A Wrinkle In Time follows three protagonists (Meg, Charles-Wallace, and Calvin) as they travel across the universe to rescue their father from an evil force known only as, “it.” Along the way, they meet and are assisted by a motley crew including, Mrs. Whatsit, Who, and Which. The plot also delves into astrophysics and religion, seeking to blend the two. The work is considered by many to be a literary classic. Reading it now, in the 2020s, how does it hold up?
Pros
- The book portrays fantastical planets and creatures, sparking the imagination
- The book features a fully-realized female protagonist who is not constrained by gendered expectations (e.g. she likes math, she can be a trouble-maker, etc), as well as fleshed out female / female-presenting supporting characters (e.g. Meg’s mother, Mrs. Who, Whatsit, and Which).
- Meg’s interaction with her father and the realization that he would not be able to “fix” or resolve Charles-Wallace’s capture was particularly poignant.
Cons
- It felt like the protagonists lacked agency and made few choices over the course of the book. This was especially true in the first half where the POV characters where whisked from one scene to the next with little more to do than react.
- Meg’s voice can be grating (both in terms of word choice and the reader’s performance); this was due in large part to her repetitive lines of thought and dialogue throughout the book (e.g. “where’s father?” and “how does this work?”)
- (nit-pick) There was a noticeable drop in audio quality in the middle of chapter six; it recovers by chapter 7, however. I am listing this as a nit-pick partially because it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book and partly because it may be addressed in future additions.
- (nit-pick) I found it ironic that in her first close encounter with “it,” Meg escapes its mental control by obediently listening to her father. It makes complete sense that she would trust him more than “it,” but I still chuckled a touch.
Conclusion
On one hand, I want to give credit where credit is due. I can see why the book was transformative for its time, even controversial. I can see how certain Christians might argue that the book doesn’t do enough to place Judeo-Christian God / Jesus at the center of the narrative given that both are explicitly mentioned. I can also see how atheist and agnostic readers could be turned off by their presence, and the idea that both men and celestial beings should dedicate their energies to said god. Ultimately, the book plays with a lot of interesting ideas (from astrophysics to mind control) and there is a lot good happening in this book, but I don’t plan to reread it.
Check it out here.
You may also enjoy…
- “Good Omens,” by Terry Pratchett
- “The Graveyard Book,” by Neil Gaiman
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