Walking on Water : Reflections on faith and art (1972)

I read this book while immersed in an artist colony off the coast of Massachusetts, so its impact on my life is somewhat tied together with an experience that does, in fact, encompass many of the reflections that are written here.

While I do not come back to this book quite as often as some of L'Engle's other works, I do pick it up every couple of years. ( )

I liked the book and will most likely re-read it at some point. That said, the writing was a little loose. She seems to be the 180 degrees from Flannery O'Connor's vision of Catholic art and what it means to be a Catholic artist. Or, perhaps I completely misunderstood. Hence the need for a re-read in a few years.

There are a handful of writer's resources I go to when I get discouraged or feel stupid: Walking on Water, King's On Writing, and... Hm, maybe that's all. This book may be more Christian-centric than other resources. But L'Engle has an expansive and compassionate understanding of her religious foundation, as well as a rich cultural understanding of art, and I would encourage any writer to take a look at her ideas. She basically reminds us that writing serves something not entirely graspable by the conscious, rational mind; that it's hard work; and that humble service to a calling through hard work is all anyone should ever ask of herself. So relax, be grateful you even have a calling, and keep writing. ( )

Madeline L'Engle takes the risk of letting us into her life sharing her reflections on art and faith.

Very interesting. Too bad she never states she was not orthodox at all. ( )