Really only 2.5 stars but rounding up because I like L'Engle so much.

The first section truly spoke to me. I can imagine it has the same effect on most people who are grappling with the reality of seeing their parents age. I deeply appreciated her emotional transparency. She articulated the pain and the conflicting emotions with remarkable clarity and precision. It was as if she was able to put into words the unspoken feelings that many of us experience during such a difficult time.

Unfortunately, the middle sections, although reasonably interesting, didn't quite work for me within the context of the overall book. Presumably, for the author, the idea of thinking about how her ancestors are part of their descendants provides a sense of continuity and immortality. However, it didn't resonate with me in the same way. And, as some other reviewers have pointed out, her claim that her Confederate ancestors "didn't think that the South's point was about slavery" seemed rather weak. Additionally, her insistence that because of how her mother described them to her, she knew they were not dishonest or dishonorable felt somewhat unfounded.

The last section was once again honest and emotional, but it didn't speak to me as powerfully as the first section. It still had its moments, but it didn't have the same impact on my heart and mind.

It takes me an incredibly long time to read anything these days. Alas.

I had no intention of it taking the entire month of February for me to read this book. However, in the end, it seems rather appropriate as this month has, for me, become the season commemorating my mother's death.

I truly enjoyed this memoir of L'Engle's mother and her extended family, which is intricately woven in with the difficult and poignant story of her mother's last summer.

I find myself longing and wishing that I had as detailed and comprehensive a hold on my own family history and mythology as she had.

It makes me realize how precious and important it is to preserve those memories and stories that have been passed down through the generations.

This book has not only provided me with an interesting read but also made me reflect deeply on my own family and the significance of our shared past.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying the first of the Crosswicks Journals, 'A Circle of Quiet', I was truly delighted to be able to borrow the second one from a friend.

This particular volume tells the story of a summer when Madeleine L'Engle's mother was in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease. Despite being frail and forgetful, she remained a crucial member of the family.

The book is filled with reflections on the past, charming anecdotes from the author's childhood, and stories she had heard about her mother, grandparents, and numerous other relatives. I must admit that the sheer number of different people mentioned initially felt a bit overwhelming, and I easily lost track of who was who. However, this did not deter my enjoyment of the writing.

The author's words are thoughtful and, at times, deeply moving. They offer an intriguing glimpse into the simpler life of the previous decades. It's a captivating read that I would highly recommend.

Recommended.

Mado passed away a year prior to my birth. However, it seems as if I have known her all along, for the tales about her are incredibly vivid. In our large Southern clan, whenever her name is mentioned, it always elicits a smile. There have been several feuds similar to the Montague - Capulet in my mother's family, but I have never heard a single unkind word about Mado.

This is a book that is part memoir, part remembrance, and entirely a captivating story. It delves into her childhood and her relationship with her parents. It explores how she perceived her parents and how she and her mother coped with her father's passing. It also touches on growing up and relating to her mother as an adult, a married woman, and a mother herself. Understanding where her mother came from and the forces that molded her life - her era, her distinct Southern culture, and her family. The stories and brief vignettes breathe life into Madeline's mother's family and ancestors.

This short yet emotionally genuine book is truly well worth the read. It leaves a lasting impression and makes one appreciate the power of love and laughter. As the author said, "If she cried alone at night she does not say. What she shared was love and laughter, and I am grateful for her."

Sweet, nostalgic and highly autobiographical.

I truly love the way L'Engle discovers the common thread that weaves through the generations of her family.

And I'm extremely jealous that her ancestors' stories weren't some deep, dark and embarrassing secret.

This has really inspired me to explore my own genealogical closet.

Perhaps there are hidden gems of family history waiting to be unearthed.

Maybe I'll find stories that are just as fascinating and heartwarming as L'Engle's.

Who knows what I'll discover about my ancestors and how it will shape my understanding of myself and my family.

It's an exciting journey that I'm eager to embark on, thanks to the inspiration provided by L'Engle's work.

I can't wait to see what lies within my own genealogical closet and share those stories with my loved ones.

I first read this book when I was taking care of my mother full-time six years ago.

What was extremely difficult for me to express, L'Engle wrote concisely on the pages. And for me, it was like giving me permission to say those exact words that I was feeling so deeply in my heart.

In the midst of the ordinary days of that particular summer that she described in this novel, her mother's family history was intertwined.

It was a charming read that I relished once again this summer as the sea gently lapped against the sandy shore, reminiscing about the poignancy of those times.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, as if I was a part of it.

The characters came alive in my mind, and their emotions and experiences touched my soul.

It was a beautiful reminder of the power of literature to connect us with our own feelings and with the lives of others.

Even after all these years, this book still holds a special place in my heart.

This book truly had a profound impact on me.

Currently, we are witnessing the heart-wrenching decline of my husband's dear 91-year-old mother due to dementia.

It is a difficult and emotional experience to watch someone we love so much lose their cognitive abilities and gradually fade away.

However, reading about how others have coped with and navigated this same sad and painful journey has provided me with a strange sense of comfort.

