Has anyone read the actual Wicked book?- Page 2

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 9:58pm

I just started reading it this evening. I like it so far...

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:13pm

I read it last summer before I saw the show. I liked the book better. It had more depth and was more complex. I did however like in the show how they explained how the Tin Man and Scarcrow were created. I also like the end of the show better.

[onlylisab]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:14pm

I love the book, it's my second favorite of all time. (First being "Ghost Light" by Frank Rich...it's a great book for theater junkies.) I agree with the majority in saying that she should wait a few years to read it. Bu it is a MUST READ!

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:17pm

Movies and shows are hardly ever as good as the book. It's impossible to get a book into a film or stage show. Scarlett O' Hara has three children in the book GONE WITH THE WIND. The movie, as long as it is, does not have time to include two of her children.

[Becky]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:48pm

I just wanted to say something about the "book is better than the show" comments. I didn't feel it was "better", just different. The show is based on the novel, not a staging of the novel - so it was never going to closely follow book. I thought the novel was exceptionally good - and I love the elements and complexity found there (and not in the show), but I completely fell in love with the stage version seperate from the book. They don't necessarily go hand in hand.

As for the 10 year old, I say let her read it. Most of the book will most likely go over her head, and what doesn't isn't anything she will be shocked by. I'd love to know how well she was actually able to follow the story - for it's quite a page turner and complicated at times.

[broadwaybaby654]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 3:56am

My da and i were reading it at the same time, (two different copies) and he snatched mine away from me before i could finish it. And i'm 15!

[Aryn007]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 4:55am

Aww! That sucks. I gotta figure, if ya don't get it by the time you're fifteen, you're never gonna get it at all! But don't quote me on that.

Of course, it's at least nice to have a warning about these things ahead of time...when I was 12 I picked up Flowers In the Attic having no clue what was in store for me, and the result was I couldn't look at my brother for three weeks!

[emonkeygirl]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 10:42am

Having worked in children's books off & on for 10 years, I would say the book is not appropriate for the majority of 10 year olds. Greg (yes, I've met him numerous times & can call him that) didn't intend the book for kids, so it does have mature situations.
That being said, every kid is different. I read the anthropologic porn of The Clan of the Cave Bear in 5th grade, knew it was totally inappropriate, but don't think it warped me too much. :)
& definitely read all the Oz books if you haven't. The Tin Woodman of Oz is probably the best of them all. Enjoy!
If you live in NYC you can find a huge amount of Oz books of all sorts at Books of Wonder. & yes, I'm shilling. It's a great store. :)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 11:46am

I loved the book, but I wouldn't give it to my ten year-old (if I had one) because of the sexual content AND because it would probably be too complex for them and most likely wouldn't hold their interest anyway.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 11:46am

I have read the book and think it is excellent. It successfully weaves the characters from Baums classic novel into a modern context. The parallels he manages to draw are astonishing and thought provoking when you look at them from the perspective of people not of this world.

However, I would not reccomend this book to those under the age of fifteen. FOr people fifteen to eighteen I barely reccomend it to them unless they are well versed in history and current events. Without a basic knowledge of said history, you cannot truly appreciate what Baum has done. You can appreciate what the Witch is going through but not the implications. People who are able to draw that parallel to their own lives will have a much more fulfilling read. Ten year olds may not appreciate the story if they are just looking for parallels and history as relating to the movie and its characters. Also the content is not always appropriate as it is an explicit book.

[Aerial]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 11:52am

I think it depends on the kid, whether or not it would be appropriate for a 10 year old. Personally, I could have handled the book at 10, but I was an advanced reader, and read all sorts of things "too mature" for me. I think there are things she'll miss, hell at 22, I didn't get somethings until I read it a second time, but she'll probably enjoy it.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 11:54am

I'm a pretty advanced reader. My mom got it for me and she read the book first. She thought I was mature enough to handle it at 12. And I have not been scarred for life.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 12:02pm

10 year olds in my opinion are not, in general, possessed of the maturity with which to handle the book. of course there are exceptions as there are with anything. but for my money, at that age, they should be sticking to hustler for the pictures and penthouse letters for the literature. once they've hit 13 or so they can move on to such things as this book and anais nin.

[emonkeygirl]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 12:04pm

For some reason I started hysterically snorting at my reception desk at my temp job.
Thanks for the giggle, Papa, during my otherwise deathly boring job!