I loved the film adaptation of this book, which prompted me to seek out and read the novel. Well, it is definitely the same story as the movie, but the tone is very different. While the film was full of joy and whimsy, the book is quite a bit darker. More ribald for a start (sexual humour) and much more politics and philosophy. It’s the first book in a series of four (with a fifth, prequel coming soon, I believe) and yet it goes quite a bit beyond the point where the movie ended (I think there is a movie sequel coming) following Elphaba beyond her school years, during her time in hiding and working with a resistance movement in Oz protesting the wrongs against people and sentient Animals carried out by The Wizard’s regime, and into her later life. I did buy and read the second book, and will probably read the rest eventually, but I did feel a bit ambivalent about them.
Sarah Wray Writer 