Customer Reviews

A Swiftly Tilting Planet

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At the beginning of this book, it may be boring. And confusing if you having read atleast the first one. (A Wrinkle in Time) Overall, its a pretty good book. But the first book is the best. Theres like, too much dialogue in the beginning. But in the end, thats when you get sucked in as if you were really there. I suggest anyone who loves adventure and drama to read this book, and I also suggest you read the first one first.

When I was growing up in the 80s, I was always afraid of nuclear war. Watching movies on TV didn't help the fear either ... and this book, L'Engle taps into that fear in all of us.

Meg Murry O'Keefe and her family had just sat down to a Thanksgiving dinner when her father gets a phone call from the president of the United States telling him that they are on the brink of nuclear war. Being pregnant, Meg couldn't go on this journey ~~ but her baby brother Charles Wallace and the unicorn, Glaudior went on an adventure racing back in time to find out what had happened to Mad Dog's ancestors ... and perhaps stop the castrophe from happening.

It's a wonderful trip down history ~~ one that is just filled with historical notes and tidbits ... and visiting the planet where Glaudior is from ~~ is just pure romantic. This is a book that one couldn't just put down and forget.

I highly recommend this book to everyone again ~~ one can never be too tired to sing L'Engle's praises when reading her books. She is an author that every one should read. She writes with such a flair and a talent that it makes you wish you could write like she does ... then again, we wouldn't have L'Engle to entertain us, would we?

1-23-02

This is a wonderful book as Charles Wallace Murry attempts to solve the mystery of an ancient Welsh rune in time to save the world - and perhaps the entire universe. As he travels in time, the links gradually come together between Madoc and Zyll, the Maddoxes, and Mad Dog Branzillo, but will he be able to stop a nuclear war?

I read A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door for the first time a couple of weeks ago, after hearing all my life that they were the most wonderful books out there (I am 23 now). I enjoyed them, but also found them a bit simplistic, understandable since L'Engle mainly writes for children.

However, I haven't been able to put down A Swiftly, Tilting Planet. The story is so wonderful and the suspense keeps you turning the pages as you try to put the mystery together. I wonder why no one really mentions this book, because in my opinion, it is the best of the Time Quartet.

Out of the Time Quarter, this is my favorite, although I still haven't read Many Waters, yet.

In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Charles Wallace must go through time and "inhabit" the bodies of various men, might-have-beens, to somehow alter the course of the present and prevent nuclear war.

I loved the concept on how everything is connected and how each of the people Charles Wallace inhabitted through each time period were all interrelated. The story ties each person in to the next, crossing thousands of years and showing how one decision from each person can change the future of the world.

It was fascinating to go back in time and experience what it was like during the Salem witch trials, the civil war, the early 20th century. It was like I was going through someone's attic and finding all this history or like I was going on an archeological dig, finding out about the past centuries.

I felt like I was actually with Charles Wallace, as if I was actually Meg, Charles's sister, watching him travel through time to save the planet. After reading A Wrinkle in Time, and then this one, I must say that there is a marked improvement in Madeline L'Engle's writing and this book captures you and takes you away to the Murry world to the point that you lose all track of time in the real world.

Out of the Time Quarter, this is my favorite, although I still haven't read Many Waters, yet.

In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Charles Wallace must go through time and "inhabit" the bodies of various men, might-have-beens, to somehow alter the course of the present and prevent nuclear war.

I loved the concept on how everything is connected and how each of the people Charles Wallace inhabitted through each time period were all interrelated. The story ties each person in to the next, crossing thousands of years and showing how one decision from each person can change the future of the world.

It was fascinating to go back in time and experience what it was like during the Salem witch trials, the civil war, the early 20th century. It was like I was going through someone's attic and finding all this history or like I was going on an archeological dig, finding out about the past centuries.

I felt like I was actually with Charles Wallace, as if I was actually Meg, Charles's sister, watching him travel through time to save the planet. After reading A Wrinkle in Time, and then this one, I must say that there is a marked improvement in Madeline L'Engle's writing and this book captures you and takes you away to the world of the Murray's to the point that you lose all track of time in the real world.

(...)

Madeleine L'Engle is a FABULOUS author, and this is my favorite of her stories, and one of my favorite stories of all time. However (ignoring gender for a moment), I am reminded of a famous Clint Eastwood movie line:

"A man's gotta know his limitations."

Madeleine L'Engle is a fabulous and highly skilled AUTHOR. The audio edition of A Swiftly Tilting Planet shows that narration is NOT her strong suit. Do yourself a favor. Definitely GET this book, but get it in the PRINTED format and READ it rather than listen to the author's narration.

It goes without saying that my 5-star rating is for the book and not the tape.

"A Swiftly Tilting Planet" (printed) is NOT to be missed. Read "A Wrinkle in Time" and "A Wind in the Door" first.

A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite books ever, so I read the sequals with much anticipation. This book was a little disappointing mainly because Meg and Charles Wallace are not featured that often. Most of the book revolves around a historical family, one side bad and one good, and the attempt to go back in time and change the outcome of events in order to prevent war in the present. The time travelling aspect is interesting, and the talking unicorn is very lovable, but I just did not find these historical characters very interesting. Also did not care for the idea that one family line can be inherently bad. Still an enjoyable read, and L'engle has many heartfelt quotations, and Meg's family is still as loving and inspirational. I was also disappointed that Meg has lost her spunkiness. But I guess that is just part of growing up, and she is growing up into a beautiful woman, just like her mother.

last summer i had 2 read this book 4 school. it went bi so slow and i just hated it. it seamed like she was in the same place w/ the same ppl and the same idea. the first book was ok, but this was a horable sequal. sry "swiftly tilting planet" lovers, but this is just not mi book

This book is full of adventures and magic. Anyone who likes fantasy books would really enjoy this one! Make sure you buy the other books in this series. You might want to start with the first book, to understand it better.

"A Swiftly Tilting Planet" has been one of my two favorite children's books, alongside "Old Yeller", ever since I read it as a kid. Rereading it the other night prior to the broadcast of the "Wrinkle in Time" TV movie, I had the same epiphany I've read about other people having when they reread "The Lord of the Rings" as adults: I didn't remember how **sad** this book is.

Yes, I remembered the Chuck storyline clearly, and I knew it was sad as a kid, but I wasn't prepared for how much more powerful I would find it as an adult. I was actually crying when the grandmother asked that the children wait to use the rune until "the time is ripe". Like in "Casablanca", the problems of a family being destroyed by the bad things in life don't amount to a hill of beans compared to nuclear war...

I can't imagine an intelligent child who likes time travel stories not falling in love with this book, which will always have a cherished place in my heart.