Sunday, 23 March 2025 08:33 pm
Book Review: A Wind in the Door
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deckardcanineI had had Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time read to me in late elementary school, but at the time, I found it too weird to follow. Only in adulthood did I read it for myself and become a fan. And only when I saw the immediate sequel in a Little Free Library did I think to check it out.
As before, the focal character is Meg Murry, an early teen with three younger brothers and two elite scientist parents. Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, has been taking an interest in their parents' study of mitochondria and the theoretical ultramicroscopic components called farandolae (not a real-world concept). Perhaps not coincidentally, a problem with his farandolae has been making him gradually sicker. Enter the nonhumanoid angel Proginoskes, or "Progo" as Meg likes to call him, along with a celestial Teacher, Blajeny. They explain that demons called Echthroi are destroying things great and small, including Charles Wallace. Blajeny cryptically assigns Progo, Meg, her near-boyfriend Calvin, and even Mr. Jenkins, her mutually despised former principal and Charles Wallace's current principal, to venture into a realm almost beyond human comprehension and do what it takes to dispel the Echthroi before too many farandolae perish.
Yep, just as intellectually deep and unworldly as before. And more blatantly Christian. Progo sounds more like a throne than a cherub (or "cherubim," as he insists), but the inspiration is undeniable. While Mr. Jenkins is usually more of a load than an asset, and while a post-'70s educator ought to at least have heard of mitochondria, I find his difficulty with the situation refreshingly relatable.
Funnily enough, the hardest part for me to believe comes at the very beginning, when Meg disbelieves Charles Wallace's claim to have seen dragons. Girl, have you completely forgotten your first bizarre adventure? Dragons are nothing compared to that. And I know this story comes later, because Meg is slightly older.
If you're like my mom, you found Charles Wallace annoying as a precocious know-it-all in AWiT. I wouldn't worry about that here. First of all, he's too ill to say or do much for most of the book. Second, his condition isn't the only reason to feel sorry for him. His new classmates physically bully him, and adults accuse him of lying to show off. Not knowing how to talk like a normal kid, he tries clamming up, but it doesn't help.
You may have noticed I haven't said anything about Meg's other brothers, twins Sandy and Dennys. I'm afraid they have no plot-important role this time around. At least they own a benevolent snake, Louise the Larger, to whom there's more than meets the eye.
I was up for the YA-directed mental challenge, and although not all my questions were answered, I appreciated the life-affirming direction AWitD took. I expect to continue the Time Quintet someday.
Now I've picked up Red Storm Rising. My first non-screen taste of Tom Clancy.
As before, the focal character is Meg Murry, an early teen with three younger brothers and two elite scientist parents. Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, has been taking an interest in their parents' study of mitochondria and the theoretical ultramicroscopic components called farandolae (not a real-world concept). Perhaps not coincidentally, a problem with his farandolae has been making him gradually sicker. Enter the nonhumanoid angel Proginoskes, or "Progo" as Meg likes to call him, along with a celestial Teacher, Blajeny. They explain that demons called Echthroi are destroying things great and small, including Charles Wallace. Blajeny cryptically assigns Progo, Meg, her near-boyfriend Calvin, and even Mr. Jenkins, her mutually despised former principal and Charles Wallace's current principal, to venture into a realm almost beyond human comprehension and do what it takes to dispel the Echthroi before too many farandolae perish.
Yep, just as intellectually deep and unworldly as before. And more blatantly Christian. Progo sounds more like a throne than a cherub (or "cherubim," as he insists), but the inspiration is undeniable. While Mr. Jenkins is usually more of a load than an asset, and while a post-'70s educator ought to at least have heard of mitochondria, I find his difficulty with the situation refreshingly relatable.
Funnily enough, the hardest part for me to believe comes at the very beginning, when Meg disbelieves Charles Wallace's claim to have seen dragons. Girl, have you completely forgotten your first bizarre adventure? Dragons are nothing compared to that. And I know this story comes later, because Meg is slightly older.
If you're like my mom, you found Charles Wallace annoying as a precocious know-it-all in AWiT. I wouldn't worry about that here. First of all, he's too ill to say or do much for most of the book. Second, his condition isn't the only reason to feel sorry for him. His new classmates physically bully him, and adults accuse him of lying to show off. Not knowing how to talk like a normal kid, he tries clamming up, but it doesn't help.
You may have noticed I haven't said anything about Meg's other brothers, twins Sandy and Dennys. I'm afraid they have no plot-important role this time around. At least they own a benevolent snake, Louise the Larger, to whom there's more than meets the eye.
I was up for the YA-directed mental challenge, and although not all my questions were answered, I appreciated the life-affirming direction AWitD took. I expect to continue the Time Quintet someday.
Now I've picked up Red Storm Rising. My first non-screen taste of Tom Clancy.
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Next up is A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It's Charles Wallace's show, and he's old enough to be interesting beyond his prior existence as a wunderkind. It is the trippiest book of the first four. The series was not yet a quintet when I last read them.