Okay. Honesty time. I am trying to wrest a full cannonball from the jaws of defeat. Once I get this review written I’m at 48, I’m halfway through reading one book and 7/8 through tackling another on audio so that’s got me at 50 which is SO. CLOSE. So, I picked up Wrinkle in Time partially to get another one in the W column; however, I am hoping/trying to get my ten-year-old to read it (and the quintet) because duh, awesome. I threw the word tesseract out there which perked up his Marvel-loving eyebrows and I read two chapters which got a shoulder shrug, but, I will keep fighting the good fight.
This is at minimum my second foray into the Murry’s world, though possibly it’ll be my third reread? I can’t be certain. I recall finding the story compelling, exciting, and full of wonder in my youth, and I’m glad to say that hasn’t changed in the least. I devoured this book, and I’m going to finish the reread of the rest of the set.
There is so much at play here that is important for a kid (and really anyone) to read about. This is a story of bravery in the face of certain defeat, and not letting the fact that you are different stop you from trying to be yourself and make a difference. Meg is an oddball by her telling in both her family and in school, the class ugly ducking. She feels like she can’t do anything right, and yet, when faced with danger and difficulty she rises to the challenge time and again.
The allegory that L’Engle is making to the connectivity and spirituality of the universe doesn’t exactly resonate with my beliefs anymore, but that doesn’t make the story any less interesting. I haven’t seen the new film adaptation and know that it’s reviews were mixed, but this is making me want to give them a go. Also, dystopian fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I wonder if this is where it all began for me? Interesting point to ponder.