Madeleine L'Engle Books

Do you know how awful it is that this book is out of print? I found a copy at the library, and read it in one night -- it's wonderful! The writing style is definitely early L'Engle, reminiscent of The Small Rain. The theme isn't quite as evident as it is in later novels . . . but it's still a delightful read.

The characters are interesting -- both the "younger incarnations", Virginia Bowen Porcher and Mimi Oppenheimer (wasn't there a Renier in there somewhere?), and the characters whom we haven't seen before: Emliy Bowen, Abe Fielding, Kaarlo . . .

The plot in brief: Emily's husband Courtney used to be a professor at a university, and he resigned. They're spending the winter holidays in France, not many years after World War II ended. From there, it's the usual L'Engle family-in-conflict. Vee, their daughter, is also struggling with adolescence and that whole L'Engle-style conflict . . .

It combines the best of many of her novels: the adult conflict and the children's conflict. Not that this is exactly a book for children: it's as heavy as anything else she writes. But in this book I see beginnings of most of the novels that came after it, both for adolescents and for adults.

Highly recommended! That is, if you can find it . . .

This book is notable for several reasons: in typical L'Engle "nepotistic" style, it features the younger version of characters who appear in later books (Virginia Porcher, _House Like a Lotus_, and Mimi Oppenheimer, _A Severed Wasp_); and it features characters who obviously evolved into two important characters of her more recent Young Adult fiction, Zachary Gray and Max Horne. While a fascinating read, this book does not have the maturity of writing that Ms. L'Engle developed in her more recent adult fiction.

This novel is profoundly overrated. I read it as a child (probably of ten or eleven) and loved it, as I had loved A Wrinkle In Time, but re-reading it as an adult of forty (and now an English teacher), I must say that A Wind In The Door is heavy-handed, didactic, clumsy, and just plain smug in its willful avoidance of good storytelling and readability. L'Engle beats you over the head with Christian allegory that doesn't really go beyond a very vague sort of early '70s "love EVERYONE" vibe. Characters appear and are immediately recognized as "good" or "evil," and don't even get me STARTED on the dialogue. Honestly, if this had been written by one of my students, I'd send it back with "Do people REALLY ever talk like this?" in red pen. After reading what L'Engle wrote about J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series: "I read one of them. It's a nice story but there's nothing underneath it. I don't want to be bothered with stuff where there's nothing underneath. Some people say, "'Why do you read the Bible?'' I say, "Because there's a lot of stuff underneath,'"
I can't honestly say that she, herself, shows anything specific underneath. Her writing is smugly vague, full of odd certainties and gaping plot holes. I will admit to still finding A Wrinkle In Time fairly worthwhile, but it suffers from many of the same issues.

Title: A Wind in the Door
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Publisher: Crosswicks, LTD.
Publishing Date: 1973

"Dark business suit"," salt and pepper hair", "muddy eyes" and the unmistakable "small snowfall of dandruff on his shoulders." Meet Mr. Jenkins, the principal of Charles Wallace's elementary school. This was the typical Mr. Jenkins that terrified Meg Murry, the oldest in the Murry family. But on this given day she had to brave not one Mr. Jenkins but three! The nervously, bold Meg Murry begins her first of several tests to help her younger brother Charles.
Charles, Meg, and their two twin brothers Sandy and Dennis are the children of two great scientists. Like their parents, they have all been "blessed" with outstanding academic abilities. Charles Wallace's intelligence, nonetheless, brings him more trouble than ease. New to the first grade and to a school setting, Charles makes several social blunders that cause him recurring painful repercussions. As a result, older sister Meg steps in to lend a helping hand but soon finds herself set before a series overwhelming trials set in outer space and at a microscopic level.
Filled with unimaginable scenarios that will blow you away, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door is a must read! I personally couldn't get enough of its creative, out of this world setting; it takes you past the typical classroom and into a space that will challenge your visual perceptions of size and communication. You may view your surroundings a bit differently after finishing this book.
In addition, the characters are equally as engaging and relatable. Charles Wallace is a bit of an odd duck, but he is still someone you grow to be quite fond of. You can't help but love the quirky, little first grader who brings his pet snake, Louise the Larger, for show and tell, and whose interests include mitochondria and farandolae, instead of video games and TV. Similarly, Meg Murry, the main character of the story, is a loving older sister who might make you reconsider bullying your little sister or brother the next time they step into your room; she is a caring, giving individual that stops at nothing to help her little brother.
My only criticism is that the book doesn't really continue L'Engle's previous book A Wrinkle in Time. A Wrinkle in Time is the first book written about the Murry family and it is as attention grabbing as A Door in the Wind, if not more. I was, therefore, disappointed with the disjointed series; although, if you are new to Engle's work, it's nice to know that you can start with either book. Aside from this, I really can't find any downsides to the book.
I therefore definitely recommend this quick 211-page read to any 8th grader out there with an interest in science fiction. I can assure you that, like a bag of Pringles, once you start you just won't stop!

