A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Father is missing! His top secret job as a physicist for the government has taken him away--but where?--and how? Meg and her younger brother, Charles Wallace, set out with their friend Calvin on an exciting adventure through time and space to search for him. With the help of the mysterious Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the youngsters learn to expect the unexpected as they move in the fifth dimension known as the "tesseract".

With this award-winning story, Madeline L'Engle has captivated millions of readers throughout the world. Her universal themes of courage, perseverance, and love are interwoven with imagination and suspense. A Wrinkle in Time, published in 1962, won the distinguished Newbery Medal for children's literature in 1963.

This is a perfect example of why the blogging community is such a wonderful thing. When I read this book for the first time I didn't know anyone else that had read it. I couldn't even find the rest of the books in the series easily! Thankfully there was Barnes & Noble. I bought almost all of L'Engle's novels fro the States this way. This was before Canada had joined in on the online shopping, so my options were limited. Then, I went to a Barnes & Noble when I was in Texas and they had a whole section of books by her! So, um, I had a very heavy suitcase coming home... Fast forward to the present day and I have actually met people that have read L'Engle before. Not only that, but a group of us are reading her together. I really wanted that when I read her the first time around, so it thrills me that it is a possibility now.

Anyways, so it was a few years ago that I read this book the last time. I bought a four-in-one edition and reread it then. I am always nervous that I will hate the book when I reread it, so I try not to reread it too often. It was one of my very first science-fiction novels, though, so I think that for the memories alone I will always consider it one of my favourite books. I know that I notice things now when I read it that I wasn't really aware of when I read it all those years ago for the first time. I am much more aware of the religious aspects, for example. When I read it as a kid I knew religion played a part, but I guess I didn't pay a lot of attention to it.

Meg is still one of my favourite characters. I still don't entirely get all the science involved in the book. Charles Wallace is still cute. The three ladies still amuse me. Calvin is still a really good male character. I still find the books a tad bit old-fashioned at times, but I found that when I read the book for the first time. I find that with all of her books, though. Many of her famous ones were written during a different period of time than the one we are living in now. What else can I say but that I am glad that I had the chance to read this book with others and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

Challenges for 2010

I have been toying around with the idea of joining the GLBT reading challenge next year, but hadn't really made any sort of committment. Then, I was reading Eva's list and discovered that I owned several of those books! I read several GLBT books this year just for fun, so I don't think I will have any trouble with the challenge. A couple of the books I am reading right now could count for the challenge, actually!

The basic idea of this challenge is to read books about GLBT topics and/or by GLBT authors.

The challenge runs year-round, and there will be three levels of participation:

• Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
• Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
• Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.

You don't need to choose your books right away, and they can change at any time. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.

In January, I will put up a post for you to leave links to your reviews, if you like. Those links can help serve as a reference for others. That will also be how I track participants for prize drawings.

Prizes! There will be prizes, both for this main challenge and for various mini-challenges throughout the year. Keep an eye on the blog for details.

Books Read:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Leviathan

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Rage by Julie Anne Peters

My Pool of Potential Reads:

Some books I own:

Melusine by Sarah Monette
Life Mask by Emma Donoghue
Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
Regeneration by Pat Barker
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (for the author, not the book...)
The Wars by Timothy Findley (for the author, not the book...)
Naked by David Sedaris
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jacqueline Winspear
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey
Inda by Sherwood Smith
Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen

I want to read some non-fiction, too, but the library has a terrible selection. So far nothing I have wanted to read is available!

Then, I know for sure that I am going to join the Flashback Challenge. The goal is to reread books. I plan to do that every year, but I am really quite bad at it!

The Flashback Challenge will run from January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. If you're super-excited and want to reread a book before that, feel free, and let me know. If many people do so, then I'll do a December challenge linky post and you can all link to it here. Otherwise, we can hold them over to January.

You can sign up for the following levels:
Bookworm - Up to three books
Scholar - Four to six books
Literati - Over six books

Within these levels, we have mini-challenges! These are:

1. Re-read a favorite book from your childhood

2. Re-read a book assigned to you in high school

3. Re-read a book you loved as an adult

I'm not sure how much I will manage to read. Like I said, I am rather bad at rereads, so we will see what happens! I would say a Bookworm (at least) if I want to participate in my own challenge for next year...

Some potentials:

Phantom by Susan Kay (Read as adult)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Read as adult)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Read in high school)

A series from my childhood:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle

These books are for the read-along I am doing with Nymeth, Amanda, Shannon, and now several other people!
Then, there is the LOTR read-along. I am really up in the air about it, to be honest! It's a huge committment for someone that doesn't reread a lot, but I love these books... I don't think I will reread The Hobbit, but there is a good chance I will read the main trilogy. The good thing is that you don't have to read them in the months they are being discussed. I might have to stretch them out a bit. I used to read trilogies all in a row, and I have done that a bit this year, but generally the last few years I have a hard time doing that.

Then, there is the Woolf in Winter Challenge. It is basically to read four novels by Virginia Woolf in January and February. Instead, I am going to read one each in November, December, January, and February so I don't get burned out on her! The books are Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando, and The Waves. I have a very hard time with Woolf, but I am determined to read her! I have read Mrs. Dalloway before, though!

Oh, and there is also The Classic Reads Book Club! The first book is East of Eden and then the second book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I have been meaning to read more Steinbeck forever! Then, I can read Betty Smith for the Flashback Challenge. It is win-win!

In my Sunday post the other day I mentioned joining The Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge. I thought I would put it on here, too, so it is a bit more official!

The challenge will start from 1 December 2009 and run through to 30 November 2010. There are several different levels of participation for you to choose from:

1-3 books - Cashier at Ankh-Morpork Mint
4-5 books - Guard of the City Watch
6-8 books - Academic at the Unseen University
9-10 books - Member of Granny Weatherwax's Coven
10-12 books - Death's Apprentice

You can either be reading the books for the first time, rereading, or even watching the TV adaptations if you like! As long as everyone has fun I will be happy! Please also do not feel limited to only reading the Discworld books as any books by Terry Pratchett will count for this challenge.

I will say I am aiming for Cashier at Ankh-Morpork Mint, but I am hoping to make it to Death's Apprentice! We will have to see what happens!

I am going to have to update my sidebar to keep this all straight!