Wicked – Gregory Maguire

Challenges – Rory Gilmore Challenge

Synopsis – An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn’t so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Gregory Maguire just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature.

my thoughts – this book tells the story of Elephaba, or as many people know, the Wicked Witch of the West! it is a modern take on the story of the Wizard of Oz. The book makes the reader alot more sympathetic towards the witch, and alot less on the side of the good witch.
It goes into a lot of depth about her early childhood and teenage years, and i think i enjoyed this part of the book the most. it was interesting to see the story from her point of veiw.
i foind the begining of the story a little hard to get into, because there was a lot of characters, but after a few pages i really got into it and found the book hard to put down.
the only little bit of disapointment i had was that dorothy was only mentioned for the last 100 pages or so, i had assumed that she would have been in it for more of the book!
Overall a brilliant read, which is highly recommennded. It is part of a series and i cant wait to read more about it! Oh, and i really want to go and see the musical that is based on this book now too!

Rating – 4/5

Gregory Maguire Books

Hamlet Chronicles
1. Seven Spiders Spinning (1994)
2. Six Haunted Hairdos (1997)
3. Five Alien Elves (1998)
4. Four Stupid Cupids (2000)
5. Three Rotten Eggs (2002)
6. A Couple of April Fools (2004)
7. One Final Firecracker (2005)

Wicked Years
1. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) currently reading
2. Son of a Witch (2005)
3. A Lion Among Men (2008)
4. Out of Oz (2011)
Wicked / Son of a Witch (omnibus) (2009)

Novels

The Lightning Time (1978)
The Daughter of the Moon (1980)
Lights on the Lake (1981)
The Dream Stealer (1983)
I Feel Like the Morning Star (1989)
Missing Sisters (1994)
The Good Liar (1995)
Oasis (1996)
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (1999)
Crabby Cratchitt (2000)
Lost (2001)
Mirror Mirror (2003)
Click (2007) (with David Almond, Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, Deborah Ellis, Nick Hornby, Margo Lanagan, Ruth Ozeki, Linda Sue Park and Tim Wynne-Jones)
What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy (2007)
Matchless: A Christmas Story (2009)
The Next Queen of Heaven (2010)

Musing Mondays

This week’s musing asks…

What is the last book you bought? Was it for you? for someone else? Have you read it, yet?

 

The last book i brought was for me, it is the second book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. I’m trying to gett hold of all these books for a reading challenge!

Its Monday, What are you Reading?

Again, a couple of very busy weeks that i havent taken part in this!

The Screwtape Letters – CS Lewis

Operation Sunshine – Jenny Colgan

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

Ive read these three books since last taking part. My favourite being The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Im currently reading Wicked, Gregory Maguire. I’m really hooked on this, i read almost 150 pages yesterday!

I’ve also brought a couple more books, The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy and Marley and me!

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

Challenges – 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read
Ultimate Teen Book Guide Challenge

Synopsis – The story of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. We hope you never have to cross such a fence

My Thoughts – this has got to be the saddest book that i have read this year. I dont want to say too much about this book as i dont want to give anything away, but if you havent read this you must! A fantastic book that makes you think about a different perspective about events of the second world war.

Rating – 5/5

John Boyne Books

Novels

The Thief of Time (2000)
The Congress of Rough Riders (2001)
Crippen: A Novel of Murder (2004)
Next of Kin (2006)
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006)
Mutiny on the Bounty (2008)
The House of Special Purpose (2009)
Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010)
The Absolutist (2011)

Operation Sunshine – Jenny Colgan

 

Synopsis – Evie needs a good holiday. Not just because she’s been working all hours in her job as a receptionist for two high-powered plastic surgeons – but also because every holiday she has ever been on in her life has involved sunburn, arguments and projectile vomiting – and sometimes all three at once. Why can’t she have a normal holiday, like other people seem to have – some sun, sand, sea and (hopefully) sex? So when her employers invite her to attend a conference with them in the south of France, she can’t believe her luck. At last, the chance to hob nob with the rich and glamorous, to party under the stars, to live the life she’s dreamed about. It’s certainly the holiday of a lifetime – but not quite in the way Evie imagined!

my thoughts – This book was a lovely little sunday afternoon read. It is another chick lit book, i seem to be reading quite a few of them at the moment, but i really enjoyed this one. It made me think about how much i am looking forward to summer this year. The plot line was good and i really identified with Evie too. A lovely easy read, perfect for reading on the beach in the summer!

Rating – 4/5

The Screwtape Letters – CS Lewis

Challenges – March Reading Circle
Ultimate teen guide book challenge

Synopsis – This is a series of letters from Screwtape, a devil high in the Infernal Civil Service, to his nephew Wormwood, a junior colleague engaged in his first mission on Earth trying to secure the damnation of a young man who has just become a Christian. Although the young man initially looks to be a willing victim, he changes his ways and is “lost” to the young devil.

My thoughts – i really enjoyed this book. i thought that i would find some of the ideas difficult to get because i had heard that the book was quite christian orientated. However the ideas of christianity were easy to understand, and i didnt find it too preachy either.
I Would recommend this book to anyone, as it is quite short and made me think about a different take on religion.

Rating 4/5

Booking through thursday – multitasking

Do you multi-task when you read? Do other things like stirring things on the stove, brushing your teeth, watching television, knitting, walking, et cetera?

Or is it just me, and you sit and do nothing but focus on what you’re reading?

(Or, if you do both, why, when, and which do you prefer?)

I do both. Normally because if i didnt i wouldnt have time to read. I can read when im watching tv, sometimes in the bath but not as much as im scared of dropping the book. I have also been know to walk around the house reading.

However my favourite time of the day is to read in bed before i go to sleep!

www wednesdays 9th march

To play along, just answer the following questions 😀

What are you currently reading?

Jenny Colgan – Operation Sunshine, Yes another chick lit!

what did you recently finish reading?

The Screwtape Letters – CS Lewis

What do you think you will read next?

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne