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[CCBC-Net] Wrinkle in book
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From: Sharron L. McElmeel <mcelmeels>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:12:08 -0500
Madeline L'Engle spoke twice at the Children's Book Festival in Iowa City, IA; once when I took at 13 year old to the event in about 1978. At that time L'Engle spoke of the origin of the books, particularly a Wrinkle in Time and Swiftly Tilting Planet (I believe) but A Wrinkle in Time for sure. I remember the speech as being very down to earth and direct. No hidden messages to my memories anyway. We both loved the speech and went home loving the books all the more. Fast forward to about 1989 or 1990 she returned and again she spoke of the origin of the books -- but this time my memory (and that of another 13 year old that I took) tells me that she spoke of the
"inner meaning" of the plots and characters and everything seemed to represent something that wasn't evident to me at least. The speech was far too analytical for me -- and both the 13-year-old and myself were not inspired. The 13-year-old had no desire to read the rest of the books; nor have I ever read the books to a group again.
Do you suppose the celebrity status got to her and the books (their characters and plot) took on the airs of a grander scheme that was not really there in the writing?
Just a thought. Sharron McElmeel
At 6:37 PM -0700 07/21/08, Ruth I. Gordon wrote:
>This is an opinion--not a question. Of course, anyone may argue with
>my opinion.
>
> Perhaps "Wrinkle" was rejected by 28/9 editors because they objected
>to pulling the tablecloth from under the settings: L'Engel went into
>the story via science fiction but came out via Christianity. That is
>really pulling a fast one on
>readers. That the librarians of that generation selected it as a
>Newby is interesting. Some day I must see what else was published
>that year and who chaired
>Newby/Caldy then. Alas, the Newby freed her to write longer and more
>prolix books with more cardboard characters over the next decades.
>
>And yes, it does fit into the great discussion with Leonard Marcus and
>his interrogators.
>
>Big Grandma
>(not a L'Engle fan--you might deduct)
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:12:08 -0500
Madeline L'Engle spoke twice at the Children's Book Festival in Iowa City, IA; once when I took at 13 year old to the event in about 1978. At that time L'Engle spoke of the origin of the books, particularly a Wrinkle in Time and Swiftly Tilting Planet (I believe) but A Wrinkle in Time for sure. I remember the speech as being very down to earth and direct. No hidden messages to my memories anyway. We both loved the speech and went home loving the books all the more. Fast forward to about 1989 or 1990 she returned and again she spoke of the origin of the books -- but this time my memory (and that of another 13 year old that I took) tells me that she spoke of the
"inner meaning" of the plots and characters and everything seemed to represent something that wasn't evident to me at least. The speech was far too analytical for me -- and both the 13-year-old and myself were not inspired. The 13-year-old had no desire to read the rest of the books; nor have I ever read the books to a group again.
Do you suppose the celebrity status got to her and the books (their characters and plot) took on the airs of a grander scheme that was not really there in the writing?
Just a thought. Sharron McElmeel
At 6:37 PM -0700 07/21/08, Ruth I. Gordon wrote:
>This is an opinion--not a question. Of course, anyone may argue with
>my opinion.
>
> Perhaps "Wrinkle" was rejected by 28/9 editors because they objected
>to pulling the tablecloth from under the settings: L'Engel went into
>the story via science fiction but came out via Christianity. That is
>really pulling a fast one on
>readers. That the librarians of that generation selected it as a
>Newby is interesting. Some day I must see what else was published
>that year and who chaired
>Newby/Caldy then. Alas, the Newby freed her to write longer and more
>prolix books with more cardboard characters over the next decades.
>
>And yes, it does fit into the great discussion with Leonard Marcus and
>his interrogators.
>
>Big Grandma
>(not a L'Engle fan--you might deduct)
-- =================================== Sharron L. McElmeel University of Wisconsin - Stout Wisconsin's Polytechnic University Children's Literature in the Reading Program http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/childrenslit/ Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/yalit/ 3000 N Center Point Rd Cedar Rapids, IA 52411-9548 ph. (319) 393-2562 mcelmeel at mcelmeel.com http://www.mcelmeel.com Author of Authors in the Pantry: Recipes, Stories, and More (Libraries Unlimited, 2007) Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More (Libraries Unlimited, 2005), Best Teen Reads: 2005 (Hi Willow), Children's Authors and Illustrators Too Good to Miss (Libraries Unlimited); 100 Most Popular Children's Authors (Libraries Unlimited), 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators (Libraries Unlimited), Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents (Libraries Unlimited) and other titles (http://www.mcelmeel.com/writing). =================Received on Mon 21 Jul 2008 09:12:08 PM CDT