Although Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door is technically a sequel to A Wrinkle in Time (and the second of her Time Quintet), there is very little reference to the previous work. Although the characters are the same, the adventure is quite different, and if Wrinkle seemed bizarre, Wind is even more mind-bending.

Once again, the main character is Meg Murry, a year or so older than in Wrinkle, and her genius younger brother, Charles Wallace. As the story opens, Charles Wallace has seen a dragon in the garden, and Meg is initially dismissive of her brother's observation. They both have more on their minds than dragons, however: Charles Wallace is also ill with a mysterious disease that is affecting the mitochondria in his cells.

Apparently, there are things within mitochondria called farandolae, so tiny they're only theoretical, but they are the source of the illness. There are also the Echthroi, demonic creatures that can wipe almost anything out of existence. Meg will need allies to cure the farandolae, including the dragon - actually a cherubim - named Proginoskes, her friend Calvin and her former adversary and principal, Mr. Jenkins. As in Wrinkle, a journey will be required, not to another world but into Charles Wallace himself. It will not be Fantastic Voyage, but it will be a fantastic voyage.

This is an interesting and entertaining book that is definitely weird, maybe even too much so for its target audience of pre-teens. I could be wrong: this novel must be staying in print for 35 years for some reason. If you enjoyed Wrinkle, then A Wind in the Door should also be a good read.

Meg's little genius brother, Charles Wallace, is having trouble fitting into first grade, and Meg is having trouble letting him grown into his own. She's also having trouble with Mr. Jenkins, her little brother's principal, who seems to have two evil twins. Meanwhile, Charles Wallace is turning more and more sickly. Meg, in a journey through the macro and micro cosmos, must discover her purpose as well as sort out her emotions and feelings. L'Engle's genius series deals with a brand new form of mythology, that of quantum physics. It's beautiful and wondrous. Grade: A

I guess I enjoyed this. I think. I really enjoyed, "A Wrinkle In Time' and was excited about getting back to Meg, Calvin, and Charles. But this definitely echoed my previous sentiments, and actually magnified them, that these books feel so post Woodstock psychedlic fantasy trip. This time Meg and Calvin enter an alternative cosmos and actually attempt to save Charles life by going inside him with the help of some new friends, A passage involving Meg reads, "She was being consumed by flame. She sensed a violent jolt to the cosmic rhythm, a distortion of wild disharmony-"An example like this makes me wonder how the intended young adult reader is grasping , this and it's deep concepts. I'm sure part of the success of the book(s) are that they work on many levels for both adults young and old, I just found this a bit esoteric even for hard core fantasy fans, let alone young people.

In the previous three volumes of Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet tales of the Murry family, the focus has been on the siblings Meg and Charles Wallace. The twins in the middle, Sandy and Dennys, are kind of off to the side. That all changes in Many Waters, when they are front-and-center.

Though written fourth, in the internal story chronology, this fits in between A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. Fifteen year olds Sandy and Dennys accidentally trigger one of their father's inventions and wind up in a desert. They find people here who seem to top off around four feet tall; the twins, already at six feet, appear to be giants. An effort to get them to shelter does not work out as well as expected, and both wind up almost killed by sunburn and sunstroke.

Sandy winds up in the tent home of Lamech, an elderly man. Dennys, even more severely ill, is taken care by the family of Lamech's son, Noah. Yes, that Noah: the two have been transported to early Biblical times, before the Flood. This is a land of strange creatures, including mammoths, manticores and griffins, and humans are not the only races. There are also the seraphim, essentially angels, and the nephilim, who are seraphim who have tied themselves to the Earth and mate with the local women.

