A Wrinkle in My Time
If you know me even just a little bit, you would know that I love reading. Adore it, in fact. You know how some people have an issue with buying too many shoes? My issues come in the form of books. This love started from my mother reading books to me while pregnant.
If I could, I would stop working and read books all the time. Seriously, I would do it. Let me know if that’s an occupation, please and thank you! Sometimes I get sad when I think about the fact that I will never read all the books I want to. I go into a funk if I think about it too hard.
Reading is what made me start writing. I remember the exact poem and book that made me pick up a pencil. It was the poem “Four Skinny Trees” in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. I was six years old.
When I entered fifth grade, I was assigned to read A Wrinkle in Time, and at that particular time, I thought my favorite kind of book was historical fiction. That was until I read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, and the world of science fiction opened up. A world of magical realism that sometimes left me with more questions. Questions that I had no problem leaving unanswered. At ten years old, I knew the book had a message that was beyond my years. I vowed to read it again; it was officially my favorite book.
Without spoiling the book or the movie for you, I will give you a brief premise. Meg Murry O'Keefe is an outcast at school, and is struggling because her scientist father disappeared a few years prior. Her little brother Charles Wallace is brilliant and with the help of a few out of this world guides, Meg and Charles set out on a mission to find their father. The mission quite literally takes them out of this world, but the lessons they learn are applicable anywhere.
Fastforward 14 years later and the trailer for A Wrinkle in Time airs on TV. I got excited within minutes and remembered how this is the moment I have been waiting for since reading the book. Would the world I created for the characters in that book, match up to the movie? I read the book twice more since middle school, once in high school and once in college. Each time the message was more poignant. I was more than prepared to see if this movie was up to par.
Usually when a book turns into a movie, I am a harsh critic because I like there to be very few differences. But when it came to this movie, I knew no matter what I would be delighted. Not only was a black woman directing it, (the great Ava DuVernay) but a black girl was the lead! When I imagined the book in my head, I always saw a white little girl playing the main character. Ava forced me to change my mind and I was okay with this change in narrative!
My family and I went to see the movie this past weekend and safe to say I was blown away. It was more beautiful than my ten year old imagination thought it could be and it was touching. The thing that I loved about the book was that it discusses how in this world, love and confidence are necessary to combat hate. The book reminds you that loss, love, and hurt can transform you in so many ways. Good and bad ways.
Two things occurred while being in that movie theatre. First off, the beloved nerd in me clutched the book as I watched it (yes I brought my copy to the movies, duh). Secondly, I shed a few tears because it was so beautiful and the ten year old in me was beaming. At ten years old, the idea of traveling the universe to save someone you love and learning that love is the tool we all need to fix this world was inspiring. At twenty-three years old, seeing on screen a little black girl receive that message of importantance from Oprah, was breathtaking. I mean what was I supposed to do besides cry in happiness?
I ended that night by letting my eight year old cousin, who came with us to the movie, borrow my book. I told her I loved the book so much, I wanted her to have a chance to like it too. Who knows maybe it will become her favorite book too!
If you have not seen the movie yet, please do, it’s amazing!
