Rating: 
Summary: can't believe i didn't like this
Review: Madeleine L'Engle has the great and wise gift of addressing the questions of life in a way that makes everyone who reads her feel welcome in the conversation. Whether she discusses ontology or marriage or writing, she brings deep humility and the evidence of ordinary life to bear.This first journal of the series she wrote at Crosswicks was very comforting. Like millions of people, Madeleine L'Engle became a childhood fixture of mine with the Wrinkle in Time series. Reading this book was like tea with an old friend, when perhaps the conversation goes a little slow, but you know you don't have to say anything to be understood.
Rating: 
Summary: Gentle Questioning
Review: Madeleine L'Engle has the great and wise gift of addressing the questions of life in a way that makes everyone who reads her feel welcome in the conversation. Whether she discusses ontology or marriage or writing, she brings deep humility and the evidence of ordinary life to bear. This first journal of the series she wrote at Crosswicks was very comforting. Like millions of people, Madeleine L'Engle became a childhood fixture of mine with the Wrinkle in Time series. Reading this book was like tea with an old friend, when perhaps the conversation goes a little slow, but you know you don't have to say anything to be understood.
Rating: 
Summary: Wisdom for Humans
Review: Madeleine L'Engles wonderful book A Circle of Quiet was full of many "a-ha" moments - moments where I thought, "I know exactly what she means," or, "I've thought that too." As a writer, I find her discussion of rejection to be empowering. As a Christian, I find her doubts to be reassuring because I have them too. L'Engle is frank and critical without stooping to meanness. She is often as critical of herself as she is of others or of society. Her writing is clear and vivid. I can see her surroundings and hear her family's voices as I read her words. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs.
Rating:
Summary: Wisdom for Humans
Review: Madeleine L'Engles wonderful book A Circle of Quiet was full of many "a-ha" moments - moments where I thought, "I know exactly what she means," or, "I've thought that too." As a writer, I find her discussion of rejection to be empowering. As a Christian, I find her doubts to be reassuring because I have them too. L'Engle is frank and critical without stooping to meanness. She is often as critical of herself as she is of others or of society. Her writing is clear and vivid. I can see her surroundings and hear her family's voices as I read her words. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs.
Rating:
Summary: Even the best start somewhere
Review: Perhaps because I'm a writer myself I particularly enjoyed this book. It came at a moment when I too, was struggling with manuscript rejection. It was a comfort to find that the grande dame of literature also struggled for the publishing world to accept her work. L'Engle's lucid language, her honesty, faith-doubts, glimpses into a fully-lived life I found refreshing. As far as Crosswicks, I felt like each time I sat down to read this book as though I was being invited into the L'Engle fold for a cup of tea, a walk alongside the property's creek or to sit down next to the nib of her fountain pen as Ms. L'Engle birthed her memoirs. For the writing community, this is a must-read book, for comfort, for encouragement, for the pure essence of seeing how the writing gets done around real-time life. For others, sit back and be swept into a lovely autobiographical account of a matriarch model for women.
Rating:
Summary: An oasis of peace!
Review: This book (and the rest of her Crosswick Journals) have been a source of great comfort and inspiration for me. Her search for "being" and meaning provide support as I struggle with the same questions about life and faith. Her writings provide much food for thought and this book is beautifully written. Definitely a book to digest slowly. This book and her other journals have formed a good part of my spiritual reading this summer.
Rating:
Summary: Comforting and wandering
Review: This book is hard to pigeonhole. It's partly a journal of random thoughts, partly a retelling of some of the author's life experience. Much of the philosophy of life, ecology, relationships, and beliefs in God struck a chord with me. At times it dragged a bit, but overall it moved along at a comfortable pace. As previously described by others, it was like having a nice conversation with a friend (where you didn't have to talk, or interject a question or disagreement). One section in the end was annoying. She brought up a subject then decided to avoid letting the reader know what she was talking about (too painful to reveal). She hinted at an unpleasant life experience. Except for this, I'd give it 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Comforting and wandering
Review: This book is hard to pigeonhole. It's partly a journal of random thoughts, partly a retelling of some of the author's life experience. Much of the philosophy of life, ecology, relationships, and beliefs in God struck a chord with me. At times it dragged a bit, but overall it moved along at a comfortable pace. As previously described by others, it was like having a nice conversation with a friend (where you didn't have to talk, or interject a question or disagreement). One section in the end was annoying. She brought up a subject then decided to avoid letting the reader know what she was talking about (too painful to reveal). She hinted at an unpleasant life experience. Except for this, I'd give it 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: I bought 10 copies of this and passed it out to my friends.
Review: When I first read this, I was a young mother, working full time and trying to get a master's degree! This book became my "Circle of Quiet" where I could slow down and remember what was important to me. When it came out in paperback, I dipped into the grocery money and bought 10 copies and gave it to every friend, saying "You've got to read this." Madeline L'Engle's way of sharing the magic and mystery of everyday life probably saved my sanity. It was like having an older "wise woman" friend to go to. I've always been grateful she was there when I needed her
Rating:
Summary: I bought 10 copies of this and passed it out to my friends.
Review: When I first read this, I was a young mother, working full time and trying to get a master's degree! This book became my "Circle of Quiet" where I could slow down and remember what was important to me. When it came out in paperback, I dipped into the grocery money and bought 10 copies and gave it to every friend, saying "You've got to read this." Madeline L'Engle's way of sharing the magic and mystery of everyday life probably saved my sanity. It was like having an older "wise woman" friend to go to. I've always been grateful she was there when I needed her
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