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Available
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Publication
Seabury, Minneapolis (1979), Paperback
Description
The beloved author of A Wrinkle in Time takes an introspective look at her life and muses on creativity in this memoir, the first of her Crosswicks Journals. Every so often I need OUT. . . . 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 there, dangling my legs and looking through the foliage at the sky reflected in the water, and things slowly come back into perspective. Set against the lush backdrop of Crosswicks, her family's farmhouse in rural Connecticut, this deeply personal memoir details Madeleine L'Engle's journey to find balance between her career as a Newbery Medal-winning author and her responsibilities as a wife, mother, teacher, and Christian. As she considers the roles that creativity, family, citizenship, and faith play in her life, L'Engle reveals the complexities behind the author whose works-honored with the National Book Award, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and countless other prizes-have long been cherished by children and adults alike. Written in simple, profound, and often humorous prose, A Circle of Quiet is an insightful woman's elegant search for the meaning and purpose of her life.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member manadabomb
Although I've heard of L'Engle, I don't recall ever reading any of her books, even the more famous Wrinkle in Time. I got this book on a whim and now it's one I won't part with.
Circle is book one of the Crosswicks Journals. I had, wrongly, assumed this was fiction but found that this series of
While she has been deemed a children's author, she takes a more practical approach and claims she's just a writer. If she feels a subject is too harsh or complicated, she will make it a children's book because children are more open and not yet close-minded to ideas. One of her main topics is how to help children be children and how to not keep trying to "save" them from the world. Very interesting ideas are put forth that make a lot of sense.
Looking forward to reading the other journals in the series.
Circle is book one of the Crosswicks Journals. I had, wrongly, assumed this was fiction but found that this series of
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books are pulled from L'Engle's personal journals. Judging from the journals alone, what a fascinating, intelligent, and insightful woman! I ended up writing in this book quite a bit and have already went back and re-read passages. She speaks of living out at Crosswicks and co-owning, with her husband, the local general store in a small village. She's a writer who teaches and she does a great deal of teaching in this book, but it feels more like great conversation with a friend. L'Engle also details her failures, the times where her books were rejected by as many publishers as they were sent to. If someone like that has trouble getting published....While she has been deemed a children's author, she takes a more practical approach and claims she's just a writer. If she feels a subject is too harsh or complicated, she will make it a children's book because children are more open and not yet close-minded to ideas. One of her main topics is how to help children be children and how to not keep trying to "save" them from the world. Very interesting ideas are put forth that make a lot of sense.
Looking forward to reading the other journals in the series.
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LibraryThing member Motherofthree
Recently while making a regular visit to the Salvation Army I came upon A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle. While the title was new to me the author's name was not. I had been meaning to read L'Engle for years. A Circle of Quiet is my first read of L'Engle and I am quite taken in with her.
In
Since I have not read anything else of L'Engle's as of yet, I don't know if this style flows throughout everything she writes. Most probably begin with A Wrinkle in Time, yet this one was the perfect start for me. I feel so inwardly contemplative and emotional lately, that it drew me in.
Tags: books, l'engle, reading
In
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some ways it seems a mish-mash of unrelated thoughts and ponderings, yet woven together very seemlessly. To me her spirit is tender, her questions tough, and her wit greatly sarcastic at times. Since I have not read anything else of L'Engle's as of yet, I don't know if this style flows throughout everything she writes. Most probably begin with A Wrinkle in Time, yet this one was the perfect start for me. I feel so inwardly contemplative and emotional lately, that it drew me in.
Tags: books, l'engle, reading
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LibraryThing member TimBazzett
First of all, I should probably tell you that A CIRCLE OF QUIET is the first Madeleine L'Engle book I've read. And that I have never been very interested in fantasy or sci-fi books. But I do usually enjoy a good memoir or a journal. But this one simply failed to ever really engage me. Maybe if I'd
I do recognize, however, that L'Engle's journals represent a precursor to similar more successful books. And here I am thinking of, say, Anne Lamott 's work or, perhaps better, Kathleen Norris's books, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography and THE CLOISTER WALK - books which I did enjoy. L'Engle's journal, on the other hand, remained just a bit too philosophical and abstract. I just couldn't get interested and found myself skimming whole pages and sections. Maybe it was just over my head, or maybe the flu symptoms I'm presently plagued with got in my way.
