A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Unlike everybody else I know my age I made it through my childhood without reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, the 1963 Newbery Medal winner. Because everybody seems to rave about this book, I thought it was about time I read it for myself. To tell you the truth, I just didn’t get it. Oh sure, I saw the Christian parallels, appreciated how it didn’t talk down to children, and can see why science fiction and fantasy fans love it. But I’m just not loving it.
Meg and her little brother Charles Wallace are used to being different, although Meg wishes that she would fit in. It doesn’t help that her father mysteriously disappeared years earlier and all the neighbors are still talking about. Both of their parents are scientists and Meg’s mother still insists that their father will be home any day. One night they meet three women, a Mrs. Whatsit, a Mrs. Witch, and a Mrs. Who. These three women take them on a journey through the galaxies, to new planets, and meet new people in the search of their long lost father. Along the way they face trial and difficulty, learn about good and evil and the power of love.
Perhaps why I had a hard time enjoying this book is that I found all of the characters annoying. Meg, a teenager, acts like she’s four years old, and Charles who is four years old acts and talks like he’s twenty. Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Witch and Mrs. Who were just blah, and Aunt Bea was much too sickingly sweet. A Wrinkle in Time was a great reminder to me why I don’t love science fiction/fantasy.
I read A Wrinkle in Time during Banned Books Week. People have tried to censor this book because of witches, crystal balls and demons. Also, because Jesus is listed among the the names of great artists, philosophers and teachers. I got a chuckle from Forbidden Library when they said, “Got it. Let’s cross Jesus off that list, shall we?”
Do you love A Wrinkle in Time? Your thoughts? Share with me why I’m wrong here.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: banned, banned books week, E-H Author, fantasy, Newbery, U-Z Title
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Meg’s definitely kind of whiny, but I love Charles Wallace – not so much in this book, but in A Swiftly Tilting Planet (when he’s fifteen), which actually reads a lot more like historical fiction than sci-fi, personally.
on October 4th, 2008 at 4:47 pmYou know, I listened to it on CD last summer and just LOVED it, but when I reread it this year for a class I was kind of surprised by how not moved I was the second time around. I dont’ know what it was.
on October 4th, 2008 at 5:24 pmI’ve always wanted to read this book. I can remember being in 5th grade and seeing the poster on the wall and being envious that I wasn’t in the class that read it (I was never in advanced English). Oh–and cute little Ginger better bring it!
She ain’ got nothin’ on me.
on October 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pmGlad I’m not the only one who just doesn’t get it – I always feel like I’m pretending the emperor isn’t naked when I’m with fans of this book.
But there IS great science fiction out there, maybe just this isn’t a good example. I love Stranger In A Strange Land (Heinlein) and Ender’s Game (Card).
on October 4th, 2008 at 7:08 pmI haven’t tried reading it for many years now – but I did try several times in the paste and could never get into the book – I also had a difficult time with Tolkein though … so I may not be the best judge !
on October 4th, 2008 at 7:52 pmI have not read this book. Perhaps one day, but not in my to read list right now.
on October 4th, 2008 at 7:56 pmI absolutely loved this as a kid – and the two sequels. I recently read it aloud to my daughter, and I didn’t love it nearly as much.
I do enjoy L’Engle’s non-fiction and poetry very much, though. A Circle of Quiet is a wonderful read.
on October 4th, 2008 at 10:29 pmI actually liked this book =]
on October 4th, 2008 at 11:17 pmI remember I read this one, probably for school. Now I can hardly remember what happened. All I know is, when I think about A Wrinkle in Time, I never want to read it again. I don’t know why, but I must not have liked it much as a child. I am one who likes to re-read books a lot, especially if I really liked them or remember liking them.
on October 4th, 2008 at 11:42 pmThis was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I still enjoy it, mostly out of nostalgia now. I can easily see how if I approached it first as an adult it might seem really annoying and the premise kind of ridiculous. But it enthralled me and my sisters when we were younger.
on October 5th, 2008 at 8:29 amI liked this book well enough, but I didn’t love it, and I didn’t feel compelled to continue on with the series. I like Aunt Beast, though, and I thought she was a memorable character.
on October 5th, 2008 at 8:44 amI haven’t read this as an adult, but I really loved it (and the whole series, except I thought it fell off at the end) when I read it as a child. I hadn’t liked any other books like it before.
