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I found Wicked to be quite interesting in the way that it gave intricate meaning and history to the story and characters found in the Wizard of Oz tale by F. Baum. The three witches in Oz in particular are explored in great detail; especially The Wicked Witch of the West. The reader comes to understand who is truly wicked in Oz. Wicked is extremely heavy, wordy, and filled with philosophical diatribes. Religion and the afterlife are addressed through key characters in the Wicked Witch of the West's life. Also her attitude toward these characters, reflects her religious beliefs or lack of them.
The first half of the book is captivating, then toward the middle, the flow of the plot becomes slow. I lost interest and put it down for a week, then resumed it, curious to see the witch's encounter with Dorothy. I enjoyed the last half the book as the plot came into the events of the Wizard of Oz tale. One idea that arose in my mind as I was reading Wicked, is the reality of the Wicked Witch of the West vs. her reputation. Her reputation made her into something scary and evil, but this novel illustrates the truth of her power and ability. She sees herself as wicked and ponders what it is to be evil. She tries to give the fascade that she is evil to people outside of her, but the reader will see that she really is a pawn in Oz's politics and history. The reader is left with the question is a reputation built by destiny, choice, or both.