[issybird]

I've finished Wicked in anticipation of next week's discussion and I loved it. I'll keep my comments to a minimum until then, but I'll mention that I enjoyed how Maguire synthesized the book and the movie as background material. I reread The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first and I think now I'll get in The Marvelous Land of Oz (which I've never read), expecting to meet a few more of the characters from Wicked.

Among other books, I'm currently reading the scathingly funny Topper by Thorne Smith, downloaded from MR. I'm trying to stretch it out even though I can look forward to the sequel. A synchronicity: I looked up the film Topper, and see that Billie Burke appeared in it as Mrs. Topper. Her best known role, of course, is as Glinda.

And an interesting sidenote: Stephen Sondheim had a writing credit on the tv show Topper.