A Ring of Endless Light
September 30th, 2007 by Sara
“I saw Eternity the other night,
Like a great ring of pure and endless light.” – Henry Vaughan
Three weeks ago, Madeleine L’Engle passed away. She was my first ‘favorite’ writer and colored my childhood and adolescence with her words and stories. Her ability to combine science and spirituality informed the way I learned to see the world… and still do.
She wrote characters whose love for each other was so deep, it could literally transcend time and space. She showed that it was possible to overcome betrayal and sorrow inflicted by those we loved. That the worlds of science and spirit and beauty are so interwoven that they become one. These are the gifts that Madeleine L’Engle gave me, and the world.
She even affected where I went to college. My favorite book of hers, and perhaps my favorite book of all time, A Ring of Endless Light made me long to be a marine biologist. I journeyed off to Maine to do just that. 4 years later, to my surprise, I realized that what I really wanted to do was write for children and young adults. A decision, also, informed by Madeleine L’Engle.
In another, more subtle layer to the fabric, I’ve traveled through the world, often identifying kindred spirits by the discovery of a secret bond. A deep love for Madeleine L’Engle’s books. There is an instant friendship with these individuals like we are speaking our own secret language.
It’s taken me a while to figure out what I wanted to say about Madeleine L’Engle’s death. She’s a woman who I never met, but who influenced my life on the deepest level. Her characters dance through my life and when I think about writing books that touch people, I think of her. I realized that all I can say is thank you.
Thank you, Madeleine L’Engle. Thank you for pouring your soul out onto the page. For creating complex, beautiful, and, sometimes, frightening worlds for children to live in. Thank you for giving us endless hope, for showing us that other people experience the same losses and betrayals that we experience, and for giving us lovingly crafted words for us to savor now that you’ve moved on. And while I feel sad at the loss of such a great and true voice, I hold Madeleine L’Engle’s own words close to my heart. Words that comforted her character Vicky in the face of death.
“Yet a great ring of pure and endless light
Dazzles the darkness in my heart.” -Madeleine L’Engle
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:22 am
Thank you for such a beautiful statement on her life. Like you, her works have woven in and out of my life in such pivotal ways. I did get to meet her when I was oh so young, and I have often wished that short encounter could have been even a few years later in life with a little wisdom under my belt! Oh what questions I could have asked her…but alas we don’t always get to choose WHEN we encounter our moments in life. I reread her books confident that her answers will be there for me at the right time in my life, when I need her.
Much Love to Madeleine
Megan
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:25 am
A Ring of Endless Light is my favorite book by her, too!! And you and I haven’t even spoken to each other of that one yet.
So many reasons I like you!
r
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:04 am
How could it not be? I mean ADAM! those lines kill me.
“I called you…”
“And I came.”
October 7th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Your site was my first news of Madeleine L’Engle’s death. Where have I been? I went browsing for obituaries and found this quote:
“Why does anybody tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith, faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.�
Thought you’d like that. And you know RoEL is my fave too! I might have to re-read it now in honor of the great lady.
Books of the Week!
September 28th, 2007 by SaraAs I mentioned at the beginning of the week, I’m taking on the task of reading 1000 picture books in an attempt to crack the code and uncover the ancient secrets of this minimalist art form. As a result, I’ve read 70 picture books this week. Have I unveiled any secrets yet? I could tell you, but then you’d have to be disappeared.
I will reveal a few of my favorites so far, though. But, lets just keep it between you and me. Okay?
Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon
This active, hilarious book perfectly displays David Shannon’s ability to capture human and 
animal nature at its most mischievous.
The Toy Boat by written , illustrated by Loren Long
A wonderful, gentle book with beautiful illustrations. The adventure of this beloved toy boat artfully depicts a child’s constant yearning for freedom and excitement, while still craving love and security.
Prancing, Dancing Lily , illustrated by John Manders
A quick-stepping cow travels the world searching for her perfect dance. The non-rhyming text paired with rhyming letters sent back home give this hilarious book a feeling of both repetition 
and variety.
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Fantastic artwork paired with an imaginative story. David Wiesner does it again!
Special mention:
No Ordinary Olive written by Roberta Baker and illustrated by Debbie Tilley
Though this wasn’t one of my favorites, it was a perfect example of the concept of ‘leaving room for pictures.’ Roberta Baker writes on page 6, “Olive grew from a baby to a child.” Debbie Tilley brilliantly pairs that simple line of text with a montage of Olive getting into wonderful mischief through the years. This spread is a beautiful example of the alchemy that can happen between the author and the illustrator. You can see half the spread I’m talking about using the Amazon online reader at this page. Search for the word ‘grew.’ (You have to sign in.)
You can check out all the books I’ve read this week here. It’s been a lot of fun. But you don’t have to take my word for it!
Posted in Books, Books of the Week, I heart this book, Picture books, The Great Picture Book Read, Writing
Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
September 26th, 2007 by Sara
Jennifer Hunt at Little, Brown suggested I read this book after she read my work. She mentioned it as an example of dark, internal writing that worked wonderfully and kept its humor. It’s a strange, but brilliant book, written with an incredibly unique narrator. It keeps you wondering, fascinated, and engaged the entire time.
ReviewHaiku for Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
The ‘Why’ continues
Over years, affairs, and deaths.
But no one can know.
Posted in Books, Haiku review, I heart this book
September 26th, 2007 at 10:28 am
your haiku springs
fully-formed, like athena
but *into* my brain
September 26th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Your words make me smile,
Glad you liked my poem. Mostly,
Glad your head’s still whole.
100 days, 1000 books
September 23rd, 2007 by SaraLinda Sue Park recently said, at the SCBWI Summer Conference, that before you can write a good picture book, you had to read 1000 of them. There was a similar equation for novels, 500 novels (or, she amended, any type of book) before you could write one yourself. Well, I’m fairly certain I’ve accomplished the 500 novels part, but I’m sorely lacking on the picture book front. So here I go!
I’ve decided to read 1000 picture books in the next 100 days. Yes, folks! That’s 10 books a day! By January 1st! Can she do it? Who knows? But it’ll sure be fun trying!
Click here to see what I’ve read so far.
“And now,”cried Max, “let the wild rumpus start!”
Posted in Books, Conference, SCBWI, The Great Picture Book Read, Writing
September 24th, 2007 at 12:23 am
All the books you’ve read so far sound awesome, and I haven’t read any of those! Rats. I keep saying I can’t add any more books to my to-read list. Then you dangle these before my eyes . . .
:D
r
September 25th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
How cool, Sara!
I love the idea of diving in with such gusto – good for you! And I’m sure you’ll start to get some insights into patterns that work, and what doesn’t and holy guacamole, I have no idea what you’ll find out – 1000 picture books? And you’re going to list and rate each one? (I love that bit, too!)
Goooooo Girl!
Lee
Avoidy McProcrastipants
September 21st, 2007 by Sara
Okay.
I’ve returned.
And what do I have to show for myself while I was gallivanting around, ignoring my blog and my novel, and pretty much anything that actually requires putting sequences of words down on paper (or virtual paper)?
- Dyed my hair blue
- Played glow-in-the-dark mini golf
- Tried out Scrivener
- Watched Alias
- Played games
- And what’s your excuse?
Posted in Writing
September 21st, 2007 at 7:05 pm
That is one hot picture of you.
And glow-in-the-dark mini golf looks cool!!!
What did you think of Scrivener?
:D :D
r
September 21st, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I LOVE it!!! It is so awesome and threatens to change my writing habits as I know them. Hooray!
Thanks for the compliment;)
