Gorgeous, insightful, fascinating. Mothers and writers and thinkers should all read this first installment of the Crosswicks Journals.

Timing is everything. I was ready for this one at this time. Nothing fancy, just a long summer’s afternoon discussion with a friend. I just listened.

While this book could be considered dated, I found it strangely prescient and relevant.

This is a perfect use for a reissue...republishing the memoir/journal of a woman who truly thought about her life, her family, her writing, teaching, and her place in the world (and not in any grandiose sense). And there is careful thought here, about not only her family, her writing, her life, but also about the major questions of all life: good and evil, the presence or absence of God, how should children be taught meaningfully, how should one try to live a meaningful life.

Within these pages we meet the well known author of A Wrinkle in Time, who takes us through a young writer's struggles to create...and then to be recognized. We also see how her personal family develops both in New York City and in their beloved out-of-city home at Crosswicks, where they lived when her children were young. We also meet the church choir member who loves singing but isn't so certain about God. We see her at workshops helping teachers of children learn how best to approach them in meaningful and helpful ways. We also see her at the Iowa Writing workshop working with other writers as a guide and teacher.

L'Engle lived many existences but appears to have remained her same true self in them all. This was an exciting, at times delightful and inspiring book to read and I believe I will go on to read more episodes of her journal. Any book that so frequently finds me nodding in agreement or amazement at the "rightness" of something said, or highlighting for re-reading or possible quote, has left a mark on me. I very definitely recommend this to those interested not only in memoir but also those interested in writing, teaching and in the art of self-discovery.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I’d be surprised if the majority of readers have not read “A Wrinkle in Time.” It is undoubtedly her most loved book, although the road to a publisher was a rather long journey. Nevertheless, she did, and the rest is her story, part of which is contained in this part memoir / journal, part love story, part spiritual journey, and also in part advice for writers, her teachings and observations as Writer-in-Residence. Reflections on her family, both the one she was born into, and the one she and her husband Hugh Franklin (an actor with many credits, both theatre and television, but possibly best known for his role as Dr. Charles Tyler on “All My Children”) created, her feelings about moving from NYC to Crosswicks, life in a small town, and her love of nature.

This covers a lot of bases, and a significant amount of a lifetime, but it never feels as though she’s doing more than just having a conversation with a friend. A string of chats on the front porch.

Originally written in 1972, this will be available for the first time for e-readers. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that this is outdated, although there are some references that are dated, but …. Some are more applicable these many years later.

“This sense of urgency has always been with my children, and those I work and talk with. They’ve grown up knowing that at any moment we could blow up our planet if some madman pushes the wrong button.”

“….we were listening to the news and when the weather report was announced he said, “Storms tomorrow. If there is a tomorrow.”

For me, the topics that grabbed me the most were her descriptions of the surroundings of Crosswicks, their home in a small town surrounded by woods, and reading, although I enjoyed reading all of this.

“I read while I’m stirring the white sauce, while I’m in the subway, in the bath.”

There’s a lightness to her tone in much of her writing that makes this very easy reading, even when the topic might be heavier, but most stories are funny, or inspirational, some delightfully observational. I enjoyed this immensely.

Pub Date: 29 Nov 2016

Many thanks to Open Road Integrated Media, NetGalley, and for the gift that was Madeleine L’Engle

I picked this up on a whim – for a quarter – from a library book sale, and I’m so glad I did. If, like me, you only knew L’Engle through her Wrinkle in Time children’s series, this journal should come as a revelation. I didn’t know she wrote any nonfiction for adults. The Crosswicks books cannot be called simple memoirs, however; there’s so much more going on. In this journal (published 1972) of a summer spent at their Connecticut farmhouse, L’Engle muses on theology, purpose, children’s education, the writing life, the difference between creating stories for children and adults, neighbors and fitting into a community, and much besides. My copy is studded with Post-it flags.

I can see these autobiographical works being especially helpful to aspiring writers. I would compare them to May Sarton’s in subject matter, with the main difference being that L’Engle has more to say about religion and family. One of my favorite parts was a brilliant full-scale example of showing-not-telling. For a while the Franklins lived at Crosswicks full-time and her husband Hugh took a break from acting to run the local general store. She could have just written “we had snooty Jewish neighbors from New York City who never fit in until their house caught fire,” but instead spins a wonderful twenty-page story out of it – and story it is; she admits she has taken liberties with the characters and chronology, but the essence is true.

Here’s a few sample quotes:

If a writer says he doesn’t care whether he is published or not, I don’t believe him. I care. Undoubtedly I care too much. But we do not write for ourselves alone. I write about what concerns me, and I want to share my concerns. I want what I write to be read. Every rejection slip—and you could paper walls with my rejection slips—was like the rejection of me, myself, and certainly or my amour-propre. I learned all kinds of essential lessons during those years of rejection, and I’m glad to have had them, but I wouldn’t want to have to go through them again.

Of course. It’s all been said better before. If I thought I had to say it better than anybody else, I’d never start. Better or worse is immaterial. The thing is that it has to be said, by me, ontologically. We each have to say it, to say it our own way. Not of our own will, but as it comes out through us. Good or bad, great or little: that isn’t what human creation is about. It is that we have to try; to put it down in pigment, or words, or musical notations, or we die.


[And a lovely exchange from Wrinkle about free will (the book went completely over my head as a child; I think I’ll have to read it again soon):]

Calvin: “You mean you’re comparing our lives to a sonnet? A strict form, but freedom within it?”

“Yes,” Mrs Whatsit said. “You’re given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you.”

When I picked this up, I thought it was the first of a fiction series. But, it's actually her reflections over the course of one summer while she's in her 50s. It's wonderful, but may not be that interesting to someone who doesn't already love her fiction. She talks about her kids and grand kids, her community, how her faith returned, how she went 10 years without publishing anything, how she's a terrible housewife and how much she loves writing, and people, and mystery. I loved it.

This book was beautiful, challenging, philosophical, and at times beyond my capacity. For the most part, I really loved it. Although, I didn't always agree with her conclusions, it felt like friendly banter around the dinner table. I chose to read this slowly, to better ponder and savor scholarly concepts. I'm still confused about her spiritual faith, as she often refers to herself as an atheist, agnostic, and Episcopalian, but that didn't seem to matter. I took notes and was particularly fond of her "how to write" segments. I've added Crosswick Journals #2 to my reading list.

I wrote a nice review for this book, explaining my thoughts as well as could be expected. And somehow it got deleted. Well I guess this book just doesn't need to be reviewed because I am completely out of time. Maybe I'll have time to attempt to rewrite the review later, but the words never come as well the second time!

L’Engle points to many issues which still are valid today: American anti-intellectualism, the pursuit of pleasure over happiness, the stark divisions between people of different generations and political persuasions, our abuse of the environment, and of course the education and initiation of our children. There are many gems to be found in her book, even for those whose perspectives are secular like mine.

This is a beautiful book, probably what I had hoped the musings on Walden to be (but they weren't). Though L'Engle is known best for fiction, specifically her books for children, this is the first of a set of four books taken from her personal journals. The book certainly meanders and covers subjects like family, faith, writing, and small-town life, but it's a joy to read because of the richness of the writing. If you like writing, reading, or following along with someone's personal musings, I think you'll enjoy this book.

4.5 stars

I couldn’t get into the heavily existentialist meanderings of thought or relate to the agnosticism in this. It felt very dated (published in the 1980s, I think, but with a ‘70s feel).