The ending of Madeleine L'Engle's book, A Wrinkle in Time, is as predictable as they come. Despite the trite fact of predictability, the reader is comforted by knowing the end and L'Engle's work motivates the reader to see how the story gets to the end.
It is a riveting book and quite the page-turner. L'Engle's characters are quirky from the moment they are introduced and never do they become normal. The science and theological underpinnings were well thought out, though it is no wonder why this book was on the Christian top 100 Banned Books list. It was probably seen as New Agey.
L'Engle's fascination with Quantum physics and dark matter make the subject stomachable to even the curious child. This work of science fiction and science fantasy take on a realistic sensation. Star Trek's characters, though more normal, pale in comparison.
Yet despite its positives, L'Engle failed in my opinion. I was left horribly dissatisfied. For over 200 pages I was hooked. The build up was intense and I was waiting to see what little Meg would do. Then in a few short pages, it was all resolved and have the i's and t's were left unfinished. Characters' relevance to the story never became apparent. Some background work on a major character, Meg's father, was poorly dropped into the story.
The work suffers from an abrupt ending. L'Engle needs to let down the reader slowly, especially with a predictable ending. I ran the race of A Wrinkle in Time straight into a brick wall. Done, story is over and happily ever after resides in the lack of solution. The enemy never dies or gets overcome. The characters come to save their world or another or both and yet nothing gets saved except a raggedly tattered smart guy.
The story is set for a sequel, but the wise only sit down to an adventure in great expectation once when confronted rudely by a poor finish. Certainly better character understanding may occur in the next volume, but I certainly do not want to get so excited for another book and then be let down by another of L'Engle's stories.
It is my hope that the editor is to blame as for the majority of the book L'Engle proves herself to be a competent and dynamic writer.
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