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I am done with SoaW. It's not Wicked. Nowhere near it. And how could it be, when Elphaba is dead? It didn't leave me speechless and overwhelmed, like Wicked. But it did leave me squeeing 'OMG SEQUEL NOW'. I loved Liir, and not just because he loves Elphaba (although, I have to say, it's THE most significant reason). I loved the closer look at Oz, even more so through the eyes of someone who is ordinary and more or less sane. I loved the possibilities it opened up. I loved the grown-up Glinda, who is definitely the most subtle character in the books (MORE GLINDA PLSKTHX). And of course, mad Elphaba love, even as I mourn her absence.
I cried in places, particularly the section immediately following Elphaba's death. It was just HORRIBLE, the aftermath. And Liir's disbelief, which gave way to anger. The way he hates her for dying on him, and his grief. It's absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful:But he wished he had a faith now, some scrap of something: for Elphaba was dead, and to act as if the world were no more changed than if some branch of a tree had snapped off - well, it didn't seem right. And it's beautiful how Liir fumbles and falls until he finds his faith - faith in her cause, which she was married to, which she died for. Faith in *her*, in the ties that bind them.
What did you know of the Witch? Auntie Witch? Elphaba Thropp? She was my... she was my witch.
This is where I fell in love with Liir. It doesn't matter that he can be something of an idiot at times (so was Elphaba) - he loves Elphaba. *is a sap*
The first meeting between Glinda and Liir is just... Really, I have no words for it. Because it's *Glinda*, meeting Elphaba's *son*. The cape, and Glinda crying. *sobs*
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Glinda? Sometimes she gets pushed into the background by Elphaba, but it doesn't mean I love her any less. Elphaba is just flashier. Glinda is subtle, for all her outward show. You never know *who* really is - it's her strength. It's also a part of her tragedy because it's precisely because of this Elphaba could never really think of her as a true *partner*, even though she was, always. And later, of course - when Elphaba couldn't recognise her at all. And oh, how much do you love Maguire for emphasizing on the ambiguity? Liir doesn't know what to say - sometimes she's strong, sometimes she's vulnerable, sometimes she's silly, sometimes she's serious. Together, everything: that's Glinda.
I also found the motherhood theme fascinating. I'll probably meta on this later, because a lot needs to be said on it.
The story *really* takes off with the Bird Conference, where Liir *finally* learns to take a stand. Liir is like us - ordinary. He would rather hide behind his mask of the indifferent soldier than take a stand - unlike his mother. The killing of the dragons was fabulous, as was the climax with the Birds: 'Elphaba lives!' I cheered at that point. And Liir as the eye - of course. Elphaba lives. She will always live, as Glinda knew.
How much do the maunts rock?
Shell!
OMGWTFcomasex????!
And what *is* with Maguire and threesomes? Not that I mind. *g*
Did I mention we need a sequel? Because we do. It can't end like that.
I'm glad that Elphaba's death wasn't meaningless. But it's still HORRIBLE, because Elphaba never knew. She brought down the Wizard. She touched *so many* lives. Glinda never left her side and Liir loved her and took up her mantle (cape) - but Elphaba will never know, because she's dead, dead and gone.
I'll need to read Wicked again.
I cried in places, particularly the section immediately following Elphaba's death. It was just HORRIBLE, the aftermath. And Liir's disbelief, which gave way to anger. The way he hates her for dying on him, and his grief. It's absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful:But he wished he had a faith now, some scrap of something: for Elphaba was dead, and to act as if the world were no more changed than if some branch of a tree had snapped off - well, it didn't seem right. And it's beautiful how Liir fumbles and falls until he finds his faith - faith in her cause, which she was married to, which she died for. Faith in *her*, in the ties that bind them.
What did you know of the Witch? Auntie Witch? Elphaba Thropp? She was my... she was my witch.