It makes me realize that we are not alone in this struggle and that there are others who have faced similar challenges and found ways to deal with them.

The stories and experiences shared in the book have given me hope and inspiration, and have helped me to better understand and come to terms with the situation we are in.

I am grateful to have found this book during this difficult time, and I believe it will continue to be a source of strength and support for me as we continue to care for my mother-in-law.

A beautiful story of life, death, and love unfolds before our eyes. It is a tale that touches the deepest corners of our hearts and makes us reflect on the profound meaning of these three elements. Life, with all its joys and sorrows, is a precious gift that we often take for granted. Death, on the other hand, is an inevitable part of the cycle, yet it still manages to strike fear and sadness in our hearts. But it is love that shines through in the midst of it all, giving us the strength and courage to face life's challenges and to embrace death with dignity. This story shows us how love can overcome even the greatest of obstacles and how it can bring light and hope to the darkest of times. It is a story that will stay with us long after we have finished reading it, a story that will make us believe in the power of love and the beauty of life.

An honest description of caring for a mother who is losing her memory and identity in the last months of her life is provided. L'Engle vividly recounts her family's experience during this time. She shares her own profound reflections on the essence of humanity and the reality of mortality. Alongside this, she recalls memories of her parents, which add a layer of depth and personal connection. Additionally, she tells the stories that have inspired her about her mother's family. Reading this account was truly a source of comfort. It helped me to place some of my own family experiences within a broader and more meaningful context. It made me realize that we are all part of a larger human narrative, and that the challenges and joys we face in our families are shared by many. Through L'Engle's words, I found a sense of solace and a new perspective on the importance of family and the passage of time.

This is an extremely intimate and brutally honest report. It details a woman's experience of watching her mother's health gradually deteriorate. As the situation worsens, she finds herself in a rather complex state of mind, even going so far as to pray for her mother's death.

I have encountered countless women who are in similar circumstances. They worry incessantly and are filled with fear as they witness the approaching aging of their mothers.

Madeleine LÉngle, in this regard, does not view things through rose-tinted glasses. She bravely faces the harsh reality, which can be described as "musik" (perhaps a unique way of characterizing the situation). She is honest to a fault, not shying away from expressing the true emotions and thoughts that come with such a difficult situation. Her account serves as a powerful reminder of the complex and often heart-wrenching experiences that many daughters go through when dealing with their mothers' declining health.

L'Engle's memoir about the summer when her 90-year-old mother rapidly declined into dementia and finally passed away is a deeply moving work. I had three distinct and almost entirely separate reactions to this book.

First, it's impossible for me to discuss this book without bringing up the fact that my own 89-year-old grandmother is currently experiencing a similar, albeit slower, decline. Some parts of the book were uncannily familiar, both in terms of how her mother was affected by dementia and L'Engle's responses to the situation. Her insights and what I might call "confessions" often brought tears to my eyes. If you haven't had this kind of experience, I'm not sure if this book would touch you as deeply as it did me, although L'Engle's storytelling gift makes it possible.

Second, this book really brought home to me just how talented a writer L'Engle is. I first became familiar with her work as a preteen and always knew there was something special about her books, but I didn't have an adult perspective on many of them. "The Summer of the Great-Grandmother" is a memoir, yet it reads like a novel in the best possible way. The characters are complex and deep, and L'Engle must have a remarkable ability to understand others to bring them to life so vividly. Ironically, it's harder to write about real people in a vivid way than it is to create fictional characters. The combination of fictional character depth and factual recounting in this book is startlingly effective.

Finally, as someone who is very familiar with L'Engle's body of work, I also found it fascinating to see how much of her real life is incorporated into her stories. This doesn't mean that those stories are any less valuable; she blends her real experiences with fiction in a completely seamless way. But on almost every page, I came across a plot point, a place, or a name that was familiar from her novels, and it always made me smile.

I can always rely on L'Engle to express her innermost thoughts and feelings clearly and truthfully, regardless of whether it shows her in a favorable light.

I had believed that I was sufficiently removed from the deaths of my parents to finally complete the Crosswicks Journals. However, the poignancy of certain passages quickly dispelled the idea that I will ever be completely free from the associated emotions.

L'Engle's writing has a way of reaching deep within and触动 our hearts. Her ability to articulate the complex emotions surrounding loss and grief is truly remarkable.

As I read through the Crosswicks Journals, I found myself being transported back to those difficult times when I lost my parents. The pain and sadness that I thought I had overcome resurfaced, but in a strange way, it was also cathartic.

L'Engle's honesty and vulnerability in her writing serve as a reminder that we can never truly escape our emotions. They are a part of who we are, and we must learn to embrace and deal with them.

Despite the emotional turmoil that some of the passages in the Crosswicks Journals evoked, I am grateful to L'Engle for her willingness to share her own experiences. Her writing has helped me to better understand my own grief and has given me the courage to face it head-on.

I will continue to read and cherish L'Engle's works, knowing that they will always have the power to touch my heart and soul.