Sandy and Dennys get entangled in the intrigues of the various people in Lamech and Noah's oasis. Both the patriarchs hear from El, the god (or God) who warns of an upcoming disaster. The twins know what's coming and know who will survive: Noah, his three sons and their wives. Noah's daughter, Yalith, who the brothers have both fallen for, is not slated to be saved. And, of course, there is no record of the two of them surviving the Flood either; are they doomed, or will they be able to get home?

The fact that they are around in A Swiftly Tilting Planet seems to bode well for Sandy and Dennys, but there is still suspense, particularly regarding Yalith and the rather nasty nephilim. While Wrinkle in Time may get the most acknowledgement, I actually found this to be my favorite book of the four I've read. While the three previous books are all fine, they tend to focus more on mind-bending concepts; Many Waters has a more straightforward story with deeper characterization. If you have enjoyed the previous books, you will find this one to be distinctly different but still a pleasure to read.

This is one of the 5 books in the set and it is fantastic!!
I highly recommend the entire set to readers of all ages!!!

This is a great book that mixes a biblical story with time travel and mythological beasts. Madeleine L'Engle has a way of writing that keeps you interested and makes your mind work. Being a Christian, I appreciate her twist of the story to add a little more life to it for her characters, Dennys and Sandy. I highly recommend this book. This book made me WANT to read books.

I was excited to find this book, after enjoying the L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series as a child. However, this book does not live up the expectations I had. The characters are flat and boring. I kept having to page back in the book to even keep track of which twin was Sandy and which was Dennys. L'Engle starts to frame conflict and interest between the Nephilim and Seraphim but then never follows through with any meaningful development of those two groups. There is a strange love triangle between Sandy, Dennys, and Yalith. I refer to it as strange because while Yalith appears to be a teenager, she is actually over 100 years old. Like the rest of the plot, this love interest is not particularly well developed. And parents be aware: there are some overt sexual references in this book, not at all in character with other L'Engle books I have read. The author tries to build suspense about how Yalith will be saved from the flood but even that falls flat. Overall, a disappointing book, especially coming from such a gifted writer.

I loved the L'Engle's books as a child, but didn't read the fourth until now, when my daughter is old enough to read the other three. However, my fifth grader is *not* going to read this one for many years. The religious ideas are quite interesting to contemplate, that is not the issue. But these teenage boys (Meg's older brothers) are are on the cusp of becoming men and I'm not talking about the hair on their upper lip. I cannot believe that the amazon review says "Grade 6 and up" and later in the same paragraph talks about "sexual tension". This book is not appropriate for middle schoolers. And I don't think it is even appropriate for young high schoolers.

However, if you are the right age for the book, it is a good read. Parts of it really make you think. And it is always fun to revisit old characters in a new setting.

Somehow I missed reading this book as a child and recently read it on the recommendation of a friend. From page one this book grabbed me and pulled me in. I was so intrigued by the beautiful writing and almost tangible descriptions that I felt like I was standing beside Meg as the story unfolded. I felt Meg's fear. Her overwhelming love for her youngest brother and her entire family. Her innocence. Her strength. In fact, I was blown away by the plethora of emotions I felt. This book has become one of my all-time favorites. I highly recommend this timeless classic!

I have heard of the title of this book spoken before (couldn't remember when or where). But I passed by this book in the bookstore many times, even picked it up a couple of times. So, finally, one day I decided to stop passing it by, purchase it, and read the book. I'm glad I did.

This book has very strong characters, and Madeleine L'Engle developed them very well. I understood them and learned their personalities. Meg is the name of the lead character, and she is a teenager. She has troubles in school, and she is impatient, rash at times. But she is clearly a loving child and cares deeply about her family. Her brother's name is Charles Wallace, and at first, I felt Madeleine L'Engle made him almost unbelieveable, no young child of his age can be or talk like that (like they've been living in the world for 80 years). But I had to remember, this was a fiction novel, and you CAN create a little boy that is unbelieveable. Charles Wallace was very special, and eventually, he won me over. He became my favorite character. He was very much connected to Meg and his mother purposely. He clearly adored his big sister. And then there is Calvin, popular at school, fitting in well, but is different. To me, he was like a mixture of Meg and Charles Wallace together. He had something magical or special in him like Charles Wallace, but like Meg, he was trying to find his own way through the world, too, dealing with his own difficulties at home. He was better at it than Meg, though. Then there are the "stars", I call them, and I think they made the story sometimes funny and mostly interesting.

