Sonderbooks     Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

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2005 Stand-outs
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I don't review books I don't like!

*****= An all-time favorite
****  = Outstanding
***    = Above average
**      = Enjoyable
*        = Good, with reservations

Five-Star Books

Here are my favorite books reviewed so far.
They are arranged by general category with books listed alphabetically by author within each category.
Click on the book title to read the complete review.

Nonfiction

Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck
Leaving the Saints, by Martha Beck
The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness, by Joel ben Izzy
What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson
Once Upon a Midlife, by Allan B. Chinen
Waking the World, by Allan B. Chinen, MD
The Divorce Remedy, by Michele Weiner Davis
Love and Respect, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
For Women Only, by Shaunti Feldhahn
How We Choose To Be Happy, by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks
Miracle:  A Celebration of New Life, by Anne Geddes and Celine Dion
NOT "Just Friends," by Shirley P. Glass, PhD
Life Among the Savages, by Shirley Jackson
What Does the Bible Really Say About Hell? by Randy Klassen
How Good Do We Have To Be? by Harold S. Kushner
Bird By Bird, by Anne Lamott
Madeleine L'Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life, compiled by Carole F. Chase
Walking on Water:  Reflections on Faith and Art, by Madeleine L’Engle
A Circle of Quiet, by Madeleine L'Engle
Glimpses of Grace, by Madeleine L'Engle, with Carole F. Chase
A Year With C. S. Lewis, by C. S. Lewis
Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Discovering the Character of God, by George MacDonald
Knowing the Heart of God, by George MacDonald
Unspoken Sermons:  Series I, II, and III, by George MacDonald
The Script, by Elizabeth Landers and Vicky Mainzel
A Writer's Paris, by Eric Maisel
A Generous Orthodoxy, by Brian D. McLaren
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Diary of a Medical Intuitive, by Christel Nani, RN, PhD
Count Down, by Steve Olson
How One of You Can Bring the Two of You Together, by Susan Page
My Descent Into Death, by Howard Storm
You Don't Have To Take It Anymore, by Steven Stosny, PhD
The Inescapable Love of God, by Thomas Talbott
If You Want To Write, by Brenda Ueland
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig
Writing About Your Life, by William Zinsser

Fiction

 Watership Down, by Richard Adams
An Assembly Such As This:  Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Book 1, by Pamela Aidan
These Three Remain:  Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Book 3, by Pamela Aidan
Zorro, by Isabel Allende
 Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Knitting, by Anne Bartlett
Nights of Rain and Stars, by Maeve Binchy
 Cleopatra's Heir, by Gillian Bradshaw
Dangerous Notes, by Gillian Bradshaw
 The Sand-Reckoner, by Gillian Bradshaw
   Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Jane Austen in Scarsdale, by Paula Marantz Cohen
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
The Children of the Star Trilogy, by Sylvia Louise Engdahl
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
 Caravan, by Dorothy Gilman
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
Confessions of Super Mom, by Melanie Lynne Hauser
The Canterbury Papers, by Judith Koll Healey
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Great Divorce, by C. S. Lewis
Life of Pi, by Yann Martel
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith
Morality for Beautiful Girls, by Alexander McCall Smith
The Blue Castle, by L. M. Montgomery
The Great Impersonation, by E. Phillips Oppenheim
 The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Beyond the Limit, by Joan Spicci
Q & A, by Vikas Swarup
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Young Adult Fiction

Feed, by M. T. Anderson
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi
Best Foot Forward, by Joan Bauer
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, by Ann Brashares
Girls in Pants, by Ann Brashares
Hit the Road, by Caroline B. Cooney
The Cup of the World, by John Dickinson
The  Ropemaker, by Peter Dickinson
The Hollow Kingdom, by Clare B. Dunkle
Close Kin, by Clare B. Dunkle
In the Coils of the Snake, by Clare B. Dunkle
Enchantress From the Stars, by Sylvia Louise Engdahl
This Star Shall Abide, by Sylvia Engdahl
The Sphere of Secrets, by Catherine Fisher
The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale
Enna Burning, by Shannon Hale
Quest for a Maid, by Frances Mary Hendry
The Foretelling, by Alice Hoffman
Cart and Cwidder, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Spellcoats, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Crown of Dalemark, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Earthsea books, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
Water, by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
Emily Climbs, by L. M. Montgomery
Emily's Quest, by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of the Island, by L. M. Montgomery
Sabriel, by Garth Nix
Lirael, by Garth Nix
Abhorsen, by Garth Nix
Firebirds, edited by Sharyn November
East, by Edith Pattou
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J. K. Rowling
Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith
Ptolemy's Gate, by Jonathan Stroud
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner
The King of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner
The Sunbird, by Elizabeth E. Wein
Dealing With Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede
Searching for Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede
Calling on Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede
Talking to Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede
Sorcery and Cecilia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Children's Fiction

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis
Prince Caspian, by C. S. Lewis
The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis
The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis
The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis
The Magician's Nephew, by C. S. Lewis
The Last Battle, by C. S. Lewis
Run from the Nun! by Erin MacLellan
Saffy's Angel, by Hilary McKay
Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne
Emily of New Moon, by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody
Defending Irene, by Kristin Wolden Nitz
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling
Bella at Midnight, by Diane Stanley
The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Picture Books

Philadelphia Chickens, by Sandra Boynton
Clever Cat, by Peter Collington
Serious Farm, by Tim Egan
Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer
The Wolf's Chicken Stew, by Keiko Kasza
The Adventures of Cow, by Cow, as told to Lori Korchek
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
In English, of Course, by Josephine Nobisso.  Illustrated by Dasha Ziborova
Rainy Morning, by Daniel Pinkwater
Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathman
The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds
Ish, by Peter H. Reynolds
Michael Rosen's Sad Book, by Michael Rosen, pictures by Quentin Blake
Yellow and Pink, by William Steig
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, by Eugene Trivizias
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Sleeping Ugly, by Jane Yolen

= Available at Sembach Library

Sonder is a German prefix meaning "special."

Copyright © 2005 Sondra Eklund.  All rights reserved. 

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