Martin is a shoemaker who likes to read the Bible after his work is done. One night after putting his Bible away and going to bed, he hears a voice but sees no one. The next day he helps Stefan the street cleaner, a young woman and her baby, and a boy accused of stealing. That night as he reads his Bible, he hears the voice again. Who is it? What did Martin do that made the voice and himself happy?

I liked this story. It is based on the Bible story of Matthew 25:35-46, which are my most favorite verses. Martin is kind to those in need. He helps them in small ways but to the Lord they are big. The story takes place in winter but can be read any time. It is a beautiful story with beautiful illustrations. This is a keeper.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler: The Philip Marlowe books are quintessential noir, with all it apparent flaws of this time period. And Marlowe is such a great character.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Since we are allowed to name classics, this simply has to be on the list. 

Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany by Norman Oehler: The fascinating account how all of Germany was on drugs throughout WWII.

The Blind Assassin by Margarete Atwood: A wonderful story of two sisters in WWII times. Even though I´m a bit fuzzy about the details of the plot (have to reread this book), I still remember how it made me feel while reading it.

The Orenda by Joseph Boyden: A book about first nation Canadians and their struggle with another tribe and the Jesuit priest, who try to convert to Christianity. As this might suggest, this book is incredibly brutal at times, but it is also absolutely amazing. 

The Prestige by Christopher Priest: You will finish this book without having the faintest clue what you just have read. It´s so good, though.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote: I´m comparing every true crime book that I read to this one and not a single one has even come close to Truman Capote´s masterpiece.

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger: The first non-fiction book I have ever and still one of my favorites. The second part of the novel is an edge-of-the-seat reading experience.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco: I don´ think this has been mentiones by anyone, but this simply has to be on the list too. I even enjoyed reading about the page long description of the door fresco.

     With its reading level ranging from K-5, this book is amazing for any classroom! The main character, Nikolai struggles to decide what the right thing to do is. He has many questions throughout the story and when faced with a decision, realizes in the end an important lesson about the present and the future.

     A great way to use this story in your classroom is to create multi-flow map to show the effects of Nikolai's actions. This book works well with cause and effect and you may have interactive read aloud questions to go along with the story.

(Original Review, 1981-02-24)


If you're not familiar with the The Orthodox Church's intricacies, don't bother reading the novel. It might also to understand the social context in which Anna Karenina is set, which Tolstoy doesn't explain because he was writing for fellow members of the Orthodox Church who would have understood the particular nuances. For Russian society at the time, an immoral act was one that offended all Creation and therefore God himself - it is quite common for Russian priests even now to admonish those confessing to serious sins by telling them that they are 'spitting in Christ's face'.

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.

It's such an unusual book but I am quite enjoying it. :)