Wicked, Skipping A Beat and Cruising Attitude Reviews
by Jenners • 03/15/2012 • 3 Stars, 3.5 Stars, C Titles, Contemporary, Fiction, M Authors, Memoir, Non-Fiction, P Authors, Paranormal, S Titles, W Titles • 53 Comments
Wicked by Gregory MaguirePublisher: Harper Perennial, 1995
Pages: 406
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Where I Got It: Paperback Swap
Why I Read It: I fell in love with that song “Defying Gravity” from Wicked the Musical and wanted to check out the book.
My Rating: 3 stars
Brief Description: Elphaba is born with green skin and sharp teeth in the land of Oz. Her odd appearance disturbs her parents, but they raise her as best they can (despite her aversion to water). At college, she finds herself rooming with the lovely but shallow Galinda (who later shortens her name by one letter). Although they are mismatched and Galinda is embarrassed by Elphaba, they eventually form a friendship. Elphaba—who feels compassion for the Animals (the ones that talk) and their decreasing civil rights—begins her lifelong crusade against the corrupt Wizard of Oz. As she, Glinda and her sister—the armless Nessarose—grow up and become known as the sorcerers of the East, West and North, Elphaba finds herself facing heartbreak, betrayal and loneliness. Then, the arrival of a young innocent named Dorothy Gale into Oz sets Elphaba on collision course with destiny and her mysterious origins.
My Thoughts: Maguire had a genius idea: to tell the real story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The seeds of a wonderful story are contained in this book. However, in my opinion, the seeds never sprout into anything amazing and magical. Instead, I felt like I was left with some dried-up beans that didn’t quite get enough sun and water. The plot jumps all over the place, and Maguire doesn’t have a smooth fluid writing style; he makes you work for everything (and much harder than I thought I should have to). I wanted to be carried away by this story, but I spent so much time fighting Maguire’s tangents and stiffness that I never quite took flight. Although there were some real moments of truth and creativity and imagination, I thought the book ultimately got bogged down. Too bad … I think Elphaba deserved something better. Perhaps she got it in the musical version of this book?
Skipping A Beat by Sarah PekkananPublisher: Washington Square Press, 2011
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Where I Got It: A gift from Natalie at Book Line and Sinker (Thanks, Nat!)
Why I Read It: Natalie said I should
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Description: Julia and Michael grew up together in the same West Virginia town. Both faced childhoods that were difficult, but they saved each other and managed to escape their hardscrabble town and create a new life together in Washington, DC. Now in their thirties, they’ve achieved a level of success that Julia (whose constant worries about money growing up have followed her into adulthood) never imagined possible. Michael is the owner of a wildly successful company, while Julia owns her own party planning business. They live in a mansion, drive luxury cars and want for nothing. But Julia often finds herself alone as Michael is consumed by his work. His dedication to growing his company has devoured him, and their marriage has become a hollow shell. Then Michael has a heart attack and is declared clinically dead for several minutes. When he recovers, he is a changed man. Not only is he dead-set on giving away his massive fortune, he is also ready to focus on and love Julia again. But Julia is not quite ready to embrace these changes. She’s become a different person over the years and doesn’t feel what Michael feels. To her, he is destroying their lives and threatening her with her worst childhood fears. She thinks it unfair of Michael to ask so much of her when he gave her so little in the past. But Michael seems to be on a deadline of sorts, and she feels she owes him a bit of time to make his case.
My Thoughts: Despite the glamourous trappings of wealth and the visions of the afterlife that Michael shares, this is really a novel about a marriage that evolved into something that neither party can fully understand and where it will go next. There has been betrayal, hurt and neglect on both sides, and when Michael abrubtly wants to find his way back to Julia, she’s not quite sure she wants him back. As they both struggle to make sense of what their marriage has become, Pekkanen explores what holds a marriage together and whether people can truly give up the love that brought them together in the first place. I thought Pekkanen created an interesting story and brought it to a close in a very satisfying and emotional way. However, I often found myself thinking that Julia was too focused on money, and I often found her unlikable. I think if Pekkanen had spent more time developing Julia’s hardscrabble childhood a bit more, it wouldn’t have read this way. Still, despite some flaws, Pekkanen creates an involving and emotional read.
Cruising Attitude by Heather PoolePublisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2012
Pages: 272
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Where I Got It: From LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program
Why I Read It: I enjoy books that give you an insider’s look into various professions
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Description: Heather Poole has been a flight attendant for 15 years (for an unnamed airline) and she’s ready to give us the inside scoop on crazy passengers, the disjointed life of a flight attendant, the realities of a crashpad, and what it is like to fly the “friendly skies” for a living.
