9.

The exams are over! Now is the time to slouch around, blog, waste time, and eat cherries. Until next week at least.

It feels nice knowing that I have finally crossed the halfway point in my A level year. Its an odd relief to know that I am progressing and going somewhere, no matter how slowly. I shall celebrate this by finishing Wicked: The life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

I quite enjoy Gregory Maguire's work. I've read Son of the Witch and A Lion Among Men, the sequels to this book. I also saw the musical adaptation of Wicked when I was in London last year. I find the whole concept of a politically screwed Oz and authoritarian references in a fantasy world fascinating. This one of the few series that actually develops both its world and characters quite thoughtfully; there are enough parallels to the real world to make it relatable, but enough imaginative description on the part of the author to make it fantastical as well.

If anyone is very bored or looking for something to read, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. You dont need to a tornado or whatever it was that took Dorothy out of Kansas to see Oz at its fullest. This version is much more interesting anyway.