Gregory Maguire

My long over due post on Gregory Maguire goes like this:
I’ve always been cautious of stories written using already existing characters. I assumed lazy unimaginative noncreative writers use these ready characters and write second tries, sequels or whatever they are called to disguise their lack of talent. I can name two series as sequels to “Pride and Prejudice” and one sequel to “Gone with the wind” that were more than disappointments.
Anyhow that the case, I tried not to read Gregory Maguire books, second hand characters and all that. But somehow (call it not finding anything else in the library!) I checked out a few weeks ago four of his books and started reading “Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister” right away. I was hooked! By the second chapter I was preferring his version to classic Cinderella. I totally forgot that I’m reading a story which I know the ending of. The characters were endearing even the most crass and cruel ones. The historical view point was refreshing and the narrator engaging. And at the end when we find out who the actual narrator is, who the real villain is… I only can tell the story builds up expectations and it precedes them.
So it was with this new found love that I started the Wicked Years series. Although I knew the story of “Wicked” through that famous Broadway play and the “Wizard of Oz”, I enjoyed the book much more. It is a well written story with amazing characters and multiple perspectives. The only critique I can think of is when Dorothy and her team enter the scene. The rational controlled Elphaba changes drastically and behaves way out of character. “Son of a Witch” is not as great as “Wicked”, Liir appeared very weak, however I think that weakness was in his make up and character from the beginning, he was not as strong or driven as Elphaba, he was always on the fringe. “A Lion Among Men” continues with side characters of Yackel and Cowardly Lion Brrr and Nor (Liir’s lost half sister). There is not much about Elphaba or Liir in the book but a couple of puzzles are solved and we know for certain that Elphaba is gone, her life story finished. Now is time for other characters. This third book was not as engaging as first or second, a little boring and lengthy perhaps. The thing is I was not interested in reformation of Cowardly lion! I hope for the next book of the series to be more interesting.
“Mirror Mirror” is the re-telling of Snow White fairytale. What I like about the book were multiple narrators, four to be exact! It made the story a little confusing at firs but when I got the hang of different voices, it made for an amazing read.
The only book of Gregory Maguire that I didn’t like was “Lost”. It is supposed to be a reference to "A Christmas Carol" and a bunch of other books but I was so lost half way into the book with all the mental pictures and dialogs and stories going through main character's head that I gave up reading the book for good!
Consequently Gregory Maguire is an author that I look forward to read more from, well; I’m waiting for the next book of Wicked Years anyway!