Sunday, July 1, 2012

Day 1: Favorite Book

So it seems to me that this should be the LAST entry of this challenge, because picking a favorite book is really really hard. It is for me anyway, and I suspect it is for any other book loving individual as well. But alas, we start here. What is my favorite book?...

Well several books spring to mind, and most of them are associated with a certain time in my life. The Nancy Drew books were my first 'big' favorites, Little Women played the role for a long time, The Chosen is still battling for first place, I could go on and on. Since, however, I am supposed to pick ONE favorite and not just talk about all the others I love I suppose I would have to pick (drumroll please)

 A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

 
This book was a favorite when I read it as a child, it was still a favorite when I re-read it in high school, again in college and most recently when I read it out loud with my nephew for the first time. It brings me to tears. It makes me literally laugh out loud. It speaks to me in new ways every time I pick it up. The book is this year celebrating its 50th year in print. My nephew still sat in wonder when he heard it. Wow! What a legacy.

I cannot imagine ever getting tired of this book. There is a particular page, I am surprised it has not come out of my own book as I go there so often (though that is probably b/c I own several different copies), that just speaks to me...about everything. It is, I think, the essence of life and love and religion and faith and curiosity and so many other things. I cannot read it aloud (though I have tried many times) without coming to tears. It is the part of the story in which Meg discovers that the one thing she has that can beat the evil IT, is simply love.

I have spent a good deal of my life studying theology and talking about nature and nurture and philosophy and life. I think Meg gets it all. It is so simple, and yet so very profound! She is fighting against this evil that has taken hold of her little brother (my FAVORITE character) Charles Wallace and then,

"suddenly she knew.
She knew!
Love.
That was what she had that IT did not have.
She had Mrs. Whatsit's love, and her father's, and her mother's, and the real Charles Wallace's love, and the twin's, and Aunt Beasts.
And she had her love for them."

Wow! Yes I just got chocked up typing that in. As I said, so simple but oh so powerful. If only we could all realize that in our lives. No matter what is going on around us, we have love.  Especially that last line. Meg felt betrayed in this book, she felt abandoned. Don't we all sometimes? But the truth is even then, we have everything. (and yes the bold was my addition).

So amidst many, many amazing books I have read, A Wrinkle In Time always wins. I identify with it, I learn from it, I love it. It is my favorite book.

1 comment:

KKSorrell said...

OMG we picked the SAME book! Kindred Spirits!!!