My Thoughts: I enjoy books that give you an insider’s look at various professions, and the life of a flight attendant is particularly appealing. Poole does a good job of conveying the weirdness and stress that is the life of a flight attendant … so much so that it made me wonder why anyone would want to have this job. If you ever thought that being a flight attendant was a glamourous job, think again. Not only does it make having personal relationships next to impossible, but flight attendants seem to barely make a living wage. In addition, the job requires dealing with difficult people in a closed environment under a lot of stress. Still, Poole makes a good case for the career, which provides a host of unique experiences (both good and bad) that give flight attendants a life that is anything but normal and boring. Although the writing is bit clunky at times, the book moves along at a fast clip and focuses squarely on Poole’s flight attendant experiences. I guarantee you’ll never look at a flight attendant the same way again. Also, If you’re considering pursuing a career as a flight attendant, I’d recommend reading this book first as it is very possible you will change your mind.
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I’ve been curious about Wicked – especially being from Kansas – but haven’t gotten around to it. Perhaps I’ll save myself the trouble and just see the musical.
I suspect that might be the best move from what I’m hearing in the comments!!!
I am so intrigued by the last one…not because I ever wanted to be a flight attendant, but because I am fascinated that there is anybody out there who is crazy enough to want to spend so much of their life on a plane! Eeek!
I read Pekkanan’s book, too, and was a little underwhelmed. But there was something there that keeps me looking out for her next, so…
I feel the same way about flight attendants. I don’t really enjoy flying and I can’t imagine spending day after day after day on a plane. And I’d definitely try another Pekkanan book despite not “falling in love” with this one.
The musical version of Wicked is exquisite. Just a phenomenal show. Highly recommend and much easier to follow (and funnier, too). Things are tied up nicely in the show version, too.
It totally sound like I should have skipped the book and just gone to see the musical!!!
Yes, Elphaba definitely gets the story she deserves in the musical.
“Defying Gravity” is one of my all time favorite songs.
I will confess that I first heard “Defying Gravity” on Glee and fell instantly in love. I’m glad Elphaba gets a good story in the musical. It is so on my “must see” list now.
I’m glad I’m not alone in missing the magic in Wicked the Book. I think the musical sounds like the way to go.
And I was very interested in hearing your thoughts on Julia. The thing is, I didn’t fall in love with Michael either since it was so much from Julia’s point of view. I can’t imagine why she would want to make her main character so unsympathetic though!?
I wasn’t sold on Wicked, the book, either. In fact, I haven’t read any of the others in the series because I just didn’t feel the magic. Now, as I absolutely detest the movie The Wizard of Oz, I can appreciate what Macguire has done in making the Wicked Witch of the West more sympathetic. To me, she is the best character in the original story anyway. Still, I think the musical version is much better.
In talking with others, I think Pekkanen’s point was to make Julia so awful. At no point in time did I ever feel sympathy for her, and in fact pretty near despised her. I felt her obsession with money and status and her failure to recognize the treasure she had in her husband versus her material possessions was just plain awful. And yet, there was something about Michael that made the entire story. His determination to keep his marriage together and to recognize all that they had lost in their pursuit of success was the veritable slap in the face and such a poignant reminder that life is more jobs and cars and money.
I’ve always wanted to read wicked–I’ve heard both good and bad about it. I’ll keep it on the back burner for awhile.
If you read it, I’ll be curious to see what you think!
I think the last one is most interesting to me, partly because I’ve worked for two different airlines. I’d love to hear what she has to say. Skipping a Beat might be worth a read too.
If you worked for airlines, I imagine Cruising Attitude would be of great interest. Were you a flight attendance by any chance???
FINALLY! It’s good to know that I’m not alone in being less than enthused with Wicked. I did dress up as Elphaba for Halloween one year, though. No one got it.
I expected to like Wicked a whole lot more. And I can’t imagine NO ONE got your costume!
I saw Wicked on Broadway recently and it was absolutely fabulous! Elphaba gets a very sympathetic hearing in the musical. Go see it!
I think I need to go see it now. Everyone has been very positive about it.
I’ve fallen out of love with Wicked as I go through the series. That’s part of why I want to reread the whole thing this year and add in the last two books. I need to decide once and for all what I think about it. I probably would have been happier if it had just been one book. The series gets pretty weird with her kid and all.
I would imagine that you, with your love of the Oz books, would get a lot more from the books than “regular” people. Still, I’ve heard more than once that it goes downhill with later books.