This is where I fell in love with Liir. It doesn't matter that he can be something of an idiot at times (so was Elphaba) - he loves Elphaba. *is a sap*
The first meeting between Glinda and Liir is just... Really, I have no words for it. Because it's *Glinda*, meeting Elphaba's *son*. The cape, and Glinda crying. *sobs*
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Glinda? Sometimes she gets pushed into the background by Elphaba, but it doesn't mean I love her any less. Elphaba is just flashier. Glinda is subtle, for all her outward show. You never know *who* really is - it's her strength. It's also a part of her tragedy because it's precisely because of this Elphaba could never really think of her as a true *partner*, even though she was, always. And later, of course - when Elphaba couldn't recognise her at all. And oh, how much do you love Maguire for emphasizing on the ambiguity? Liir doesn't know what to say - sometimes she's strong, sometimes she's vulnerable, sometimes she's silly, sometimes she's serious. Together, everything: that's Glinda.
I also found the motherhood theme fascinating. I'll probably meta on this later, because a lot needs to be said on it.
The story *really* takes off with the Bird Conference, where Liir *finally* learns to take a stand. Liir is like us - ordinary. He would rather hide behind his mask of the indifferent soldier than take a stand - unlike his mother. The killing of the dragons was fabulous, as was the climax with the Birds: 'Elphaba lives!' I cheered at that point. And Liir as the eye - of course. Elphaba lives. She will always live, as Glinda knew.
How much do the maunts rock?
Shell!
OMGWTFcomasex????!
And what *is* with Maguire and threesomes? Not that I mind. *g*
Did I mention we need a sequel? Because we do. It can't end like that.
I'm glad that Elphaba's death wasn't meaningless. But it's still HORRIBLE, because Elphaba never knew. She brought down the Wizard. She touched *so many* lives. Glinda never left her side and Liir loved her and took up her mantle (cape) - but Elphaba will never know, because she's dead, dead and gone.
I'll need to read Wicked again.
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SoaW for me was ups and downs - I was really hyped in the middle of the novel, when Liir deserts the army and goes back "home", but felt a bit let down when the reason for his comatose state turned out to be only a "dragon attack" - I don't know what I expected, but I had a hard time accepting a dictator that wasn't the Wizard. Same with his return to nonchalance during the first meeting with the Birds, although I can't blame the boy. I also don't know what to think of Shell ruling in the same fashion as his sister.
Aaaand then it picked up again with the killing of the dragons, the siege at the mauntery (with Glinda's help! SQUEE) and the demonstration at the end. It seems the events were more high-stakes than Wicked, and yet not, because everything was more conventional.
Liir doesn't know what to say - sometimes she's strong, sometimes she's vulnerable, sometimes she's silly, sometimes she's serious. Together, everything: that's Glinda.
Oh, so much love. And that's why the characterization seemed a bit different for me - Glinda through Liir's POV.
Did I mention we need a sequel? Because we do. It can't end like that.
Seriously? I don't think there's anything left to expand to make an actual sequel. Because SoaW itself was not, to me, a sequel to Wicked, but more of a *conclusion*. The justification we needed.
"She cleaned up green." was such an AWESOME sentence to end the novel. Sigh.
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*Cries*
I love Glinda. It would have been so easy for Maguire to write her as a vacuous twit, but he didn't. She's an amazing character.
I'm glad that Elphaba's death wasn't meaningless. But it's still HORRIBLE, because Elphaba never knew. She brought down the Wizard. She touched *so many* lives. Glinda never left her side and Liir loved her and took up her mantle (cape) - but Elphaba will never know, because she's dead, dead and gone.
*Cries again*
Let me mention one thing that neither of you really touched on, though. I thought the parts with Shell were fascinating (and so creepy! OMG). When he appeared, that's what perked me up and made me think "Wow. Maguire's going to some DARK places here." Very, very dark. I think that's the main thing that makes me want to see a sequel, because those themes left hanging. He *has* to bring the Shell plot to some sort of resolution, IMO.
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Sequel
(Anonymous) - 2006-10-07 03:27 (UTC) - Expand