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.Wicked

by: Gregory Maguire

September 11, 2006
I have so many criticisms of this book: Firstly, none of the characters have any charm or interest value. Despite being written about at length, there is no-one I gave a damn about. Secondly, nothing interesting happens throughout the whole book (or rather big, interesting events do happen but they are captured in such a boring way). Thirdly, the book takes itself far too seriously. There is no humour in the book of any description. How many fiction books do not raise a titter throughout 500 pages? I can't think of any. This lack of humour added to the feeling of dryness and boredom I felt throughout reading. Fourthly, there is lots of waffle around big themes: Religion; Consciousness; Adultery; Good vs Evil; Politics. However, it is just filler. ... Read More:
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Used Price: £2.85

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.Son of a Witch

by: Gregory Maguire

April 03, 2008
This book takes the tale of Oz to a whole new level and the developement of the character Liir is truly brilliant. Where as you new where Wicked was eventually going although very suprising in how it got there, there was absolutely no way to tell how this story was going to progress. One of the most thrilling books I've ever read and its definately in my top 5 books of all time. You have to read Wicked just so you can read this book, can't wait for the sequel!
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Used Price: £2.20

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.Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

by: Gregory Maguire

November 28, 2002
I have so many criticisms of this book: Firstly, none of the characters have any charm or interest value. Despite being written about at length, there is no-one I gave a damn about. Secondly, nothing interesting happens throughout the whole book (or rather big, interesting events do happen but they are captured in such a boring way). Thirdly, the book takes itself far too seriously. There is no humour in the book of any description. How many fiction books do not raise a titter throughout 500 pages? I can't think of any. This lack of humour added to the feeling of dryness and boredom I felt throughout reading. Fourthly, there is lots of waffle around big themes: Religion; Consciousness; Adultery; Good vs Evil; Politics. However, it is just filler. The author ... Read More:
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Used Price: £1.06

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.Mirror Mirror

by: Gregory Maguire

June 02, 2005
The idea of basing this story on real people is a great idea but the slowness and the way the dwarfs were described really confused me and I didn't like that idea at all. Not a patch on his other books.
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Used Price: £0.33

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.Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

by: Gregory Maguire

December 01, 2000
A brilliant take on the story of Cinderella that I really loved. Very clever and much more human than his other stories as there are no elements of fantasy but its just as magical. Son of a Witch is in my opinion Maguires best book but this is a close second.
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Used Price: £1.75

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.Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

by: Gregory Maguire

March 01, 2005
I have so many criticisms of this book: Firstly, none of the characters have any charm or interest value. Despite being written about at length, there is no-one I gave a damn about. Secondly, nothing interesting happens throughout the whole book (or rather big, interesting events do happen but they are captured in such a boring way). Thirdly, the book takes itself far too seriously. There is no humour in the book of any description. How many fiction books do not raise a titter throughout 500 pages? I can't think of any. This lack of humour added to the feeling of dryness and boredom I felt throughout reading. Fourthly, there is lots of waffle around big themes: Religion; Consciousness; Adultery; Good vs Evil; Politics. However, it is just filler. The author does not draw these ... Read More:
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Used Price: £3.01

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.Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

by: Gregory Maguire

April 03, 2008
This review relates to the paperback edition.

During an enforced 3-hour stopover at Los Angeles airport I found this and couldn't resist the cover or the blurb. I haven't read/seen any of his books, so had nothing with which to compare this, and I loved it. It runs alongside Cinderella in a non-parallel line which every now and again curves in to touch the fairy story and remind us of the original, but at the same time keeps very much to its own path. The setting of 17th-century Holland is evocative and atmospheric, including the use of art and the tulip-trade, the machinations of the desperate Margarethe are terrible and at the same time understandable, and Iris is - well, she's lovely. There are comments in some reviews that there is no magic in this book and strictly speaking ... Read More:
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Used Price: £4.74

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.Lost

by: Gregory Maguire

October 24, 2002
I had high hopes for this ghost story and every last one of them was shattered. I felt cheated by the narrative, which struck me as being far too meandering and self-indulgent for its own good. If I hope to read a ghost story and I seem to get a ghost story I rarely expect it to beome something disapointingly other and quite disjointedly so too. I was similarly disapointed by the lead protagonist. One of literatures less convincing female characters.

Perhaps this was just not for me. Perhaps the writers style will suit other readers tastes more than mine. But to my mind, it was trying to be too clever for its own good. As a result, I found it disapointing & dull.
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.Son of a Witch

by: Gregory Maguire

September 06, 2007
Absolutely fantastic sequel to wicked. I wasn't going to read this as I thought anything that tried to build on wicked was bound to be a disapointment, but I was totaly wrong.
This book is far more based on the society and politics of Oz and follows Liir on his journey of becoming a man and his travels round Oz. It is so full of action and adventure I couldn't bare to put it down.
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Used Price: £7.25

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.A Lion Among Men

by: Gregory Maguire

October 02, 2008
Absolutely fantastic sequel to wicked. I wasn't going to read this as I thought anything that tried to build on wicked was bound to be a disapointment, but I was totaly wrong.
This book is far more based on the society and politics of Oz and follows Liir on his journey of becoming a man and his travels round Oz. It is so full of action and adventure I couldn't bare to put it down.
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