Excellent mini reviews. I probably wouldn’t have picked up Wicked but thanks for your honest review. Cruising Attitude sounds very interesting and informative.
Cruising Attitude was a fast fun informative read. I didn’t realize just how difficult it was to be a flight attendant.
I loved Wicked, but I felt that way about the second one – Son of a Witch. I was very disappointed in that one.
I’d read a few reviews that were a bit down on Son of a Witch. I didn’t like Wicked so much so I’m not even going to continue on. It is the musical for me!
I’d love to read Cruising Altitude. I travel a lot for business and would enjoy hearing the stories from the “other side”.
That is why this book is so appealing — we can “relate” somewhat to flight attendants and it is neat to hear the “inside scoop.” Plus there are some “tips” in there that might be helpful.
I read the book Wicked when it first came out, and saw the musical some years later–I liked them both. But you’re certainly not alone in wishing something better for Elphaba–she gets a happy ending in the musical. The musical is great, by the way. You should see it if you ever get a chance. One of my favorite musical numbers of all time is in it–a song sung by Elphaba and Galinda about “Loathing” (I think it’s titled “What is this feeling?”)
I’m very curious to see the musical now after reading the book. (I suspect I might enjoy it more.) I’m glad to hear she gets a happy ending in the musical.
Thanks for taking one for the team and reading Wicked for me. I was told NOT to after I was in the Wicked-musical-afterglow….still, a niggling little thought was flickering through my mind until you posted. Thanks!! I love it how you protect me from evil and all that jazz!!
Gotta love a hero!
I love being called a hero!! Whoever warned you off the book was right on!! I kind of want to see the musical now!
The flight attendant book really appeals to me – I’m going to have to see if my library has it. I love reading about other jobs (especially those I would never want to do myself).
I know! There is something so appealing about learning the “inside scoop” on various jobs — especially ones we are a little bit familiar with. My husband and I both like these kinds of books.
Great mini interviews. I read Wicked last year and was highly disappointed by it. I would love to see the musical version if only to see how well (or poorly) it was adapted for the stage.
I’m glad I wasn’t alone in being disappointed by Wicked. I too am very curious about the musical version. At least I know some of the songs are good!
I’ve heard similar things about Wicked, but the musical was great!!
I bet it would be interesting to learn about being a flight attendant… I was a server all through college and even though I know there are other books about waiting tables out there, I wish I would have kept track of everything and put together my own book. Definitely a lot of material.
Funny timing… the author is on Good Morning America right now. =)
Oh man … I wish I’d seen that! I’ll have to look for a clip or something.
My husband read a few books about waiters. It is one of those professions you probably see lots of weird stuff while doing it — plus everyone can relate to it in some way.
I’m thinking I should check out the musical Wicked. Sounds like the better choice!
I read Wicked years and years ago when I lived in DC and was in the best book group. I thought the book started slow, probably an adjustment to his writing style, but I was really hooked after the halfway mark. But I got so much more out of the book after dicussing it with my group. I do think it’s one best analyzed with bookish friends
I had the same problem with Julia in Skipping a Beat! I didn’t like her so it took away from my enjoyment of the book a little.
I could see how a good book club discussion might make Wicked a better read. I was expecting something different I think. And I’m glad I wasn’t alone in not being a big fan of Julia!
what, another Pekkanan? why am I the only one who has never heard of her?
It is weird that I posted this during Sandy’s “Pekkanan Til You Puke” month!! I’d never heard of her until someone sent me this book.
I felt the same way about Wicked – I just didn’t get what everyone else loved about it. I did love Skipping A Beat and want to read Cruising Altitude.
I’m glad I’m not alone in not “getting” the hype about Wicked!! I know you got Cruisting Attitude — I’ll be curious to see your review!
I don’t like Julia either, just from your review!
If her childhood had been better developed, maybe I would have understood her more.
Three great reviews. I could never be a flight attendant, too much moving around.
I couldn’t do it either. I just couldn’t handle flying all day long, day after day.
Wicked has been on my wish list for quite some time.
My cousin’s wife was a flight attendant back in the day (30 years ago, or more) Maybe I should tell her about this book and see what she thinks! Well, they’re divorced now, so maybe not…..
Well, I wouldn’t rush out to read Wicked .. but that could just be me. Plenty of people seemed to like it. I’m curious about the musical though. And I’d love to know a flight attendant and have them read this book and talk about it.
I’ve got Cruising Altitude next on my list to read and am looking forward to hearing her tales. I agree, hearing about others’ professions is fun
I’ll be interested to read your review of it! I love learning about what other people do all day for work. I’m still looking for a job that would be perfect for me.
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