A Wrinkle in Time

For our first book of 2018 we chose to read “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. This is a young adult/children fantasy novel, but it also came out a good while before young adult or children’s fantasy was really a genre. Written in 1962, the novel tells of the adventures of Meg Murray, her brother Charles Wallace, and a new friend Calvin O’Keefe as they encounter three very strange beings. Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which are clearly not from our world, and they can transport the children across the fabric of space and time. Thus, a “wrinkle” in time is described as folding fabric in order to travel vast distances. Their quest is to find Meg’s father who has disappeared in the process of some kind of secret government experiment.

The three encounter several very interesting and thought-provoking situations, such as a planet with two dimensions, the ability to view across galaxies and the universe to see that there is an evil being at work attacking planets, including our own. It is called “The Black Thing” or the darkness--that on our world is being fought against by religious figures, artists etc. The children end up on a planet called Camazotz, which has been taken over by the darkness and they must face various challenges to find their father and save one another. They encounter totally foreign creatures on different planets, but mostly come to realize their love for one another is what matters the most.

The book is loaded with ideas and things to discuss. It’s a book that has been criticized on both right and left for encouraging alternatively witchcraft, and religion. In our discussion we also noticed elements of political philosophy highlighted, for example, what would a planet look like where no one had free will? But the central message and the overall storyline is fascinating and led to some wonderful discussion in our book club. The book is being made into a movie that is to be released in March 2018.

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. - Mrs. Whatsit”
― Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

“Like and equal are not the same thing at all.”
― Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time