A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Time Quintet Readalong

A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time, Book 3)by Madeleine L’Engle

Fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior undertake a perilous journey through time in a desperate attempt to stop the destruction of the world by the mad dictator Madog Branzillo. They are not alone in their quest. Charles Wallace's sister, Meg--grown and expecting her first child, but still able to enter her brother's thoughts and emotions by "kything"--goes with him in spirit.But in overcoming the challenges, Charles Wallace must face the ultimate test of his faith and will, as he is sent within four people from another time, there to search for a way to avert the tragedy threatening them all. (goodreads.com)

I am terribly behind in my Time Quintet Reading Challenge. I should have read this particular book in March. In my defense I couldn't SEE since my stupid eyes have been rebelling against the LASIK surgery. I was about to pick up another book to read this week and remembered the challenge so I forced myself to read this here third book in the Time Quintet.This book is my favourite of all three books so far. I don't think I would have liked it had I read it in the 80s when I first read A Wrinkle In Time, but I am not sure. Sadly what I loved about this book was the parts that did not have anything to do with Charles Wallace or Meg. What I loved were the stories of the lives of ancestors that were being followed to help stop the end of the world from happening. The story about the witch hunt in particular was fantastic. I could have read an entire book just about that one time period.I was surprised when I started the book and realized that a lot of time had passed between books 2 and 3. Meg was married to Calvin (who is only mentioned by name) and about to have her first baby and Charles Wallace is 15. So I guess it's 10 years that have passed? The problem I found was that the characters did not seem any different as "adults" as they did as kids. Charles Wallace at the age of 5 wasn't any different in personality or speech as he was at 15. I can sort of understand that because he was a "special" boy that could be a reason but I saw absolutely no reason for Meg to still seem like she was in her early teens when she was obviously supposed to be in her 20s and about to have a baby. When she was up in her own room kything with Charles Wallace her speech and actions weren't really any different than the first book. I found it very hard to believe she was supposed to be a grown woman.There were a lot of things that bugged me about the book although when I went to try and list them they escaped me. I found some plot holes and irritation with the actions of the characters, but I guess it was more of a sub-conscious irking than anything else. For the most part I very much enjoyed reading this chapter in the Quintet and I think it was one of the more interesting books yet.Although I still keep thinking they live in the UK. (Especially with tea time!)Time Quintet

1. A Wrinkle in Time
2. A Wind in the Door
3. A Swiftly Tilting Planet
4. Many Waters
5. An Acceptable Time