Madeleine L'Engle did a great job with imagery. Her words made it very easy for me to picture Camazotz, the haunted house, and Meg's own home. Really, every place the children went, I had a clear picture in my mind. I didn't have to wonder what she was trying to get me to see. The writing was perfect, and I appreciated that I could follow with my own imagination without much difficulty.

I really liked how religion, magic, and science are just mixed in to this book, as well. I believe it is very difficult to write a book that has all three of these elements in it, and have it flow without each one disproving the other. It was like you need the science to travel to these magical places that has scientific names, and you need the religion to help you through these magical places. In our own real life, the three doesn't really go together. Science is suppose to be practical. Magic is suppose to be fantasy, not tangible, and religion is suppose to teach belief and faith.

Overall, Madeleine L'Engle did a superb job. I found it a breath of fresh air, in its own way very brave, and right on point (creates a wonderful escape from the real world). I really enjoyed it, and I am glad to have read it.

Thank you.

This is considered a classic by many and, in its time, perhaps it was the best thing out there for children. However, this genre has exploded of late and Wrinkle would probably have a hard time being published today. Sure, after some major editing it would likely hit the shelves, yet I shouldn't think it would ever become a best-seller. I haven't dwelled on the characters at all since finishing the book. (This, to me, is the real test of a good book--I still ponder what Meggie from Inkheart, Bilbo Baggins, Harry Potter and Charlie Bucket are up to lately). I also found myself liking the supporting characters--that clever little brother and the three aliens--more than our leading lady. All in all, still an okay work.

This book is a journey into the depths of the imagination which will be real and captivating for a child between 7 and 12, although you will enjoy it just as much as an adult (the themes are well developed). I sincerely recommend the evocative imagery around Camazotz - the land of conformity. It was originally rejected from many publishers as being too different. Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which are the wise heads who guide the children in their battle against IT.

A wonderful story which tests the imagination of the young and the young at heart. A well written children's read with several underlying universal themes that adults will enjoy immensely. Rich and three dimensional.

But the delivery was fantastic! Cheap and easy, I got the book way on the early side of the delivery window. Yay!

An Acceptable Time is the final book in Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet, but if you happen to pick up this book first, you can dive into it with little problem. The idea of a Quintet, in this case, is more a marketing device than anything else. Each story stands alone. Yes, the five books have related characters, but so do other L'Engle novels that are not considered part of the Quintet (you can consult the family tree at the back of the book to see the interrelationships). But with that caveat stated, An Acceptable Time is a decent conclusion to the Quintet.

The main character in this novel is Polly O'Keefe, the daughter of Meg Murry and Calvin O'Keefe from previous books, making her the first and only character of the her generation to appear in one of the Quintet stories (though other O'Keefe children appear in other non-Quintet books). Polly is staying with her genius grandparents in New England to get a better education, and as typically happens around the Murry household, strange things happen. In this case, a time portal of sort opens up between the present and a time 3,000 years earlier. And as Polly soon finds out, she is not the first person of her time to go through this portal.

The first person is actually the retired bishop, Nason Colubra, who has used this portal to interact with the local Indian tribe who calls themselves the People of the Wind. The People have met strangers in the past, in particular two druids who came from far away to join them. The People have prospered of late, unlike another local tribe which is carrying out raids to deal with their poverty. To end a drought, Polly is targeted for human sacrifice, which gives her good reason to stay out of the past. Unfortunately, Polly's dangerously self-centered (and very ill) friend Zachary brings her beyond the portal, which this time shuts behind her, leaving her possibly trapped in the past.

As is typically the case, L'Engle creates fast-moving, thought-provoking material which doesn't get preachy or condescending. Though aimed at a young adult audience, it can be enjoyed by older people, not unlike the Harry Potter books. In fact, if you are looking for new material (or actually not-so-new material) to read now that the Potter series is concluded, the Time Quintet book may be satisfying. They're completely different from Harry Potter, but they are good in their own way.

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages!! It is one in a series of 5 books and they are all amazing!!!

This book is interesting. It is well written and is in a group all on its own from L'Engle's other books. This time, we go with Polly O'Keefe on a journey to a past time in history where she is captured by the people across the lake. It has an interesting plot to it and is a nice read.

Somehow L'Engle seems to have forgotten her own characters between her last foray into the Time Series and this novel. The metaphors are less subtle, the characters are more black-and-white and the plot feels like it was already played out in her earlier, better novels.

