From: Nancy Silverrod <nsilverrod>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:09:09 -0700

As a Jewish kid reading L'Engle, the Christianity in Wrinkle of Time and most of her other books pretty much went over my head, and in those that I noticed it, I viewed it as a curiosity, in much the same way that I viewed books about Jewish kids since my family wasn't observant.

 

I know that many Jews have trouble with Elizabeth George Speare's book, The Bronze Bow. As a kid, it was one of my favorite books. As I have re-read it over the years I have come to have a better understanding of the issues and historicity, and I still appreciate the book for the writing, and the presentation of a Christian viewpoint of the era.

 

There are lots of good books (for kids and adults) where religion, a religious ethic, or a religious culture is a large part of the story. The All of a Kind Family series, Little Women, The Chosen by Potok, Konecky's Allegra Maud Goldman, Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah, and lots of others whose titles aren't coming to mind off the top of my head.

 

 

Nancy Silverrod, Librarian

San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin St.

San Francisco, CA 94102-4733

415-557-4417

nsilverrod at sfpl.org

 

Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)

 

A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb

 

-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Jones, Caroline E Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 7:17 AM To: CCBC Net Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Wrinkle in book

 

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 03:09:09 PM CDT