latter she needs it but never gets it.

By: Littleh1

Littleh1 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:52:19 +0000

I just finished the book in hopes that it would elaborate on the parts that were glossed over in the musical. I was very disappointed, especially after I had read so many reviews raving about how good the book is. I agree whole heartedly with everything you said. I thought the adult themes were unnecessary and lacked where they could have been used properly, ie Fiyero and Elphaba’s affair. I also thought the “head hopping” and lack of character developement and influence on the core of the story was distracting and detracted from the effect of the novel. I will be just fine to never read this book again.

By: Adb

Adb — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:39:49 +0000

It’s like you wrote this review straight from my own head.
I saw the Musical last November and I absolutely LOVED the Musical! I read the book because of the Musical and after finishing it… I am left utterly disappointed.
I started by reading a copy of the book I got as a gift but, to be perfectly honest, had trouble getting through the first few chapters (Elphaba’s childhood) so I switch to listening to the audio book (which also allowed me to get through it a heck of lot faster… thank goodness)
I wholly agree about Liir and Elphaba. It seems that she would have been a little nicer and maybe a bit more caring or even a twinge of responsibility towards the possible link between her and her Fiyero or even just because he was her charge. How can she care about Animals so much but not care about a poor abandon boy at her side?
I also have the same feelings about the sexual content in the book. It just seemed completely pointless. I really don’t mind this sort of content if it serves a purpose. I like events in books that I read to move the plot forward or lead to some sort of character development. If it doesn’t, what’s the point? What is the point of being shown something that doesn’t matter? but then again if this book omitted everything that was pointless there would be practically no book left.
In the end, I had absolutely no attachment to any character or the book. I just didn’t care.
P.S. I HATED the “head-hopping”.

By: New Article at Fantasy Magazine: Wicked: Novel vs. Musical | Diabolical Plots

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:37:44 +0000

[...] can check it out here. Tags: Fantasy Magazine; [...]