What bothered me the most was how the O'Keefe parents, now grandparents, are so much more close-minded than in any previous story. They show nothing but disbelief and disapproval at Polly's time traveling adventures, which simply doesn't make sense. Mr. O'Keefe has had his own space-bending adventure and should definately believe in Polly's experience. And both he and his wife have never been anything but supportive of their children's adventures. Their treatment of Polly just doesn't make sense. The same goes for their good friend Dr. Louise, who has been mentioned in other novels (particularly as the namesake of the big, black snake in the orchard).

It seems that L'Engle wanted to explore the debate between faith and science in this story, generally an interesting persuit. But it seems counterintuitive for her, since she seems to have spent much of her career exploring the idea that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. Seriously, is this even the same person who wrote "A Ring of Endless Light"?

Another, less serious, complaint is that Polly seems much less mature and more virginal and childlike than she did in "A House Like a Lotus," which was annoying.

This is a lovely, perceptive story of family life in a small New England town--written by the author of _A Wrinkle in Time_, it sparkles with the same fine attention to personality and to the reactions of a loving family in a crisis

This book was great! I absolutely loved it! It is very true, too. A lot of kids go through what Vicky goes through. I think this was a really well written book with a lot of metaphors... a work of art. 5 stars!

Meet the Austins is a humerous, touching book that cannot be simply summed up with a plot line. Madeline L'engle has done a superb job of creating characters that are believeable and can be easily sympathised with. I have read this book countless times and it never gets old, I always enjoy it just as much each time I read it.

This book deals alot with feelings of the typical 12 year old, even if it is set further back in time. Something that would be great for a mom and a daughter to read and then discuss together, because... they can both relate to it!
Plus, it leaves so much for you to talk about!

Young Vicky Austin narrates as she and her clan try to apply their ultra-functional family dynamics to help Maggy, a girl who was spoiled rotten until her parents died in a plane crash.

At first, Maggy runs right over the polite and restrained Austin family, but eventually goodness and civility seep into her, as administered by the kind and wise parents. A double crisis arises in the book's climax; while the Austin parents are at a meeting where Maggy's fate will be decided, Rob, the youngest Austin, turns up missing.

There are many good elements in this book, yet I wouldn't recommend it over scores of better books. The book is, first and foremost, an idealized portrait of a strong family unit living a life in the country. Money is never an issue, as the father is a doctor, and the family's energies are devoted to becoming paragons of virtue.

There are some awfully sweet moments in the book, and brash Maggy is a character who will earn both our disapproval and our sympathy. Vicky, the narrator, has feelings that are very realistic, as she struggles with problems that may seem very familiar to an adolescent reader.

We get a sense of how wonderful a community a family can be, if it is isolated from the intrusion of the outside world. Family songs, group readings, piano session and other wholesome pasttimes keep the Austins together and, for the most part, happy.

On balance, however, the book's strong suits are overwhelmed by contrivances and preachiness. The plot meanders; while Maggy's situation and fate are always up in the air, there is never a real sense that she will be taken from the Austins. Meanwhile, many of the episodes, such as when a reading of Charlotte's Web persuades Suzy to give up ham, simply aren't very interesting. Also, the characterization of the children is seriously flawed. While they have realistic emotions, they are supernaturally able to articulate those emotions. Their powers of self-analysis, and their ability to overcome pettiness, just doesn't ring true.

Another problem that I had with the book was the stealthy insertion of religious views. Early in the book, we are treated to Rob's comically cute bedtime prayers, which is fine. But the last few chapters introduce a brilliant religious grandfather who prompts a dinner discussion about how Einstein believed in God (among other religious topics). I think it's fine to portray a religious family practicing their religion, but when the text is hijacked by a very clumsy presentation of a belief system, it becomes a problem for me.

This is also evident in the resolution to Suzy's refusal to eat ham. John, the eldest son, presents a "scientific" argument to Suzy about why vegetarianism is wrong, and that's pretty much the end of it. The biggest points in his argument are that not eating meat is unhealthy, and that eating a pig is, ethically, no different than killing and eating a carrot. I won't go into it here, but these points are very off-base. That they are presented as fact, with no counter-argument, represents a bad job.

