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A review by mediaevalmuse
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
4.0
The last time I read this book was in elementary school, I think, so when I picked it up again, I had very little memory of what actually happened. I figured with the film coming out soon, it’d be good to reread, and I’m ultimately glad I did. L’Engel’s book is mostly satisfying in its pacing (I hate things that move too fast) and its imagination, and while there were some things I didn’t like, as a book, it’s very well-written - a classic for a reason.
Things I Liked
1. Pace: I very much appreciated that L’Engel takes the time in this novel to describe things around the characters and set up her plot before jumping too quickly into the fantastical elements. Readers really get a sense of who the characters are before we’re asked to care about their well-being, and once we’re off, the characters move slowly through different worlds, allowing L’Engle to build up details instead of dumping them all at once.
2. Flawed Protagonist: Meg Murry is a flawed character - she’s impatient, stubborn, and anxious. From time to time, these flaws very much grated on my nerves, but I think it was for the better. Some readers might not like her, but I think having an unlikable protagonist is a good thing sometimes, and for me, the flaws made Meg seem more real.
3. Family: I loved the tenderness shown between the members of the Murry family. Meg does not come from a broken home, her parents love her very much, and there’s a sibling bond between Meg and Charles that serves as a wonderful counterbalance to the loneliness Meg feels at the beginning of the novel.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Romance: Is it just me, or do the romantic hints between Meg and Calvin feel forced and unnecessary?
2. Christian References: I’m not against religion in fiction, nor am I against Christianity generally; but the Christian references in this book felt forced. God is referenced, but never really invoked or seen as a player in the overall structure of the universe. As a result, whenever a character talked about God, I couldn’t help but wonder why no one thinks to pray or ask him to help.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in fantasy, YA/children’s fantasy, space, fantastical planets, dystopia, mind-control, teleportation, portals, and time-travel.
Things I Liked
1. Pace: I very much appreciated that L’Engel takes the time in this novel to describe things around the characters and set up her plot before jumping too quickly into the fantastical elements. Readers really get a sense of who the characters are before we’re asked to care about their well-being, and once we’re off, the characters move slowly through different worlds, allowing L’Engle to build up details instead of dumping them all at once.
2. Flawed Protagonist: Meg Murry is a flawed character - she’s impatient, stubborn, and anxious. From time to time, these flaws very much grated on my nerves, but I think it was for the better. Some readers might not like her, but I think having an unlikable protagonist is a good thing sometimes, and for me, the flaws made Meg seem more real.
3. Family: I loved the tenderness shown between the members of the Murry family. Meg does not come from a broken home, her parents love her very much, and there’s a sibling bond between Meg and Charles that serves as a wonderful counterbalance to the loneliness Meg feels at the beginning of the novel.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Romance: Is it just me, or do the romantic hints between Meg and Calvin feel forced and unnecessary?
2. Christian References: I’m not against religion in fiction, nor am I against Christianity generally; but the Christian references in this book felt forced. God is referenced, but never really invoked or seen as a player in the overall structure of the universe. As a result, whenever a character talked about God, I couldn’t help but wonder why no one thinks to pray or ask him to help.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in fantasy, YA/children’s fantasy, space, fantastical planets, dystopia, mind-control, teleportation, portals, and time-travel.