Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “I loved this book so much! Very thought-provoking.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Cloying.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Where does a person go in a house full of family and noise? What happens once we go there? This book of short essays explore the personal life of Madeleine L'Engle. I enjoyed perspective through the eyes of a writer, and especially the reflections of being a maturing woman in a world that does not respect 'older'. ”
Brook S wrote this review Thursday, March 22, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I loved this book so much! Very thought-provoking.”
Linda wrote this review Friday, February 17, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“If you find your peace in simplicity and also love to write, this book will speak to you I think.”
Books I enjoyed wrote this review Monday, January 9, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I like Madeleine L'Engle and her reflections on life and writing. She writes this book in her 50's and I appreciate her thoughts on life and women and aging. - I enjoyed the frank reflection of life and faith and writing Madeleine writes with. It as though we are having a conversation over a cup of coffee - but, to be honest, I think I'd have to develop my own opinions more to feel like I could join the conversation instead of just listening.”
Bobbie M wrote this review Saturday, January 28, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Cloying.”
Annie M wrote this review Wednesday, April 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent for rumination, touching on topics like philosophy of self and life, education of the individual, faith and reason... everything! I had diverse reactions to her statements- some rang true, some seemed obvious, and some made me frown, but I'm trying to puzzle through. A great thought-provoking read.”
Margaret P wrote this review Saturday, February 12, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The name of the book is taken from the special place where Madeleine retreats when she needs a moment alone. "Often I need to get away completely, if only a few minutes. My special place is a small brook in a green glade, a circle of quiet from which there is no visible sign of human beings. I sit for a while, then my impatience, crossness, frustration, are indeed annihilated, and my sense of humor returns." Oh yes, I can relate to this lady.
Ruth wrote this review Thursday, August 5, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In this autobiographical book Madeleine truly shares herself with the reader....her insights, fears, musings, thoughts on writing and her spirituality. I've found it to be food for my soul.
Particularly compelling for me in my quest to cultivate humility is a part early in the book where she talks of pride, self-consciousness and humility.
"When we are self-conscious, we cannot be wholly aware: we must throw ourselves out first. This throwing ourselves away is the act of creativity. So, when we wholly concentrate, like a child in play, or an artist at work, then we share in the act of creating. We not only escape time, we also escape our self-conscious selves. The Greeks have a word for ultimate self-consciousness which I find illuminating: hubris: pride: pride in the sense of putting oneself in the centre of the universe.......The moment that humility becomes self-conscious, it becomes hubris. One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time. Therefore, the act of creating-painting a picture, singing a song, writing a story-is a humble act? This was a new though to me. Humility is throwing oneself away in complete concentration of something or someone else."
”
“This is a wonderful book. It consists of thoughts taken from the author's journals and other writings, during her times at the family home of Crosswicks. She expresses things I've sometimes thought but have never been able to put into words, with clarity and honesty. She talks about writing, about family life, and about the meaning of truth amongst many other thought-provoking and sometimes moving sections. Highly recommended. ”
Sue F wrote this review Saturday, July 31, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Soul food”
Laura G wrote this review Thursday, June 3, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love L'Engle, and am reading this book in small sections each day along with her Glimpses of Grace book. Both thought provoking and a nice quiet way to begin each day. Finished the book this morning, and am passing it on to my poet daughter - looking forward to the next book in the series -
Bonnie W wrote this review Sunday, June 20, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The Summer of the Great-grandmother - will read this in the same slow manner.”