The books that made me decide I must like at least some fantasy/sci fi was Lewis’ space trilogy. So great.
on October 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amAmy BTW M said it for me.
on October 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pmI read this as a kid so I don’t really remember it. However, I did read L’Engle’s A Ring of Endless Light and Troubling a Star recently and loved them.
on October 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pmSomehow I had never read this book as a child either, but it has been recommended by several adults now, so I shall definitely be looking it up!
on October 6th, 2008 at 7:15 am[...] Bloggers’ Reviews: Nymeth, Natasha Bookmark and Share: sociallist_b5ae99b1_url = [...]
on October 12th, 2008 at 7:57 amYeah, I don't get what the fuss is all about. This book wasn't that great for me either. I thought the storyline was poorly written and the ending was so quick! Wow, did Meg only need two pages to get Charles to be released from IT? Fascinating! And no, all those religious stuff didn't bother me at all. Here's my <a href="http://www.booksloveme.com/2008/10/a-wrinkle-in-time-by-madeleine-lengle/">review</a>!
on October 12th, 2008 at 8:03 amI love it, and Madeleine L'Engle's my all-time favorite author. I didn't read it in elementary school like many people do though, I first read it in middle school. Up until I read it I loathed science fiction/fantasty – it was the first sf/f book I actually enjoyed and holds a special place in my heart.
on October 14th, 2008 at 11:36 amhaven’t read it. not sure if i am completely into that kind of story but i’ll let you know if i read it.
on October 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pmi read the book in sixth grade. and now for english i have to write a paper on it for some censorship paper thing…i’m doing mine on madeleine l’engle
on October 20th, 2008 at 5:25 pmThis is such a great book! It was one of my favorites when I was a child. To an imaginative ten-year-old, the book is absolutely enchanting, (and for some of us adults who remember it, too).
Quite unique.
“Wild nights are my glory,” the unearthly stranger told them. “…Speaking of ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract.”
on October 27th, 2008 at 9:46 am[...] Maw Books Blog [...]
on October 27th, 2008 at 10:18 amSee, I totally related to Meg as an awkward teenager, especially when I was a teenager. I love the characters in this book, even though they were pretty stereotyped. I found it a book about “the strength inside each of us” to do good. Cheesy, but I think it’s a great one. Especially for awkward teenage girls.
Sorry you didn’t like it!
on November 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 amI didn’t like it much either and hadn’t read it before this year like you. The three witchy characters like you said were blah. I liked the idea of wrinkles in time and being able to travel through them but it was weird.
on November 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 pmThis was one of my favorites growing up. It was probably one the first sci-fi/fantasy books I read. Though I have a strong bias towards that genre in general.
on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pmI know this is an older post, but I came across it while searching for the book trailer for the re-lease of the book.
I’d read this when I was in fourth grade and was mesmerized by it. Since I’ve started a re-read challenge this year, and put a spin on it, I’m planning to re-read it.
However, reading through the various comments of those who’ve re-read the book and not liked it have me a little worried. I don’t want to lose that awe I feel when I think about the book. Guess I just need to bite the bullet and do it; gonna try to shift my mind into “child mode” before I do, though.
on January 6th, 2009 at 3:41 pmI loved this book as a child. Read it around college again with the rest of the series and enjoyed it again. Since then I have read so much excellent children’s lit that it doesn’t stand up. I think the thing to keep in mind is that it is the reading level of 4th to 6th graders who haven’t been exposed to much. Also, it is one of the few books for young ones that dares to discuss difficult scientific ideas, and it does so in a way that doesn’t turn off the average reader.
on January 7th, 2009 at 10:24 pmMan. I didn’t realize that I’ve never responded to anybody’s comments on this post. They are always much appreciated!
on January 8th, 2009 at 12:41 am