Customer Reviews

Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quartet Box Set (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When in fifth grade, my teacher read to the class 'A Wrinkle In Time'. I was captivated by the story as it unfolded, and quickly found myself scouring the public library for the book to re-read it. Much to my delight I found it to be the first in a series of four books. While the first, 'A Wrinkle In Time', remains my favorite of the four, I loved every single book. Now, as a senior in college, a still adore these books. They are timeless. They teach as well as entertain. They play with the readers imagination, even as they work on the more scientific cut-and-dried areas of the mind. I feel like everyone should experience this story atleast once... you're sure to enver forget it.

When I was in the third or fourth grade, my mother recommended that I read A Wrinkle in Time (the Newbery Award winning first book in this series). I absolutely loved it then. I subsequently bought the series for a young cousin when she was a little older than that. Now, I have read the entire series to my seven-year-old son, and he begged me to read more each night. This is a series that you will enjoy re-visiting time and again, and that you won't mind reading to your children. I actually anticipate re-reading it again to my two-year-old son.

Ms. L'Engle has combined science fiction, fantasy, morality, ancient myths, and religion in a way that is totally enjoyable and not at all preachy. You get to know each of the characters as though they were close friends. You don't get tired of the characters, or annoyed by their insecurities, but rather remember your own inadequacies (past and present) with a little less chagrin. You also really wish you could know what each character is doing right now

First off, all four books have received new cover art, which is very magnificent and the box even has a pretty new illustration.

Included are:
A Wrinkle in Time - The first of the series, where Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace travel through space to save their father from the it by tessering.

A Wind in the Door - Charles Wallace is very sick and almost dying and so Meg with the help of Calvin and her old principal Mr. Jenkins must save Charles Wallace.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Charles Wallace must travel back to where might have beens can change history from earth's destruction by mad dog branzillo.

Many Waters - The twins have their own adventure in this one, with no help from any of the others.

This is a great set and a great price for all the books at once.

I find all four of these books to be enchanting. A Wrinkle in Time focuses on Meg Murry and Charles Wallace Murry in their search for their father and quest to stop the evil IT. A Wind in the Door continues the adventure when Charles Wallace gets sick and Meg, with the help of her friends, must save him from his possibly fatal disease. A Swiftly Tilting Planet takes you forward another five years. A nuclear war threatens to start, and only C.W. can stop it from becoming a reality. Many Waters goes back a few years when Sandy and Dennys, Meg and C.W.'s twin brothers, get flung back in time to the age of the Bible, where they must make sure that the people there know what to do before it's too late. I strongly recommend all four of these books.

Although most of the children reviewer's on here seem to disapprove of this series, I still really enjoy it. The first time I read it I was in middle school and I could easily relate to the characters.

It is a bit tough to get into the story, but once I did I was pleased I had kept reading. I'm not sure what people are expecting, but this is a fantasy set. Any plot line that involves traveling through time, indescribable creatures, and fictionally applying scientific theories is fantasy.

I would say that although this is intended for children, it can also be enjoyed by adults. The concepts in the set are intellectually stimulating and anyone who likes to learn about new theories should welcome this series into their collection.

I read the first part of this set in 1963 and was enthralled with it. I waited (not so patiently) for the rest of the set to come out and was richly rewarded for my patience.

The first book sets the stage for the next three and introduces the characters of Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin> Meg's father was working for the government and has been gone quite some time, leaving Meg and her family alone. Meg's mom keeps the home fires burning, but never lets on to the children her fears. Charles Wallace was just a baby when his father left, now he's in school. And then there's Meg - not cool like the other girls, not beautiful, too outspoken and smart to fit in her class, she worries that her father has died. Throw Calvin, a sort of popular boy from school into this mix and you got the makings of an adventure. (The twins show up in this book, but later they are showcased more.)

Meg and company set out ot find her father, which turns out to be a lot harder than it looks - and it looks pretty darn hard!

The other books continue the adventures of this group, as the characters age and other things come along to upset their world.

The books are set up as a classic good versus evil, but it never feels preachy or didactic and you will be swept away in the current of the stories. I highly recommend this for girls as it shows a protagonist who isn't cool or popular and how she handles things - not so well at times. My sons loved it, too so I know other boys would like it. I reread it every few years as it seems there's something in there I need to read again or I learn something different. Obviously, in the beginning, I identified more with Meg, but now I see the parents' point of view, too.

Buy this set for yourself or for somebody who needs to be a little challenged on their reading and thinking and enjoy it.

The book is about the murrys, and their usual everyday adventure. However, Charles Wallace is sick and Meg must find out why, before it is too late. The book takes Meg, Calvin O'Keefe, and her other companions as they travel to find the answer for Charles' Wallace sickness, the cure.
My favorite part of the book was when Meg Murry was trying to guess who the real Mr. Jenkins was. It took me away from reality, showing that the impossible was acutally possible for a while. That scene came into my mind and just astonished me with the descriptives.
My favorite character in the book was Progo. It was an odd dragon with many eyes and wings. His role in the book was to stay with Meg Murry, and name the real Mr. Jenkins. It had to take the ultamite test of its life or die.

I find all four of these books to be enchanting. A Wrinkle in Time focuses on Meg Murry and Charles Wallace Murry in their search for their father and quest to stop the evil IT. A Wind in the Door continues the adventure when Charles Wallace gets sick and Meg, with the help of her friends, must save him from his possibly fatal disease. A Swiftly Tilting Planet takes you forward another five years. A nuclear war threatens to start, and only C.W. can stop it from becoming a reality. Many Waters goes back a few years when Sandy and Dennys, Meg and C.W.'s twin brothers, get flung back in time to the age of the Bible, where they must make sure that the people there know what to do before it's too late. I strongly recommend all four of these books.

I first read the Wrinkle in Time books when I was 8 years old in our grammar school library on the high recommendation of my classmate. Completely hooked by the wonderful storyline, I convinced my parents 2 years later to buy me some nice paperbound editions of my own. In my 3rd year of college I finally parted with them to someone who'd never been introduced to this amazing trilogy and begged my mother to buy me a replacement set for Christmas. She did, and to-day, on my 23rd birthday, they remain my treasured favourite books of all time! Now when is that movie going to be made?!?

Although it's been thirty-plus years since I first checked it out of the elementary school library, I still re-read A Wrinkle in Time at least once a year. And every time I read it, I feel the same sense of anticipation and excitement that I felt when opening it for the first time - reading the first few paragraphs and knowing in my gut that I wouldn't be doing anything else until I had finished it. In addition to being a "ripping good yarn," the book features the triumph of good over evil - along with some fairly sophisticated theological reasoning - strong and wise female characters (who don't all look like Angelina Jolie!), messages that different isn't neccessarily bad, and the dawning of adult consciousness and individual responsibility in the consciousness of its main protagonist, Meg Murry. Along witih its sequels, it's a lifetime favorite. And like all the best children's books, it's got a lot to say to adults, too. A must-read for the literate.