Believe it or not, I am a huge L'Engle fan, and I highly recommend her "Wrinkle in Time" series, including the religiously inclined "Many Waters." This book, however, should be pretty far down on your list. If you would like a portrait of a wholesome, God-fearing family that is less objectionable, I would recommend the Little House on the Prairie series.

If you're looking for a continuation of the Wrinkle series, you're not going to find it here. However, L"Engle writes as eloquently as always. The Arm of the Starfish comes before Dragons though and it would be good to read it first. Starfish, Dragons, and Lotus are definitely geared toward teen girls in my opinion and would be great for intelligent girls looking for the right answers in this confusing world.

No, i didn't read this book but i'd love to...if i understood the back a little more!! :) If anyone could write something however you want to do it and tell me (this may sound rediculis) if the O'Keef family is speaking of Meg and Calvin and all of them?? I want to read this if i just knew a little more...

Quite different than most of the books in the O'Keefe-Murray realm... But intriguing none theless.
A great mystery, and something that I couldn't put down.

It's geared towards younger readers, but I still appreciated it alot.

There's some beautiful wording in there, that only L'Engle can manage.

Poly O'Keefe is pretty much the main character in this mystery. Unlike some of L'Engle's books, this does follow relations of her best known books, the Time Quartet (in which A Wrinkle in Time is found, amoung others), as Poly is the daughter of Meg Murry and Calvin O'Keefe. It is also definetly appropriate for the younger crowd. Yes, some of her books you may want to look at first, although all of them are beautiful and none are crude. She is simply a complex writer who doesn't sugar coat life.

I didn't find any of the characters in this story really came to life. L'Engle told us what they were like, but didn't really show us, it seemed to me, so they remained undeveloped.

The basic plot is interesting, though as developed it tends to morander and jump, meander and jump. A young teenage boy, an orphan who lives with his old grandmother, is taken by a long-lost cousin on a voyage to Venezuala, where his ancestor lived with a mysterious tribe of healers, and his Indian lover. L'Engle manages to combine the "noble savage" tradition with a bit of "capitalist exploitation," without stereotyping too much on either side. One of L'Engle's strengths is her interest in science and the ecology of village life. The story goes at cruise-ship velocity at sea -- slowly, I mean -- and it would be helpful if the characters all wore name-cards, to keep them straight. All the elements for a good story are present, but fail somehow through lack of vivifying detail. Still, L'Engle does tend to see things differently, and that makes the story fairly interesting.

I'm not sure it counts as quality literature, and the editing could have been a little better. I actually noticed a couple of places where the wrong name was used. Maybe this was corrected in later editions. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read for me, and actually tossed up some new ideas for me about God and the evolution of his role in ancient Israel. The thing is, I appreciate the book for this, but I don't think that's what it was really meant to be about, and it certainly isn't the whole point of the novel. As a result, for the average reader, who probably won't appreciate the ideas in the same way I did, "Certain Women" would probably not be as enjoying or rewarding to read. It is heartwarming, to a certain extent, and touching in its way, but there's not really anything particularly new or revelatory about the story itself.

C. S. Lewis and Tolkien would have loved to argue over this book. I will start by saying that I believe L'Engle to be the greatest female author of the 20th century in any language. That said, this is her worst book. So why am I reviewing it? I put the lack of quality in the writing...or more accurately in the plot...to the immense pressure put on L'Engle by the Spiritual/Christian community. This is not unlike what writers such as Anne Rice and Annie Lamott are facing these days. Once people discover that you share some of their belief system, they want to claim the rest of your writing as their own. So where do Lewis and Tolkien come into this? Lewis felt that a spiritual writer should be open about their beliefs in composing fiction. Tolkien felt that all beliefs should be underpinnings and never completely emerge into the story or affect the plot. They should always be able to be traced, but never delineated. I suspect that this book by L'Engle was her homage to the people who had heard she believed in God and wanted her to "out" herself. If you read the entire oeuvre of her work, you'll see her beliefs everywhere

Madeleine L'Engle was a remarkably gifted writer, having written novels for both adults and children that explored serious issues with intelligence and fearlessness. "Certain Women" is one of her novels for adults, and it is full of L'Engle's trademark ponderings on love and faith, and how our actions shape our existence. While it can be tedious at parts, it is overall a rich and fulfilling story.

