5 Stars

*An Insightful Adventure Unveiling the Profound Impact of Little Actions*


I have long regarded the The Wrinkle in Time series as a significant influence in my life. However, it was only upon rereading them as an adult that I truly grasped the far-reaching impact they had on me. It was an absolute delight to have this realization. Reading indeed holds great power! Meg and her mother had a profound effect on my younger self, helping me navigate through some extremely difficult times.

I was aware of the major effects this series had on me. What I failed to notice were the numerous smaller details I had unconsciously absorbed from these books. There were several instances where I had been paraphrasing lines from the books without consciously remembering their origin. This discovery made revisiting these books even more special.

When I first read A Swiftly Tilting Planet, my predominant emotion was joy at seeing Meg older and still engaged in adventures. At the age when I first encountered this book, I was coming to the depressing realization that most people view adulthood as the end of all adventure and whimsy. Having spent my entire life up to that point devouring and dreaming of every kind of quest and journey, the knowledge that society regarded adulthood as a definitive death sentence for those dreams was, quite frankly, soul-crushing. So, when I learned that A Swiftly Tilting Planet takes place several years after the previous books and that Meg was still saving the world as an adult, I was overjoyed! It gave me a glimmer of hope that adulthood might not be an overwhelming drudgery. (My younger self would not have been as pleased to know that holding onto dreams as an adult is a never-ending battle against the soul-crushing forces of society that try with all their might to extinguish anyone who desires something other than a mindless life of mommy-martyrdom, mortgages, and monotony. But my younger self would also urge my adult self to never let the naysayers win.)

I can somewhat understand why some people may not like A Swiftly Tilting Planet as much as the previous books. The setup of the story is rather odd, involving travel into other people's minds and seeing through their eyes. Much of the story is also rather bleak, with a strong Cold War influence and topics such as abuse, misogyny, physical and mental handicaps, PTSD, and depression. There were far more challenging topics than I remembered. However, I adored the exploration of how small acts of good or bad can have such enormous and far-reaching consequences. It's a lesson that everyone could benefit from refreshing.

This series is intelligent, insightful, and inspiring. It's quirky and memorable. Although many things have changed, I love these books just as much now as I did as a teenager. They will always hold a special place in my heart.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 5 Stars

I re-read all of these in a row: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door and this conclusion. What a difference in quality. But this isn't the typical "gold, silver, brass" progression of a trilogy. It's more like 'gold, silver, mud.'

A Swiftly Tilting Planet is terribly dated and even racist. There's a bad guy in Patagonia who wants to use The Bomb and Charles Wallace can only fix the problem by traveling back in time and space to make sure the right father begets the guy with his finger on the button. The characters actually talk about bloodlines and blood here. So in this scenario, genetics create destiny.

Don't even get me started on this strange, ancient connection L'Engle cooks up between Welsh people and Native Americans in Patagonia who are envisioned as living in perfect harmony with each other and their environment. They're beyond Noble Savage and back to the Garden of Eden. The white people bring original sin--well, in the form of a Cain and Abel story--and it gets mixed into the bloodline of the Patagonian Indians. It's better than original sin coming from the Native Americans but not much. And anyway in the end, you can tell the good guy 'cause he has blue eyes. What does this say to you?

Oh, Madeleine, you hurt me with this conclusion to the trilogy, really you did. It's truly disappointing to see such a decline in quality and such offensive undertones in what was supposed to be a concluding installment. The ideas about bloodlines and race seem outdated and inappropriate in today's context. The portrayal of the Native Americans and the Welsh people in Patagonia is overly simplistic and idealized, lacking in depth and realism. I had such high hopes for this trilogy, especially after the first two books, but this conclusion has left me feeling let down and rather disillusioned.

A very odd book indeed, delving deep into ideas such as altering history, the concept of causality, family lineage, and destiny. It explores these themes in a unique way that, as far as I can remember, does not involve the multiverse approach. The story itself was engaging and exciting, but I must admit that I didn't quite enjoy its rather overt philosophy.

I firmly believe that A Swiftly Tilting Planet has the potential to spark valuable discussions, especially in a middle-grade classroom setting. However, students would require guidance to navigate through the nuances of L'Engle's "what-if" material. This book presents complex ideas that might be a bit challenging for young minds to fully grasp on their own.

Moreover, what a beautiful and captivating title it is! It is truly one of my favorites. The title alone evokes a sense of mystery and wonder, making one eager to explore the contents of the book.

I hate to admit it, but getting through this book has been a bit of a chore.

I'm not altogether certain if I want to finish this chapter of the "Wrinkle in Time" series. However, I'm sure I'll press on because I bought the entire series and I want to get through it at least once.

What is interesting about this book is that it introduces us to an adult (and very pregnant) Meg, and a teenaged Charles Wallace, who is the center of this book. After getting to know these two characters so well in the previous two books, it's a treat to see them as they get older.

