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I’m struggling to rate this book. I only learned it was a book over Thanksgiving break last week, during which I was dragged to the movie three times and told at one of them that the musical and movie were based on a book. Of course I had to read it, and of course the musical and movie were “Disneyfied�� (though Disney did not produce either). After reading the book, I understand why they had to do that in order to have any chance of commercial success.

The book is more like the original versions of the Brothers Grimm fairytales - dark, raw, sad, bloody, and unrestrained. It’s also long because it goes from Elphaba’s conception and every development milestone into, presumably, her mid to late 30s, including: realizing she can forge her own path, create her own reputation and use it to her best advantage, have love, fight for her convictions, be lovable, be powerful and feared, be maternal, be wrong, be undone, and face innocence.

On the one hand, I enjoyed seeing this version of the story unfold. On the other hand, I’m so frustrated she never got the two things she ever wanted (won’t spoil it, but both are related to the two most important men in her life). Also, a few digressions were really distracting, and I hope they are further explored and developed in later books (e.g., her father’s confession about what Turtle Heart meant to her parents, the fact that she has a brother who probably only got mentioned a few times, the colonization of the Quadling, etc.).

It was a feat to write this book. I enjoyed the reading experience even if the story had holes and several characters ended without closure. I think it’s always important to see the world through other people’s eyes. I guess it feels like a 3.5 that I’ll round up to 4?