Emma Wheaton is a successful and talented stage actress, who inherited her acting skills from her father, the great actor David Wheaton. In the last summer of his life, Emma has taken time off from her career to be with him as he tries to make ammends with his past offenses and pass peacefully from this life. For David Wheaton was a vastly complicated man, who married and divorced ofen, spawning a brood of children as varied as they are talented. One of David's main regrets is that he never got to perform as the biblical King David upon the stage in a play that was never finished by Emma's husband. As father and daughter spend their summer together, they reread and rehash the play and the past, the father finally coming to understanding and forgiveness, and Emma finally coming to terms with the direction her life must take.

At times, L'Engle seems to stretch too much to make the stories of the two Davids intersect, and sections of the novel that focus on the unfinished play can be a trifle tedious. However, when the similarities work between the two stories, they unfold and intertwine flawlessly and effortlessly. Although the novel is set between th 1930s and the 1960s, one of the beauties of L'Engle's prose is a sense of timelessness. The trials of the Wheaton clan are real and still exist in the world today. As always, the questions that are raised about love and faith apply to all time, especially the questions regarding warfare, whether it be biblical or WWII or the present day. "Certain Women" is a richly rewarding read and a true testament to the artistry that Madeleine L'Engle wove every time her pen touched paper.

The author Madeleine L'Engle is probably most familiar to readers for her acclaimed Time Quartet of science fiction books for children, including the Newbery award-winning A Wrinkle in Time. However, if you haven't picked up a L'Engle novel since you had your braces removed, you're missing out. Her books for adults, including 1992's Certain Women, contain the same lyrical prose and incisive characterization, combined with mature spiritual sensitivity, and have the same ability to transport the reader into her imagined world.
In this case, that world isn't a far-off planet, but the insular sphere of a dying man and his wives, children and friends. While L'Engle delves into this extended family's rich, tragic and messy history, she also sheds new light on another complex man and his "messy" family, this one familiar to readers of the Old Testament.
The aging actor David Wheaton, spending his last days on his beloved boat the Portia with his ninth wife and Emma, his grown daughter, wishes to gather his far-flung family, including his five surviving children and a couple of his former wives, before he takes his final curtain call. While those on the Portia wait for the others' arrival, David and Emma discuss the one stage role he always coveted and never got to play: the Biblical King David. The parallels between the two Davids' lives and families are striking, and in some instances the Biblical story hits painfully close to home for Emma and her father.
As Anita Diamant did in The Red Tent, in Certain Women L'Engle imagines the lives and personalities of characters barely mentioned in Scriptural accounts. Through Emma and David's discussions, as well as in the pages of an unfinished play based on King David's story, the children and especially the wives of the king spring vividly to life.
The title is an allusion to Luke 24:22, "Certain women made us astonished," and the insights L'Engle provides both into the fictional Wheaton family and the David saga are at times astonishing indeed. What is perhaps more astonishing are L'Engle's observations on the nature of sin, redemption, and the way God often chooses faulty, flawed and complicated human beings to do His greatest work. As L'Engle's characters put it, King David saw himself as an ordinary man who had sinned, and that's when he truly began to love God. Perhaps, they suggest, we have to sin, to know ourselves human, before there is any possibility of greatness.
I recommend Certain Women for its compelling family drama as well as for its thought-provoking discussions of spirituality and the human condition, but don't be surprised if these faulty, flawed and astonishing characters--both Davids and their loved ones--linger in your mind for years afterward. They certainly have in mine.

if i had to choose my least favorite madeleine l'engle book, certain women would merit that title. neither the plot nor the characters connect with the reader the same way in which most of ms. l'engle's books have the power to do. nor does the book move the reader to any deeper questionings as her other books often do. if you're like me and want to read any madeleine l'engle you can get your hands on, this book, of course, will not be a waste of your time. however, i suggest that others become more familiar with some of ms l'engle's other and, in my opinion, better work before reading certain women.

Madeleine L'Engle was publishing memoir before most writers had mastered how to pronounce the word; The Crosswicks Journal--Book 1 (A Circle of Quiet) was first published in 1972. I have to honestly say that Book 1 saved my life, coming at a time when I, like L'engle at one point in her life, had just about given up on my writing career. L'engle's honesty about her own broken heart gave me the courage to continue going forward. In the same way, Book 2 (The Summer of the Great-Grandmother) has given me courage in dealing with the decline of my own mother, who turns 90 this summer. I have always viewed Madeleine L'engle as a writer's writer; her honest words are meant to encourage us to keep believing in ourselves, in working to perfect our craft. But this book is more about the stuff of life that can oppress us, and how to find triumph in daily tribulation. Those who love Madeleine as an authentic individual will love this book.

