The Other Side of the Sun was one of the first books that actually made me really cry. I didn't just get teary-eyed, I sobbed. It is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, and it tells a story filled with both wonderful, and terrible events. The book teaches so much and is so unique-like all of Madeleine L'Engle's books. It reminds me of Ilsa, another of her books that is really hard to find. The Other Side of the Sun is filled with characters you will fall in love with and others that you will hate. It is extraordinary.

I am a Madeleine L'Engle fan and this is my favorite book ever.

The story is told through the eyes of Stella a woman in her eighties returning to her beach home in the deep south.
She tells of first coming there as a newly married young bride from England in 1910. The place is beautiful and wild and completely out of her realm of experience. Her words touch a place at the depths of the soul.
She has married in to the Renier family a genteel, old money southern family and must get to know them in her husbands absense. The charecters are rich and exotic and well developed. One of these is Mado the grandmother whose influence is still quite strong and whose wisdom, fortitude and love remain though she no longer lives. The housekeeper Honoria,an African woman of royal bearing, is full of goodness and peaceful strength. There is also the eccentric but lovable Aunties who live in the past, quote Shakespeare and other literary greats and argue with one another.

There is intrigue and mystery as well as an element of danger threatening to errupt in to violence. It becomes clear the destrutive nature of hatred can not be taken for granted.
The story has the quality of being haunting and lovely and upliftingly joyous. It is a journey of love, tragedy and triumph, of "loves terrible other side", the other side of the sun. It captures the Era of the Post Civil War South in all of it's turbulence and beauty and includes all the ingredients that make a great story. What ever type of reading you prefer, what ever authors you enjoy this book is for you, this story transcends preferences.

I read this to get my 800 pages/quarter for English class, and it couldn't have been more worth it. I picked it up off the shelf because I was a L'engle fan and a sucker for titles, and haven't looked back since. It's a fantastic window into a world I've never thought about, insight into the life of someone different from yet similar to myself and a brilliant, touching perspective on the power of love, hate and their intertwining. Now I consider myself a L'engle addict!!! The characters are so brilliant, powerful, realistic and SPECIAL. It's really heart wrenching @ the end, beyond all prediction or comprehension!! don't miss it for the world.

It took me two read-throughs to properly appreciate this book. At first, it reads like 60s romance fiction, which is when it was originally written. Upon a second, more careful reading, the true (and very typical L'Engle) message comes through... Life's set-backs can rock us to the core, and we can take time to grieve, but we should not turn our back on Life and Love (of self, of others, etc.) and give in to Nothingness. Also of interest, in typical L'Engle "nepotism," (something I truly enjoy) there are scenes in this book that are referred to in another one of her books, _Certain Women_.

I started reading Madeleine L'engle's childrens' books when I was 10. Now that I'm I'm 16, I've started to read her adult books. All of them are excellent, and her work has never dissapointed me. She writes with emotion and beautiful vivid descriptions. I love her books! "Love Letters" is one of L'engle's best books. She portrays human emotions with honesty and compassion. Throughout this book I began to realize that true love wasn't perfect. True love suffers, and true love causes pain, but despite these facts, love it still beautiful. L'engle made me become part of each of the characters in the novel. I had compassion for the nun who found love for the first time, and I absoloutely fell in lvoe with Cotty and Patrick. I began to understand these characters and their individual plights, and how their lives had truely shaped who they were. L'engle shows her readers that people are truely a product of their upbringing. On a final note, a strongly reccomend this book! It completely swept me away!

This is one of my favorite L'Engle books! I'd put it into a category called the "Europe Collection". Also in this collection would be "And Both Were Young", and The Small Rain". Madeleine weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of Sr. Mariana Alcoforado, passionate Portuguese nun, and Cotty, frightened American changeling. A companion resource to this novel should be "The Letters of a Portuguese Nun," now out of print, but contains original artwork by Pablo Picasso. Mariana's story will catch our stomachs on the verge of somersaults. Tears come to my eyes,three cheers, L'Engle!!!

I bought this as a gift for my niece/goddaughter about 11 years ago and have wished I'd got one for myself ever since. It is simply gorgeous with a very moving text. You don't have to be a committed believer to enjoy this lovely book.

As an artist with an Master's degree in painting, I was amazed by the stunning reproductions in this "children's" book, and kept looking at it, and looking at it. The reproductions are so vivid, the text so appropriate, and the book so well designed that I could almost imagine I was walking through the chapel myself. It was the first time I'd seen the frescos in an order the artist intended, which made them even more powerful. Eventually the book went to a friend who admires frescos, but there was such a sense of intimacy in it that I've been searching for another copy for well over a year. The text and the images meld beautifully, and I can honestly say it's the first story of Christ's life I've seen where I felt the illustrations or text didn't "get in the way". Even if you're a fesco fan who's more interested in Giotto than in the story, tear up your check for that expensive art book and buy this first.

