For me, considering writing means considering reading because the two are complementary pieces of a continuous process. In growing as a writer, I try to read strong writing, which helps to inform what I write afterward. As a result, I read quite a lot.
When I’m asked for the title of my favorite book, I’m hard-pressed to narrow it down to just one. However, when asked for my best-loved author, the answer is quick: Madeleine L’Engle. She is probably best-known for A Wrinkle in Time, but over the past ten years, I’ve collected more than thirty of her books and I love revisiting them from time to time.
When I was in high school, I always carried a book with me (you know, just in case I had to wait somewhere) and it was usually a L’Engle novel like A House Like a Lotus or The Arm of the Starfish. A friend once asked me if I felt strange carrying around “a kid’s book,” but the thought that I was reading juvenile fiction hadn’t really fazed me. In the end, it was all good, fun reading with strange creatures and exotic locales like
Partly for Janssen, but mostly for the general good, here are my most highly-recommended Madeleine L’Engle books, with explanations for my favorites. I’ve had this idea brewing for a while, but in light of her recent passing, I think now is a good time to share and remember. I already miss her, in a way.
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A Swiftly Tilting Planet
I recommend the entire Time Quartet wholeheartedly. Sure, they’re youth fiction, but I dare any adult to grasp the full meaning of any of these books in the first try. A Swiftly Tilting Planet is my favorite of the series and I have no fewer than three copies of it on my shelves: the copy I grew up reading (can’t trash that), a copy of the reissue circa 2001 (ooh, pretty new covers), and the hardcover, signed copy that a friend bought me. So, clearly, the redundancy is justified. I really like the book’s theme of interdependence and the ancient rune as the structure for the chapters and the story. It never gets old for me, even after the sixth time through.
Two-Part Invention
In this memoir, L’Engle shares about her marriage and trials during her husband’s battle with cancer. Even though it sounds depressing, I love what she says about love. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read about a real, strong, committed relationship. At one point, when JG and I were dating, I suggested that he read Two-Part Invention, which was a personal risk of sorts because I identified so deeply with it. I was half-afraid of my reaction if JG, the person I thought I was going to marry, didn’t like it at all. When JG returned the book to me, he was full of high praise, much to my relief. The best thing he said was, “I feel like I know you better after having read this book.”
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- If you feel unsuccessful: A Circle of Quiet
- If you want a great novel: A Live Coal in the Sea
- If you want another great novel: A Severed Wasp
- If you are religious: The Genesis Trilogy
- If you need a baby gift: The Other Dog
- If you have suffered a loss (and you like dolphins): A Ring of Endless Light
- If you are in the mood for intrigue (and you like penguins): Troubling a Star
- If you have a best friend: Friends for the Journey
13 comments
I’ve never read A Wrinkle In Time (though I’ve heard very good things about it), or any other Madeleine L’Engle books for that matter. I’ll have to check some of those out.
I really think you’d enjoy “A Wrinkle in Time” and the Time Quartet as a whole. They’re enjoyable reading that won’t atrophy your brain.
Her name is not familiar, and I don’t know whether she is popular here, but I will keep an eye out. A Wrinkle in Time does sound like something I’ve heard before, but it’s a phrase people use, isn’t it? I love the titles of her books. Thank you for the introduction.
You’re welcome! Good luck in the hunt; I doubt you’ll have to go far to find her.
I’m so glad you wrote about Madeleine! I have loved her books for years (and I’m a lot older than you!) so I’m glad the younger generation likes them too.
I was saddened to hear of her death.
Have you read her other memoirs - Circle of Quiet, The Summer of the Great Grandmother?
Great post!
Yes, I love the whole Crosswicks Journals set, but “Two-Part Invention” in particular. Reading about her house gave nice insight into that rambly farmhouse that is the setting for the Time Quartet, I thought.
When I heard that she had passed away, I immediately went to my bookshelves to pull off A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It’s been a favorite of mine since the first reading….I think I was 10. Each time I read it, I fall in love with it all over again.
Great post!
Isn’t that book great? It gives me a strong urge to obtain a star-watching rock and an excuse to name something Ananda.
I love reading Madeleine L’Engle!
Yay! I feel that she is somewhat obscure, outside of “A Wrinkle in Time”, so I love seeing the rallying of fans.
Thank you! What a lovely post. I can tell I’l need to go check out many many more of her books.
Also, I just went through my mom’s bookshelves to bring home all my books, and I realized how deeply I identify my reading experience with the original book I read. Reading a different version (even if only the cover or size is different) is just WRONG.
Have fun with the new reads! I definitely agree about book covers. When I see new covers of old classics, like The Chronicles of Narnia, or something, I get kind of indignant.
I, too, was introduced to “ontology” by Ms. L’Engle’s work (I wrote about her on my bookblog at http://www.bibliotica.com), and the four volumes of the Crosswicks journals got me through some difficult times.
And of course, “A Wrinkle in Time” was my introduction to speculative fiction/science fiction/fantasy (it has elements of all of those).
I think my favorite of her “straight” fiction is “Certain Women” which I have bought used and given away multiple times now.
Lovely piece. of writing that you’ve shared here.
I love “Certain Women”! It’s one of my favorite gifting books, too. It’s fun to read her memoirs and make connections back to her fiction, and “Certain Women” has so many elements of her life as an actor.
A lovely tribute to Ms. L’Engle. Her name is familiar to me although I’ve never read her books but based on your review, I’m on the search. Nicely written piece, for sure! And thank you for the information.
Yes, please do investigate! Good luck!
I read lots of Madeline L’Engle as a kid, but you’re inspiring me to pick one up again! I’ve actually been meaning to revisit a lot of the “good” youth literature that I read so long ago… I think it would be an interesting project.
I was thinking about childhood favorites for next year’s reading resolution. Stuff like L.M. Montgomery, Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis…all those oldies-but-goodies.
One of my favorite authors as well. I also love her books in my youth. It’s time to take a trip back and do some re-reading.
I find re-reading Madeleine L’Engle to be completely familiar and comforting. Enjoy!
One of my earliest book memories is of my dad reading the “Wrinkle in Time” series to my brother and me every night before bed. I was so young that I don’t remember the story line all that well, but I do remember loving the books. I keep meaning to pick them up again one of these days.
I bet you’d really enjoy the books now, if you liked them then. Let me know if you end up revisiting them, okay?
I was a little worried when the Moms told me that ME had passed away, so I’m glad that you know now. While Wrinkle is perhaps the crowd favorite of the Time series (I do love me some kything sometimes), I think my favorite is Many Waters. That seraphim could and would choose to stay on earth (and battle those nephilim) is such a noble idea, you know?
“Many Waters” is definitely an unsung hero of the series. Some sources don’t even include it in the Quartet, which is not cool at all.
This is a great guide to L’Engle. I read her books like crazy years ago. This would probably be a good time to go back to one of them…
In my book, it’s always a good time for Madeleine.
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