This book spoke to me years ago.... when I read it a few months after the loss of my mother. I've bought another copy to give a good friend who lost her mother several weeks ago. I think it will be a comfort to her, as it was to me. It was great, reminding me to celebrate the life of the person without actually saying that.

As a reader who adores the likes of Wendell Berry, I have never minded books where "nothing really happens." L'Engle's second Crosswick's installment here, while circling around the death of her mother, is such a book: a meandering chronicle of a summer where, aside from her mother's death, not much really "happens." The fact that nothing happens is not what made me dislike this book, though, but the delivery which is so absolutely stultifyingly dull, trite, candy-coated and aggravatingly sermonizing and patronizing, certainly was. What a missed opportunity for a writer of obvious talent and skill to have failed to either charm or endear her readers. This book lacks all magic and enchantment; there is not one memorable character aside from the overbearing narrator (and author).

L'Engle fails to realize that some readers actually enjoy pure anecdote and resent being led to conclusions and emotional responses by an over-present author. This title was brought to our book club by someone whose opinion I respect and enjoy, however, I absolutely detested this book.

Having read and loved "A Circle of Quiet" (the first of four in the Crosswicks Journals) I had high hopes for this second volume. Curiously, though, this book made me reconsider continuing with the series. L'engle's accounts of her extended family read like historical revisionism -- does any extended family function as well as she claims? I would think a creative and brilliant group of people probably clash more than this book would suggest.

As with "A Circle of Quiet" there are little gems along the way -- L'engle is a gifted writer, and reading her thoughts is a privledge. Overall, though, I found her style dispassionate and erudite, not what I would have expected from a personal memoir.

I'm a big fan of Madeleine L'Engle's non-fiction (regrettably, I have not yet read any of her fiction); I began with Walking on Water, and then moved on to A Circle of Quiet, from which I arrived here, at The Summer of the Great-Grandmother. There are themes that carry over from Walking and Circle, but for the most part, Summer is a different animal altogether.

Like A Circle of Quiet, the book is autobiographical and takes place at "Crosswicks," the L'Engle/Franklin home in Connecticut. As the title indicates, L'Engle's mother, freshly a great-grandmother, is living with them, and her health and cognitive ability is swiftly declining. Throughout the book--really, like A Circle of Quiet, a collection of journal entries--the author deals with losing the mother that she used to know to senility and incontinence, as well as the effects and ramifications of death.

I've never had anyone close to me die, so I can't relate to this book as much as I could to A Circle of Quiet or Walking on Water, but it's superbly written (L'Engle's words always seem to be alive and breathing), and I imagine that it would be a great comfort to those who are dealing with death.

The book is well-written and grabs the reader right from the beginning. Very interesting and thought provoking.

"The Rock That Is Higher" is an important book that many Christians need to read. It not only asks great questions, but it makes you think in ways that you never have before. Sometimes, you won't agree with Madeleine...but really, I don't think that agreeing with her all the time is really the point.

I question myself when I read a book and seem to be agreeing with everything the author is saying. Either they are not challenging me to think hard or I'm not challenging myself to think hard enough about what I've just read. Either way you look at it, reading books like that, is rarely helpful in forming who you are as a person.

However, this book is different. It is great and different and challenging and inspiring and odd and unique and indifferent and just plain brilliant. So don't pass this book up. Get hooked on Madeleine.

This is one of my favorites of L'Engle's non-fiction. It is an excellent introduction to her "theological" writings. It's a much easier read than the Genesis Trilogy but every bit as interesting and thought provoking.

This book makes you both think and feel. It really does take you to a higher place!

I bought this book all excited that she was going to be writing about stories, and how stories are "true" whether or not they are factual, because I had seen her talk about this in several interviews.

This book is not really about that though. It's more about like her own personal life journey in her later years, and how she uses stories from the Bible to give her inspiration.

I guess if you're a pretty serious Christian, this book would be cool. Personally, I couldn't even finish it, and I hate to leave books unfinished. Instead I gave it to my mom.

I especially agree with one of the reviews on the cover. The guy says something about how reading it feels like you are going on a walk with your grandma through the garden. Afterwards, you don't really remember what you talked about, but you know it was important. That's a very accurate depiction of this rambling book.