A Light So Lovely gives a beautiful and detailed account of the life and journey
of Madeleine L'Engle, beloved, imaginative, and bestselling author of such books as A Wrinkle in Time.
I admittedly did not know a lot about L'Engle before I read this book, beyond that she was loved and respected in the literary world. But her life and her faith were very inspiring, and I found myself grateful for the opportunity to learn more. I could very much relate to much of her story.
What I enjoyed most about the book was L'Engle's steadfast refusal to fit her writing, or her life, into any one box. Too Christian for some, and too secular for others, the world didn't quite know what to do with her. But she remained true to herself throughout, and showed us that life is not black and white. In fact, this entire book is built around the word, "AND" rather than, "either, or."
Faith AND science
Religion AND art
Fact AND fiction
Sacred AND secular
None of these things are mutually exclusive, and they can and do not only exist at the same time, but can be beautifully blended together. Madeleine L'Engle understood this so very well, as did Sarah Arthur, who wrote the book.
Her life, faith, and writing were something new and refreshing. She single-handedly created a genre that bucked tradition and forged its own path. It was a true pleasure to learn more about her and her work.
