Monday, March 10, 2008

Wicked


I haven't been hooked on a book like this since I was a teenager haunting the local drug store for the next in the Dune Series. Gregory Maguire rocks!

9 comments:

Mrs. Haldeman said...

His other books are great also..you should check them out as well!

Kim said...

My daughter saw the musical when she was in New York and just loved it.

Beth said...

I didn't really enjoy this book. I didn't like sex in Oz, Munchkinland, whatever. lol It kept throwing me for a loop and there were some odd moments with a girl on a broom that kind of made me sick to my stomach.

Anyhow, I just read your new comments in the "To Summarize" section. I don't understand what you mean when you say I haven't gone through what you have and I think it's statements like those that make you sound the most whinish (is that a word? lol). I don't mind that you wrote it to me in the slightest, but I didn't win or place in this last contest and so I think I know what that feels like. I just don't think it takes away from my ability to write. Now, if I had entered all these contests all these times and never been acknowledged, I would seriously wonder if I was meant to be a writer. I do understand that if that is what you meant.

I never go into anything feeling I am the best. I go in feeling my writing is good and then usually end up saying, "I thought this was good?" lol This last time I liked it, but then completely saw where people became lost. That's all right with me. It was nice not to second guess, but then again, I didn't feel it was the best entry either.

Let me just say Jason has never invited me to any contest ever. This was the first time and it was in my Spam folder so I had no idea I had been invited. I went on my own accord, not caring if I was invited or not. He already opens it to all and I don't believe he's ever not judged your pieces fairly. I do believe Jason has not felt your pieces thus far were up to his standards of voting and judging, which is if you read are really very strict. It's not just the story, but the use and overuse of language. Over-explaining, too many metaphors, etc. I think his not placing you has nothing to do with your attitude, but based solely on your writing. I know this because Jason and I went back and forth one time when I wanted to see how many votes I received and wondered why I couldn't. I was not pleasant in the back and forth AT ALL and yet still placed in the next contest. I feel I can safely say his own personal feelings of complainers does not effect his judging at all.

That's just my 4 or 5 cents. lol

Scott said...

Rebecca - I will after this one for sure. I love his writing style.

Kaycie - I think I will have to go and see it now, but I'm afraid of being disappointed.

Beth - You hit the nail on the head. If you had never placed in any of the contests, you would seriously wonder if you were meant to be a writer. Bingo.

Me said...

I call bullsh!t, Scott. Eff the contests. The hell cares about a damn contest?

I've read your stories and they are good. Now, you or anyone else can call into question my taste in literature, or even my own talent, but according to the reviews I've gotten from readers and listeners of my own work (which, I'll add, have won me no contests) and my ability to be aligned with whatever the general public accepts as "good writing" I'm confident that I know good from bad.

And that's all I'm saying.

Okay, one more thing ... what the hell does "meant to be a writer" even mean? You write and you're good. That takes care of it.

Okay, now I'm done.

Wait ... and I'm now going to read "Wicked".

Okay.

Me said...

Wait ... I didn't mean my declaration to read Wicked to be a challenge to you Beth. (I just read your opening sentence again after posting my comment, and realized it sounded that way). But that's what I was going to say before I read your comment--that I was going to read Wicked now because I'd always wanted to, and Scott's recommendation was the last piece of the pie...

Scott said...

Thanks, Alan. There was some sex involved in the book, and I think it speaks to Beth's imagination that such mental pictures are drawn so clearly in her head! I tend to think of the Green Bitch (ala Eddie Murphy) in Star Trek when I imagine Elphaba in Wicked so that I can enjoy the pictures in my head. It's clear to me that the Elphaba pictured on the cover of the book is not the one described inside. The cover girl is sexy, and I'm not sure that was intended or not. Still, I just love Elphaba's character. I'm not done with the book yet, but I am dreading when she gets killed.

Me said...

LOL! I'm so there.

I could never peel my eyes away from Farscape's Zhaan character. That blue skin was so amazing to look at, and I found myself disturbingly attracted by it! Made me understand how Capt. Kirk could.

mr. schprock said...

I like the premise of this book. I reminds me of John Updike's "Gertrude and Claudius," which chronicles what happened to Hamlet's mother and uncle/stepfather leading up to the time of the play.

Dostoyevsky never won any of Jason's contests. I know because I just checked.