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An Acceptable Time  By  cover art

An Acceptable Time

By: Madeleine L'Engle
Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee
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Publisher's summary

A flash of lightning, quivering ground, and, instead of her grandparents' farm, Polly sees mist and jagged mountains - and coming toward her, a group of young men carrying spears.

Why has a time gate opened and dropped Polly into a world that existed 3,000 years ago? Will she be able to get back to the present before the time gate closes - and leaves her to face a group of people who believe in human sacrifice?

This Commemorative Edition includes a new introduction by the author.

©2007 Madeleine L'Engle; 2008 Listening Library

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What listeners say about An Acceptable Time

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not Jest for kids. Very deep for knowing adults.

All of Madeleine L'Engle's books that I have listened to have been up beat with good moral lessons. The healthy mix of mythology, science and good moral sense added to a well written story line leaves a fresh taste in the mouth and a lifting of the heart. She was truly a master story teller.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as good as the first three

I read the first three books in this series when I was much younger and really liked them. I decided to re-read all of them plus the last two in the series, which I had never read. I really wish I had stopped after re-reading the first three. The first three books are fantastic--very well-written and enjoyable. The last two books were significant disappointments when compared to the first three. The fourth book was by far the most disappointing, as I addressed in another review. The fifth book is significantly better than the fourth, but it still falls well-short of the quality of the original three.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pontification can be over done

HORRIFICALLY slow start. It picked up 2/3 into the book. And for a book with accepting themes, it certainly did its fair share of mudslinging. WAY too much pontificating.

"Many Waters" was far better.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Depth

As far as depth I enjoyed this the most out of the time series. It is a much deeper and more mature story than the Other ones in the series yet the depth Is necessary. At first I was not sure if I liked the ending. Upon pondering I believe it was better the way she left it. I hope you love it as much as I do.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I was mind blowing it was awesome it was great it

it was mind blowing it blew my mind the book was about Meg's daughter wow
make one about the grandparents please
- IRA lasley

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

It's basically a good story

Surprised to find Standing Stones , Time Travel & Ley Lines in this book , and have to
assume Diana Gabaldon got her idea for time travel from this story- published 3 years prior to Outlander. It can't be a coincidence - if it were just 2 out of the three I would say maybe , but 3 out of 3 ? No way .
Wonder why she never mentioned this ?

I had loved A Wrinkle in Tme when I was a kid , and being in a nostalgic mood decided to read the rest of the books . L'Engle must not have done her research - if Polly goes back 3000 years - there would have been NO sheep or cattle in the Americans until Columbus brings them. Banished Druids would not have been a Or to bring them , certainly not enough so that the Indians would have had herds of them in 3 years.
These may be written for young adults, but come on - their history lessons will be screwed up with misinformation like that . She should have an explanation for it .

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Annoying narrator, lackluster story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Both my 10 y.o. child and I tried to listen to this, having enjoyed the first 3 books in the quintet and it was sort of dull and meandering like the 4th book.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It's an extremely dull plot, would be better to read than to listen to as an audiobook so you could skip around more readily.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ann Marie Lee’s performances?

No, her voice was really irritating

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

King Caspian II Loved This Book!

Would you listen to An Acceptable Time again? Why?

This book meets an exceptionally rare demographic...expert Christian fantasy. The Time Quintet meets that definition right along with Blessed Saint John and Blessed Saint Jack. (Tolkien & Lewis.)

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Acceptable Time?

The rain storm. (No Spoilers!)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I particularly liked the fact that the pacing and conflict were maintained throughout, even though every single one of the characters were sympathetically drawn. (No true villains in this piece.) A truly family-friendly book.

Any additional comments?

This book earned 5 stars because it is one of my perpetual listens. It works standing alone, but it is even more powerful as the conclusion to the Time Quintet.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

filling in the gaps in L'Engle's saga.

Well done.
make's you ask,"What happened next?".
I look forward to the continuing story and saga.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen

Though the book starts a little slow the ups and Downs that Polly goes through keeps you on your seat!

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1 person found this helpful