A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


My 2 cents:

The saying “everything old becomes new again” is certainly true for A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. First published 50 years ago, L'Engle's novel boasts a brand-new “Anniversary Edition” cover in 2012. The look is sleek and shiny, with a blue metallic background, the gold Newbery Medal seal, and tiny ringed figures of L'Engle's beloved characters, Meg Murry, and Mr. Murry. The book's message is more relevant to me today than when I first read it.

The classic novel's new cover hints at one of the book's central themes, time and space travel, “tessering” - it's called, or “wrinkling time.” Brave to publish these ideas in 1962, L'Engle again shows courage in publishing her “radical” notions of bending time, keeping family together, rescuing the lost, and, above all, that love always trumps hate.

With Mr. Murry lost in another dimension, young Meg is compelled to leave home, go find her scientist father, and bring him back. She is assisted by her unworldly-wise younger brother, Charles Wallace, her new friend, Calvin, and a trio of mysterious, magical women – Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who. Danger, adventure, confusing new planets and new friendships await Meg, her brother and Calvin on their journey to bring home Mr. Murry. When Charles Wallace is captured by IT on the dark planet of Camazotz, Meg learns she must find courage to face her fears, and find the answers to difficult questions in her own heart.

As I read about Meg's discovery on p. 228-9, I was surprised to find tears dripping off my jaw, and onto the pages of L'Engle's beautiful, new edition of A Wrinkle in Time:

“She knew!
Love.
That was what she had that IT did not have.
. . . But how could she use it?
What was she meant to do?”

If you've never read this remarkable story, or you have, but you've forgotten what Meg was “meant to do,” grab a copy and read it. Today.




Length: 232 pages

Worth Your Time: Oh, yes. Fifty years later, thank you, Madeleine L'Engle.


BONUS: A Wrinkle in Time (the GRAPHIC NOVEL), adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson, was also published in 2012, for comic book fans. I especially love Larson's depiction of “Absolute Zero” on p. 297-303. Great art work.

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    A classic book made into a graphic novel!?! Who knew? (Well I guess you did.) Thanks for reviewing. Puts a whole new spin on it :)

    ReplyDelete

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