This is a great set of books by Donald J. Sobol, who also gave us the incomparable child-detective, Encyclopedia Brown. These books are published as both a compendium volume and as separate books by Scholastic, and have been in print since 1967. Each book contains a number of one or two-page scenarios setting up a… Continue reading Two-Minute Mysteries
Category: Books
The Problem of Pain
This book is a very deep and thought-provoking examination of the role that pain and suffering play in the world. If it is read carefully and with reflection adequate to ensure full understanding of the author’s theses, premises, and conclusions, The Problem of Pain provides an excellent answer to the question “How can a good,… Continue reading The Problem of Pain
Want to Turn Your Brain on End?
This little gem, which I am re-reading for the eight or ninth time, is a great mind-bender. Primarily because it’s a book about Christianity, but it’s written from the point of view of a demon in Hell. So you have to constantly remind yourself that when the demon says “The Enemy” he means God, and… Continue reading Want to Turn Your Brain on End?
Dangerous Island
Back in June, I found a bunch of books that people had tossed in the trash, and I rescued them all and brought them home to love them. In that stash, I was delighted to find this book, which I remember from my childhood and loved. Dangerous Island, by Helen Mather-Smith Mindlin, is an excellent chapter… Continue reading Dangerous Island
The Firebird
We checked this one out of the library, and the kids were spellbound by the beautiful and detailed drawings accented with lots of gold. The Firebird by Demi. This is a lovely Russian fairy tale, complete with the evil old Tsar and the beautiful fairy princess. But trouble starts when the handsome young archer finds… Continue reading The Firebird
What Makes Classic Literature “Classic”?
A friend and I were discussing literature a while back, and she wondered why some books were counted as classics and others were not. So many of the bestsellers of ten years ago are not popular at all today. And I pick up fantastic books in old bookstores all the time — books that are extremely well-written, and that… Continue reading What Makes Classic Literature “Classic”?