I’m Not Alone! Gregory Maguire Replies :)
downtowonderland answered: I love his ideas but I hate his actual writing, so I’ll pick up all of his books but then the execution is too dry for me.
I loveeeee the musical version of Wicked, so I assumed that I would equally love his book. I just couldn’t get into it. But I picked up After Alice, because the plot seemed so interesting to me...five pages in, I just couldn’t do it! So disappointing!
missemilythepundit answered: I read his books, and I feel like he’s being too pretentious. I’ve tried a number of his books, but I’ve had to put them down. He can have some nice prose, but not enough to keep me hooked.
That was my exact comment to my mother! His use of vocabulary and sentence structure is just so pretentious and off-putting to me that I can’t get hooked into the plot. It feels like I should love his ideas, and I’ve read countless other authors that others deem pretentious, but there’s just something about him that I dislike writing wise.
her-rroyal-highness answered: I know it took a while for me to get into Wicked, but I stuck with it because I absolutely LOVE the musical and wanted to read the book that inspired it. Once I got deeper into the book, it got a little easier for me but it still took me forever to read it
Meee too! Such a great musical! I even tried listening to the audiobook to force me to get into it...it just didn’t work. I don’t know if I’ll try it again.
attractly answered: my friend asked me the same thing, could never explain why i described his writing as dry but it just is but there are quotes that shake me up occasionally
I agree with you there! I have quoted him before, and I do find that I connect with some of his writing strongly....I guess, there’s just not enough of it I like to actually read the entire book.
emguerin2014 answered: I find that too, he is a very dry writer when he is writing. Which book did you try to read?
I originally tried to read Wicked...probably three separate times and just couldn’t get into it. The other day I picked up After Alice because I adore takes on Alice in Wonderland but I just couldn’t get into it. I was so disappointed.
mags-windham answered: I loved Wicked by him long before I ever saw or knew the music from the play, but I couldn’t stand the rest of the series and gave up. I’ve recently been trying to get into Egg and Spoon, but his style of narration is odd (to say the least) and it seems like the story had potential but is going nowhere, and too slow at that. So I’ve got mixed feelings.
I want to like Wicked sooo much...I just can’t get into it. I haven’t tried Egg and Spoon, though...I feel like his plots always have great potential but if I don’t like his style I’m probably never going to get into any of the other books he has. It’s so sad!
minkakellypls answered: I wanted to love Wicked but just…couldn’t. I liked Mirror Mirror far better.
Was it less dry? I may have to check that one out. You never know!
a-dark-and-stormy-book-blog answered: Oh dude. I hate his stuff. I really wanted to like it. But it was just dull and boring for me.
It’s always great when I think I’m alone in my dislike and then other people join in :)! I completely agree, though. Story of my relationship with him...I WANT to like it desperately but I just can’t.
Thanks for your responses guys! Makes me feel like I’m not missing something!
Much Love,
Lauren
