From: Jones, Caroline E <cj24>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:16:54 -0500

I have always loved L'Engle's Christianity-it's open, questioning, loving, full of grace. Perhaps I'm such an advocate because it reflects my own theology so beautifully (and so much more articulately than I can usually manage). And I think I'd disagree with the contention that Wrinkle starts as sci-fi and finishes Christianity. I'd say it finishes spiritually-fanastically-but not overtly Christian-ly. Knowing the author's theology it's certainly easy to impose a Christian world-view on it, and rightly so, but its core is love, and Christians certainly don't have a monopoly on that!

Caroline

--
Dr. Caroline E. Jones
Department of English
Texas State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-245-7657
On 7/22/08 7:53 AM, "James Elliott" <libraryjim at embarqmail.com> wrote:
I know her non-fiction books on spirituality are kind of weird. Her 'Christianity' is of her own devising, and causes more than a few raised eyebrows.
Which is why I prefer her fiction.  Any 'hidden meanings' can really stay hidden.  In some cases where she does get kind of preachy (the Austin family series), it doesn't fit the plot and then quickly moves on from there.
There are some authors who can do allegory very well (Pullman, Lewis, Tolkein, Stephen Lawhead, etc), but, much as I love her works, Madeline L'Engle does not seem to be one of these.
Still, I enjoy her fiction, especially the Time series (except "Many Waters" -- forced, strained) and my wife loves the Austin Family series -- she feels Madeline captured Teen Angst fairly well.  The Arm of the Starfish books, which was supposed to be an extension of the Time Trilogy were ok, but not as good, IMO.
As to the comment about celebrity status -- one problem I see with authors who get popular too fast is that they feel they have to fit a mold, or become an 'author with a point'. Perhaps that happened with her?
Jim Elliott
North Florida, USA
"Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open ... every child in America should have access to a well-stocked school or community library"
--Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States
----- Original Message -----
From: Sharron L. McElmeel <mcelmeels at uwstout.edu>
To: CCBC Net <ccbc-net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu>
Cc: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo at sonic.net>
Sent: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:12:08 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Wrinkle in book
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
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Received on Thu 24 Jul 2008 09:16:54 AM CDT