A Wrinkle in Time is a youth novel about a young girl and her brother. It’s definitely a family story and with Disney’s film adaptation hitting screens this year, I thought I might try and read it. I found it incredibly easy to read. It took me less than 24 hours but it is obviously written at a much lower reading level that most adults are capable of. There are elements of humor and a solid plot that is certainly unique but there’s also a bit of a C.S. Lewis-ey touch that presents itself in the blatant presence of ideological references. If you are not a Christian, it may seem like propaganda too and that’s fair but the book was published in 1962 America so I guess it’s not surprising these elements are there.
Madeleine L’Engle Camp was a New Yorker who wrote a healthy number of young adult novels throughout her lifetime. She supposedly began writing as early as five years of age and spoke about her writing serving as her retreat from governesses and teachers who believed she was “stupid” for being shy, clumsy, and quiet. Heavily grounded in her faith, most of her books can be considered “Christian fiction” though she is often noted for incorporating science into her stories and so many of them are also labeled “science fiction.” She was also an actress but most of her notoriety and awards come from her achievements in literature; among which include the Margaret A. Edwards Award, National Humanities Medal, and the Regina Medal. She was also posthumously inducted into the New York Writers Hall of Fame in 2011.
The book certainly has an interesting storyline and challenges some oppressive evangelical ideals that still exist today. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to one of the kids that I nanny for or even offer it to a friend. Its relative ease of reading and fast pace makes it one that could be read on a lazy Sunday or over a relaxing weekend. In my opinion, L’Engle is not a fantastic writer but she writes well for the level and genre she chose to saturate. It’s good if you’re looking for a quick story to read but little else.
I don’t think I’ll continue the series unless I suddenly feel the desire to pick up a book I can finish quickly. The story was good and interesting, for sure, but I do think there are other stories that could provoke a more profound response from me.
What was one of your favorite stories growing up? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers!
Holland
image retrieved from Instagram @aidah_aasir_wani
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