As an art educator, church librarian, and special lecture person who links art with religion at my church, I can highly recommend this gorgeous book to you. Madeleine L'Engle is one of my favorite writers and she presents the life of Christ in flowing prose. I even picked up a few facts I did not know. The book is illustrated using various panels from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy which adds sumptuousness to its narrative. As a child I was drawn to picture books like this because of their medieval, almost Oriental appearance, so if you wish to influence your children to appreciate a good story well told and illustrated, select this book. The text is on an 9-13 year old level. The "glorious impossible" is something that cannot be explained but only rejoiced in, and I think that sums up God's gift of Jesus to us in a very satisfying way. Enjoy.

A very subtle but eye opening look into why death is not something to be feared. I feel much better for having read this book.

Not much to say, besides that this book helped me in a low moment to go on with life, no matter what...it's true stories of people who were 'between a rock and a hard place'. If you know very low moments in your life, read this!

The year 2001 was an incredible year, filled with shaking world events, but also with much that united us in our common humanity. As September 11th forced us to realize, we all grapple with weakness and fear, even as we cling to hope and faith and joy. As I witnessed in New York after the September 11th attacks, suffering brought forth an incredible strength of character in many people. It gave me hope in the ultimate triumph of Good like never before. And I found this message reinforced and echoed in every page of "Be Not Afraid."
After the events of this past year, including the wars now raging in many parts of the world, I cannot think of a more timely, more important book than this work of hope by Johann Christoph Arnold. As the subtitle suggests, the central theme is overcoming the fear of death, and yet the book is overwhelmingly about life-about living with joy and faith, no matter what meets us.
Through a treasure trove of personal stories that make the book near impossible to put down, "Be Not Afraid" meets the age-old human fear of death head on, with a power and intensity that leaves one changed. Again and again, the reader encounters a great and loving Power, far greater than the need and fear and weakness of human beings-a Power that draws especially near to the suffering and dying. We see glimpses of a reality so wonderful it takes one's breath away. I came away convinced: Death is not the last word. And the great Power in control of all things is telling us: Be Not Afraid!
The people whose stories fill the pages of "Be Not Afraid" have faced staggering obstacles and extracted life's deepest truths from them. If you want a true guide for the New Year (and the rest of your life), read this book. It is an extraordinary edifier of hope and faith-one that has the power to banish fear, even of the "last enemy," death.

A Severed Wasp is an example of Madeline L'Engle's fictional writing at it's best. This novel continues the story of Katherine Vigneras (previously Forrester) from the book's prequel A Small Rain as Katherine returns to New York for retirement and to come to terms with her past. Madeline L'Engle does an excellent job of describing the life of a pianist, and in such a way that the reader will feel both appreciation and compassion for the main character. She also does a wonderful job of making the reader understand that all things, no matter how painful they may be at the time, play an important role in one's life and happen for a reason. The amount of love that Ms. L'Engle has for her character is easily noticable and the feeling is easily transferred to the reader. Ms. L'Engle has carefully woven bits of information about characters from some of her previous works and what they have grown up to be. She makes references to Phillipa Hunter (And Both Were Young), Emily Gregory (The Young Unicorns), Suzy Austin (all of the Austin-family books), and Josiah (Dave) Davidson (The Young Unicorns). This book has definitely added to my thought that Madeline L'Engle books are like old friends and can be picked up and read over and over again without getting tired of them.

There are several levels upon which this book appeals to me. The first is the most obvious: Katherine the musician. Madeleine L'Engle captures the heart and soul of the Artist so well, that, while I am reading this book, I can feel, for that fleeting moment, what it is like. Then there is the other thing that she does so well: tie the storyline with threads from previous books. Like the first reviewer, I too was very surprised to find Suzy and Dave married (though there's a subtle hint if you read _Young Unicorns_ carefully). (Note: if you read _Ring of Endless Light_ carefully, Katherine makes a cameo appearance.) And then there's the message -- accepting your past, the decisions you've made, as well as those made for you; taking the pain and just... letting it go (moving through it to get to the other side).

I could go on and on... I re-read this book a lot, and each time (as with the best of the L'Engle books), I learn something new.

This book completely blew me away...I lived and breathed this and "The Small Rain" for the several days I was reading it. Madeleine L'Engle has a special quality for putting in her characters a realism and essence that unveils the true human nature, flawed yet perfect. She has a wonderful portrayal of the world as it is, and though the books are not always happy, they have a type of hidden joy, an acceptance that they cannot change the world, but they can try to. She has a remarkable talent of being able to touch your very soul, to make you believe there IS something out there, something worth living for, and hope flows throughout her writings even in the darkest times. An altogether awesome book!

I've always enjoyed Madeleine L'Engle's books, but I think that this one has to be one of her very best, the other one being "A Wrinkle In Time." Like the two previous books in the Austin series, this one centers around the struggles and triumphs of a teenager named Vicky Austin. She and her family have moved in with her grandfather, who is dying of leukemia. In addition to that trial, Vicky has to choose between three young men: Leo, whom she's known all her life and who can identify with the struggle she's going through with her beloved grandfather; Zachary, the poor little rich boy whom Vicky can't quite figure out; and Adam, the gentle, caring--and yet confusing marine biologist. Join Vicky as she travels the path to adulthood--complete with its disappointments and successes--and learns more about herself and the people around her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Madelien L'Engle, and enjoys a good read. It was realistic, and yet had that mysterious element of fantasy that L'Engle is so good at inserting. By all means--read it! You won't regret it.

