A Swiftly Tilting Planet

This is the third book written (although the fourth book chronologically) in Madeleine L'Engle's Time series. I would say I enjoy it more than Many Water but not as much as either Wrinkle or Wind. As with all the books in the series, the actual story mostly serves as a vehicle to explore an interesting issue. In this case, Charles Wallace travels throughout time but always staying in the same place and experiences a series of interlocking stories. The big picture to me is the way that brother-against-brother (both literal and figurative) conflict has happened throughout time, and the outcomes of those conflicts have ripple effects. The through-line story is hard to follow because so many of the characters have purposefully similar names, which illustrates their ties but makes it hard to keep track. I also was aware in this reread more than I have before of the Indigenous people L'Engle portrays in the book. I'm curious if they were based on an actual tribe that L'Engle had researched (I can't find any information on the web on this), or if they were just a people group she imagined. Although they are respected and important people in the book, I'm concerned whether the portrayal is accurate or respectful.

Having read this book as a young-is child (probably in the 10-12yo range), I had nothing but fond memories of Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series (then a trilogy). But re-reading these in the last year, AWiT held up well and was even better than remembered, A Wind in the Door was pretty good and definitely gave me that “feel of wonder” that I remember from so long ago. But A Swiftly Tilting Planet was entirely, well, ugh. I just didn't enjoy it at all.

The story opens in familiar territory: the Murry family is gathered together for Thanksgiving dinner, along with Calvin's mother, Mrs. O'Keefe (now Meg's mother-in-law). The phone rings and it's the president, calling Mr. Murry with a huge dilemma... they have reports that a South American dictator plans to nuke the U.S.A. the next day. Perhaps Mr. Murry will be able to help them figure out how to change. Suddenly Mrs. O'Keefe comes alive with something of a chant, and charges Charles Wallace to find a solution. He meets up with a unicorn and goes back in time, kything into other people at different points in history. I can't say much more about it without spoilers.

The thing about this book is that one has to keep in mind that it was written at the height of the cold war during a time of extreme international tension with the specter of nuclear war that permeated everything in society. That angst comes through loud and clear in ASTP. With the political climate the way it currently exists here in the states, I don't think I was in the mood for political undertones. And the plot is extremely slow-developing. And it has alternate history aspects (which is not something which I've ever enjoyed much). So maybe it's just a “not the right book for me at this moment” kind of thing, but I just didn't dig it all that much this time.

Short review: I read this for the first time in about 20 years. It was always one of my favorite books and I am happy to report that even as an adult I still really enjoyed it. This reading, I got a lot of different things out of it. Enjoyed how Charles Wallace had to learn to be who he was created to be, not the smart kid that he felt obligated to be.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/swiftly/