Fifty Years is Just a Wrinkle in Time: A Panel to Beat All Panels
Fifty years ago Madeline L’Engle published her best known creation A Wrinkle in Time. Since its release the book has gone on to be one of those rare titles that can get away with being part fantasy, part science fiction, and part religious allegory. All that and it’s interesting to boot. Not surprisingly Macmillan (the current Wrinkling publisher) is poised to produce a new glossy hardcover edition with the original cover (albeit shinier) as well as a graphic novel version penned by Hope Larson.
But let’s say you want to celebrate the book with other like-minded souls. For that I am pleased to announce the killer line-up Symphony Space has produced for their upcoming program. From their website:
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Thalia Kids’ Book Club: A Wrinkle in Time 50th Anniversary
Sat, Feb 11 at 4 pm
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre
$15; Member $12Writers and actors, including award-winning novelist Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me), R.L. Stine (Goosebumps, Fear Street), Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia) and Lois Lowry (The Giver) celebrate the Newbery Medal-winning classic. The discussion will be moderated by NYPL Children’s Librarian and Fuse #8 blogger Betsy Bird. The event will also include a special introduction by children’s book historian Leonard Marcus. Excerpts from the book with be performed by Jane Curtin (3rd Rock from the Sun) and others.
I encourage you to watch me slowly implode like a flan in a cupboard. If the panel doesn’t kill me then the idea of being within close proximity of all those stars AND Jane Curtin just might. Tell me that’s not worth $15 right there. Live librarian implosion. Only in New York.
And for a bit of fun read Physics, Miracles, and Witchcraft: 50 Years of “A Wrinkle in Time” over at Big Think which is worthwhile in and of itself.
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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<> That phrase may be better than anything that panel can come up with… though I do so wish I could be there. Pity, that.
Sigh. I see your blog wouldn’t accept my cut and paste with brackets. What I’d said was that your phrase “I encourage you to watch me slowly implode like a flan in a cupboard” was truly most excellent. Most!
Greg, I’ll level with you. It’s not really mine. All credit goes entirely to Eddie Izzard for that quote. I believe he once used it to describe the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire / A talk about L’Engle = same difference, yes?
Well, given yesterday’s comment about loving the straight man, it makes sense you’d appreciate being on stage with Jane Curtin, straight woman in some of the most thankless situations in history. (I always think that being John Lithgow’s love interest on Third Rock was the universe saying “Sorry about Belushi”)
(I just tried to find a video of her reaming out Emily Litella with the sweet acceptance and subsequent to-the-camera “Bitch.” but failed. O Youtube, of all times …)
A shiny new cover! THAT’S what I need. I tried to push my floppy old 80s covered versions last week to no avail, no matter how much I rhapsodized about this title. As horrible as it is, a new copy might really help!
I’m going to have a party at my library, too, but… uh, yeah. Nothing close to that. I don’t think I’ll need to implode.
Awesome opportunity but no implosion for me either. The best I can do is post the anniversary on my blog that day. Maybe it’s time to give away one of my sets of her paperback books as a prize. Enjoy yourself for all of us!
Alas, I can’t be in New York for this fantastic event, but I appreciate being reminded of the anniversary and pointed to the tribute on the book. My favorite L’Engle book growing up was Many Waters, but I think Wrinkle was my first.
Oh, to be a fly on that wall.
Oh man how I wish I could be at this, especially since I’ve been informed they’ll be showing the 90-Second Newbery version of “A Wrinkle in Time” as the opener for this event. One of those times I’m kicking myself my family doesn’t live in New York…
Oh, good point, James. I should have mentioned that fact. They will indeed be showing your film at the start of the evening. The perfect opening.
I should make some Wrinkle in Time jewelry for the event. Hmmm….