I bought tickets to the musical, years after I'd first heard of it and wanted to go. Then I bought the book and feared I'd wasted a lot of money. I loved the musical, and it put the book into perspective.

Some authors are generally loved, others have just a very few fans, and most fall in the middle. Some authors can turn nothing into a joy to read and others ruin an amazing tale with excruciating story telling. I feel...whoever wrote Wicked falls into that last category. Stephen King too, though he is generally well regarded.

It's like tiramasu. My husband adores it. I like the flavours but gag at the thought of soggy biscuits/cake. I'd happily make tiramasu inspired cookies, cake, ice cream, fudge, cheesecake, coffee syrup, pavlova.... but my husband is a purist and only wants the liqueur soaked spinge fingers etc. On the very rare occasions we make it out for dinner, he chooses it for desert and I chose something else.

Books are like that....and also, books are terrible when they are soggy, so is cake. My point is proven.