By: Madeline L'Engle
Libby audiobook 6 hours
Read by: Hope Davis
Published: 1962 (this version 2012)
Genre: children's / young adult fantasy
I'm a little surprised that I didn't already have an entry for this title . . . I first read it in the 1970s as a child. I've read it since then at least twice and perhaps have listened to an audiobook version. I honestly can't remember if I've seen a movie version . . . but I can't imagine any movie could really do it justice.
Meg Murry is an odd duck who is good with numbers and loves her little brother Charles Wallace. She loves "the twins" as well, but they don't play much of a role in the story. They are "normal" active boys while she and her baby brother don't fit in well.
After writing that paragraph, I realized that if you need a summary of the book, you should just look elsewhere. Here are some of the things that jumped out at me on this listening:
1. I loved the foreward by Madeline L'Engle herself. It was lovely to hear her voice. It's interesting that she had so much trouble getting this published! Publishers told her it was too complex for children, but she was reading it to her own children (7, 10, and 12) and they loved it! Fascinating.
2. I didn't remember it having so many Biblical references! Wow. Very interesting that in her granddaughter's afterword, she said some accused her grandmother of writing a book of witchcraft and others accused her of writing Christian propaganda! I loved the references and they endeared the book to me that much more.
3. The reader did a delightful job with the vocal work and emotional tone of the story.
I was familiar with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who (though I'm not sure why the "Mrs." part is in their names). I remember Camazotz, the Thing, and tesseracts. I had forgotten about the Happy Medium, Ixchel, and Aunt Beast. This was an enjoyable listen.
Introduction - by film director Ava DuVernay
Foreword - by the author, read by her
Text - by the author, read by Hope Davis
Afterword - by Charlotte Jones Voiklis (L'Engle's granddaughter)
