A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Wrinkle in Time
It is only proper that I begin my ongoing series of posts on the books that have influenced me the most with the first "favorite" chapter book of my life.
I was in fourth grade when I read Madeleine L'Engle's famous children's book. I read my mother's yellowing paperback copy; an edition from the 1970's with the same cover as the photo. It was first published in 1962, when my mom was eight years old. I am sure my mother read it shortly after.
A Wrinkle in Time
is on it's face a science fiction story for children. On a deeper level
it is a book about the nature of good and evil; love and hate. Although it has often been railed against or banned by Christian groups, it is as much a Christian children's book as C.S. Lewis' Narnia books
Otherworldly beings guide the journey into space to rescue the scientist father of awkward teen Meg and her baby brother Charles Wallace with the help of their friend Calvin.
The passage that creates so much controversy is a discussion of famous humans in history that have been fighters of the evil that is threatening our Earth. The fighters listed are Jesus, da Vinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, Bach, and Gandhi.
The book's detractors consider it inappropriate to place Jesus in such a list. I disagree; it is an apt list of those on the side of all that is good, true, light. My faith in Jesus as the Christ, the son of God, is not in conflict with the idea that his life as a man illuminated our planet with some revolutionary ideas.
There are a couple of reasons this book has always struck a cord with me more than any other has. I have read it at least once a year since I first discovered it. Plus, I have read many other of L'Engle's books of all genres. Hers were some of the first "grown up" or adult books I ever read.
First is Meg. She is smart, but does poorly socially. Her loneliness is painful, but her family loves and understands her. I have always related to her struggles.
I also felt a strong connection the the spiritual statement the book makes. Wither the book influenced me or simply reflected my innate spiritual beliefs, I will never know. I suspect it is a little of both.
It is only proper that I begin my ongoing series of posts on the books that have influenced me the most with the first "favorite" chapter book of my life.
I was in fourth grade when I read Madeleine L'Engle's famous children's book. I read my mother's yellowing paperback copy; an edition from the 1970's with the same cover as the photo. It was first published in 1962, when my mom was eight years old. I am sure my mother read it shortly after.
A Wrinkle in Time
is on it's face a science fiction story for children. On a deeper level
it is a book about the nature of good and evil; love and hate. Although it has often been railed against or banned by Christian groups, it is as much a Christian children's book as C.S. Lewis' Narnia booksOtherworldly beings guide the journey into space to rescue the scientist father of awkward teen Meg and her baby brother Charles Wallace with the help of their friend Calvin.
The passage that creates so much controversy is a discussion of famous humans in history that have been fighters of the evil that is threatening our Earth. The fighters listed are Jesus, da Vinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, Bach, and Gandhi.
The book's detractors consider it inappropriate to place Jesus in such a list. I disagree; it is an apt list of those on the side of all that is good, true, light. My faith in Jesus as the Christ, the son of God, is not in conflict with the idea that his life as a man illuminated our planet with some revolutionary ideas.
There are a couple of reasons this book has always struck a cord with me more than any other has. I have read it at least once a year since I first discovered it. Plus, I have read many other of L'Engle's books of all genres. Hers were some of the first "grown up" or adult books I ever read.
First is Meg. She is smart, but does poorly socially. Her loneliness is painful, but her family loves and understands her. I have always related to her struggles.
I also felt a strong connection the the spiritual statement the book makes. Wither the book influenced me or simply reflected my innate spiritual beliefs, I will never know. I suspect it is a little of both.
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