We're off to flee the lizard, the horrible lizard with claws...

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire

Synopsis: The life story of the Wicked Witch of the West (of Oz), told under the premise that Baum's version of the story was mythologized propaganda originating from supporters of the tyrant Wizard.

Surprising - that's the best word. Given the premise, I expected it to be more...farcical, I suppose. But Maguire was more imaginative than that.

Slow to start - the first third wasn't engaging at all. But the rest of the story is human, with parts even verging on the literary. No work of genius, of course, but it left me intrigued, which is an interesting feeling.