The fun is tarnished (for me, anyway) with L'Engle's storytelling device of putting Charles Wallace's soul or essence inside various other characters throughout the book. She also dedicates entire chapters to random characters completely unassociated with the world of the Murrays. It feels like a kind of cheating on L'Engle's behalf. As if she were tired of writing about the Murray family and the quirky sci-fi creatures these books have become known for, so PRESTO CHANGO! We'll just cram Charles Wallace's soul into a few historical fiction characters and it can still "technically" be a "Wrinkle in Time" book.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh here, but I'm finding this book something of a bore, and I really wish it weren't the case. I hope that the remaining part of the book can bring some surprises and make me change my opinion.

I really loved the beginning setup of the story. It was engaging and immediately drew me in. And all the parts with Charles and Gaudior were simply wonderful. They added an element of mystery and excitement.

I have always had a soft spot for the Murry family dynamic in general. It's so heartwarming and relatable. Getting to see them ten years down the line was a real treat. It was interesting to observe how they had grown and changed.

However, I have to admit that the historical interludes felt a bit unnecessarily long. They seemed to disrupt the flow of the main story at times. But despite that, I do think there is still a lot more to chew on here. The story has many layers and depths that I'm sure I haven't fully explored yet. I'm looking forward to delving deeper and seeing what else this book has to offer.

L'Engle is truly a remarkable author, and this latest book of hers is no exception. It is another gem in her collection of literary works. The story unfolds in a captivating manner, drawing the reader in from the very first page. The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own unique personalities and struggles. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, eager to find out what will happen next. The writing style is engaging and accessible, making it a pleasure to read. Whether you are a fan of L'Engle's previous works or new to her writing, this book is sure to delight and entertain. It is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

When fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace Murry shouts out in desperation an ancient rune meant to ward off the dark, a radiant creature appears.

It is Gaudior, a Unicorn and time traveler. Charles Wallace and Gaudior must travel into the past on the winds of time to try and find a Might-Have-Been - a moment in the past when the entire course of events leading to the present can be changed, and the future of Earth - this small, swiftly tilting planet - saved.

This synopsis is from the back of the book, which is the third in the series.

To be honest, this is not my favorite of the three so far. There are quite a lot of characters in it, and the plot is at times hard to keep track of.

However, I am determined to finish reading the last two books in the series. I have a strong desire to know what will happen to the family and Charles Wallace.

I am curious to see how their stories will unfold and if they will be able to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

Despite the difficulties I had with this book, I still believe that the series has the potential to be truly amazing.

It's truly extremely weird.

Some of it is outstandingly weird in a good way, but a great many of the details are simply racist, eugenic, and just plain bad.

I mean, I still derived enjoyment from reading it, and it will make me think deeply about a lot of things.

I really wish that the parts I liked could be incorporated into a different book.

This way, the good aspects could be separated from the offensive and inappropriate elements, and a more positive and valuable reading experience could be achieved.

As it stands now, the combination of the excellent and the terrible makes it a rather complex and somewhat dissatisfying read.

Perhaps in the future, there will be an opportunity to rework or extract the精华 to create a more refined and worthy literary work.

Just stick with A Wrinkle in Time.

This remarkable book takes readers on an extraordinary adventure. It follows the journey of Meg Murry and her companions as they travel through space and time to save Meg's father.

The story is filled with mystery, danger, and excitement. The characters face numerous challenges and must use their courage and intelligence to overcome them.

A Wrinkle in Time also explores important themes such as love, family, and the power of the human spirit. It shows that even in the face of great adversity, we can find strength within ourselves and those around us.

Overall, A Wrinkle in Time is a captivating and thought-provoking read that will leave readers inspired and entertained. It is a book that should not be missed.

This one is rather lackluster. The whole name aspect is particularly idiotic. It actually takes a whopping 150 pages (out of 278) for them to realize "with a startled flash of comprehension" that there is - goodness gracious! - a connection among various people named Madoc, Madog, Maddok, Maddox, Mad Dog, Branwen, Brandon, Bran, Zyll, Zylle, Zillo, Zillah, Zillie, Beezie (B.Z.), Branzillo.

And then, on page 195, we get "Certainly the name Zillie must have some connection with Madoc's Zyll, and Ritchie Llawcae's Zylle..." Seriously? You don't say! Give me a break! This is an insult to the reader's intelligence - and the characters in L'Engle books are supposed to be even more intelligent and extraordinary than the average reader.

This similar names thing is something that L'Engle also did in The Other Side of the Sun with several people all named Theron. I'm not certain what the purpose is, but it just doesn't work as it's unclear to the reader. It's like George Foreman and his five sons named George: just plain dumb - and that's the last thing that readers of L'Engle books desire.

There are indeed some somewhat interesting stories within all of this, but it's far from L'Engle's finest work, not by a long shot.

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Regular exercise helps us stay fit by strengthening our muscles and bones. It also improves our cardiovascular system, increasing our endurance and reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition, exercise is a great way to relieve stress and improve our mental health.

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This is by FAR the most bizarre book of the series. And when considering the first two books, that's truly saying something.