Monday, January 23, 2012

100 Book Challenge—Book #4: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle


100 Book Challenge—Book #4: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This book is one that I read as a child, I think in Middle School at St. Pats in Mrs. Meusch’s class, if I remember correctly. I couldn’t remember the plot really, it was all jumbled in my mind. My dear friend, Kevin, was talking about it one night and I admitted that it had been a very long time since I’d read it and he said I should try it again.

I have to admit, I wasn’t as impressed this time as I remember being and I felt that it went by too fast, as though there were an entire section in the middle missing. I did like all the religious language spread throughout that was mixed with the normal sci-fi adventure story. I think it could have been better written, but reading it in one night after finishing Out of the Silent Planet probably wasn’t being fair to the poor book. Besides, it is a children’s story and I was enthralled with it as a child. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys children’s fantasy stories and particularly recommend it to budding young readers.

(Also, perhaps part of my negative reaction is related to the fact that I feel a little too close to Charles Wallace, too understanding of his arrogance in his knowledge… I will admit to that, though perhaps I shouldn’t.)

2 comments:

  1. 'as though there were an entire section in the middle missing' Was it an abridged copy?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Justin,

    Nope. I think it was just my high expectations being dashed by a children's book. I feel like L'Engle could have done so much better with such a great story, but I'm also used to reading authors like Dostoyevsky and Tolkien.

    ReplyDelete