In any case, I do have one more of her books on hand, Book 4 of the Crosswicks Journal, TWO-PART INVENTION: THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE. Maybe that one will be better, a bit more down-to-earth. I hope so.
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read A WRINKLE IN TIME or some of her other books I would have felt differently, but ...I do recognize, however, that L'Engle's journals represent a precursor to similar more successful books. And here I am thinking of, say, Anne Lamott 's work or, perhaps better, Kathleen Norris's books, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography and THE CLOISTER WALK - books which I did enjoy. L'Engle's journal, on the other hand, remained just a bit too philosophical and abstract. I just couldn't get interested and found myself skimming whole pages and sections. Maybe it was just over my head, or maybe the flu symptoms I'm presently plagued with got in my way.
In any case, I do have one more of her books on hand, Book 4 of the Crosswicks Journal, TWO-PART INVENTION: THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE. Maybe that one will be better, a bit more down-to-earth. I hope so.
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LibraryThing member NeddieB
You may know L'Engle from her "A Wrinkle in Time" series. This is one of four "journal" autobiographies about her experience with writing, marriage, love, and death. I recommend all of them! This book taught me so much--how to find internal quiet when the world is going nuts.
LibraryThing member vcg610
Madeline L'Engle, the beloved author of such classics as A Wrinkle In Time, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet, has also penned edited versions of her personal journals. She has taken her journals, sifted through for relevant themes and experiences at that particular time in her life, and has woven
She calls this set of books The Crosswick Journals, named after their country home in the northeast. She muses about her writing, the difficulties of finding interested publishers, and the work she does at home, being a wife, a mother, and a community volunteer. She is reflective, thoughtful, and timeless, in that her conclusions are not dated or passe', but relevant even today.
One ongoing theme is her faith. She demonstrates how it wavers, changes and eventually grows as she experiences various difficulties in her own life and career, as well as reflects on the hardships of others. She notes how God, moving through the actions of other people, reinforces her own faith.
Music is a significant force in her life. So is nature and even her opportunities to lead seminars on writing, which expose her to the thoughts and values of the younger generation. There is much to ponder and discuss in this little epistle, and our book club discussion was indeed rich. This is a book that one can return to periodically, and be blessed each time with new ideas to ponder.
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stories and events with recurring characters and created a book with an actual beginning, middle and an end.She calls this set of books The Crosswick Journals, named after their country home in the northeast. She muses about her writing, the difficulties of finding interested publishers, and the work she does at home, being a wife, a mother, and a community volunteer. She is reflective, thoughtful, and timeless, in that her conclusions are not dated or passe', but relevant even today.
One ongoing theme is her faith. She demonstrates how it wavers, changes and eventually grows as she experiences various difficulties in her own life and career, as well as reflects on the hardships of others. She notes how God, moving through the actions of other people, reinforces her own faith.
Music is a significant force in her life. So is nature and even her opportunities to lead seminars on writing, which expose her to the thoughts and values of the younger generation. There is much to ponder and discuss in this little epistle, and our book club discussion was indeed rich. This is a book that one can return to periodically, and be blessed each time with new ideas to ponder.
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LibraryThing member redhedcatie
I'm ashamed to say I've not read any of L'Engle's other books! GASP! But even still, I really enjoyed A Circle of Quiet. Her thoughts on mothering, reading, God and life in general are quite interesting and gave me a lot to ponder.
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
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
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family life, and about the meaning of truth amongst many other thought-provoking and sometimes moving sections. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
A terrific, deeply insightful commentary on writing and life. I laughed in some parts and nodded in many others. Madeleine L'Engle is my kind of Christian.
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Original publication date
1972