Friday, September 07, 2007

Madeleine L'Engle, 1918-2007

Thank you, for Flip and Poly, especially.

***

Of all the authors in the world, no one shaped my worldview or the person I am today in the way that Madeleine L'Engle did. She is, without question, my absolute favorite author. (Only L.M. Montgomery comes close.) She was a big part of my decision as a teenager to become a writer.

I am heartbroken and I think I am most likely not alone.

May she rest in peace.

4 comments:

Merisi said...

I am with you. I read about her passing and feel a great sadness about it.
I hope you are ok.

Anonymous said...

Now Anne of Green Gables I know the others sadly not, unfortunately my reading was severly limited as a child. No I wasn't deprived I just refused to read anyhing other than pony books, fact or fiction I didn't care. I remember my teacher trying to trick me with a school prize one year, there was a horse on the cover of the book but the heroine grew out of horses in the first chapter. Needless to say it was never finished. I've tried to catch up a little by reading tons of stuff to my own kids.

CaBaCuRl said...

Sadly, i don't know this author, though i know LM Montgomery. Just like Carolyn, I did not read as I a child...I thought it was so-o boring.At high school, I hated being told what to read. As soon as I left high school to go to teachers college,I have never been without about 3 books on the go at any one time!!

paintandink said...

Thank you, Merisi. I am very sad, but I knew she was quite elderly, and it wasn't unexpected; I think I still always hoped I would meet her in person someday.

Carolyn and Caba, it's never too late! Of her books, my favorites are A House Like a Lotus for its dreaminess, Many Waters for its exoticness, and And Both Were Young, because I identified so much with the main character. And, of course A Wrinkle in Time is incredible.

Her books, I think, are equally enjoyable for adults, because she doesn't dumb her writing down for children.

Her journals -- there are four of them in publication -- are also amazing - thoughtful, caring, introspective.