Have you ever read a book that simply throws your thoughts and emotions in a whirlwind after reading it? Something that has lessons that stay with you for the rest of your life? That's what this book is like. Madeline L'Engle is a stunning author that mixes theology, science fiction, and an all-powerful sense of love into her books. In this paticular one, she writes about Vicky, a sixteen year old girl dealing with problems in her life. She feels surrounded by death and is doubting the world. She has to go through the painful process of watching her grandfather die slowly from leukemia, and is dealing with three young men that she knows. One, Leo, an old friend, she is comforting because of his father's sudden death. Another, Zachary, a passive agressive boy, she is trying to help while not going in too deep with is problems. The last, Adam, is a friend of her older brothers, with whom she is involved with a project with dolphins. It is ultimately with these dolphins she is given a new perspective in life, while she learns the how to deal with death. She finds out that accepting death is ultametly an affirmation of life. This is a far cry from the typical confused teenager book. This book teaches you lessons that you will carry with you and, as all of L'Engle's books, gives youa fresh and new perspective on life. I would recommend this book to anyone any age, though children and young teens may not get a lot out of it. Even though it's in the children's isle, it is ultamilty an adult book.

Dolphins have taught us many new ways of communication, thinking, and learning about what's around us. But to Vicky Austin, dolphins have taught much more. The lesson they teach her is something that she will never forget. A lesson that takes most people a life time to discover; something that has baffled scientists for years. The lesson of life and death.
Vicky has a gift. A rare ability, that comes with her beautiful sense of poetry. She can communicate with dolphins. And because of Madeleine L'Engle's poetic and descriptive writing style, Vicky's blessing seems to come alive. This is one of the most powerful elements of the book because it has such an effect on the reader's view of the plot.
Another contribution to the novel's effectiveness is the characterization. L'Engle does a fine job of creating diverse and interesting characters that almost anyone can identify with. Take for example the character Zachary. Zachary is your average "bad boy" stereotype. But because of Zachary's luxurious but troubled childhood, this characteristic that he seems to have is really a mask that only Vicky can see through. Zachary's character plays an interesting role in the book by teaching Vicky that some people are not always truly as they seem.
Packed with detailed descriptive writing and interesting plot elements, A Ring of Endless Light is a must read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a desire to read a heart-warming tale of self-discovery. Read it and experience for yourself the beauty of the sea.

At the tender age of 14-years-old, Vicky Austin is filled with uncertainty about her life. She feels out of place, and, unlike the rest of her family, she feels unsure about what she wants to make of herself when she gets older. But when her parents decide to take a cross-country camping trip, she couldn't be more exciting. On the way, for the first time ever in her life, she meets up with a boy (a gorgeous one for that matter), named Zachary, who is actually interested in her. And she's interested in him too. But as he pops up at every one of the Austin family's camping stops, the family begins becoming aggravated with the boy. Now Vicky is becoming even more confused, what with suddenly having a boy's attention on top of everything else. Will Vicky ever be able to sort out her problems, or will her "difficult year" last longer than she actually thinks.

Another excellent novel in the Austin series. Madeleine L'Engle has touched on a subject that affects people of all ages, and adds a bit of romance to liven things up. A must-read book for everyone, especially for girls ages 12-16.

Erika Sorocco

I read The Moon By Night back when I was in Junior High, after reading the Wrinkle in Time series. L'Engle quickly became my favorite author and I read all her books. This one still held a special place in my heart. I absolutely fell in love with Zachary Grey (in love with a character in a book!) and he became the archetype for the kind of men I am fascinated by. My husband is somewhat like him. =)

And Psalm 121 became my favorite biblical passage because of its use in this book. The Moon By Night was very influential in my life. I also recommend _An Acceptable Time_, a very magical book, as Zachary crosses over to the Murray family story. (A Wrinkle in Time, etc.) That is my other favorite.

Excellent book! I still call it my favorite after all these years. Let it take you on the journey, you won't soon forget it.

Vicky Austin is the main character of this touching novel. Her family is moving to New York; and to help soften the blow, they decide to camp all the way across the United States. Vicky takes this especially hard, because the move from rural Thornhill, to New York means ripping out everything she's established. Vicky slowly matures over the summer, and is exhilarated when she's followed across the country by Zachary Gray. Over the summer she learns many things about entering the adult world. I found this book to be yet another masterpiece by Madeleine L'Engle. She tends to carry characters over, and Vicky Austin reappears in several other books. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and one of the things I found to be the most interesting was the character development. I can't wait to read another one!

This book, along with C.S. Lewis' A Grief Observed, are two of the best books ever written about love and loss. L'Engle's characteristic style of inspired wanderings brings you back gently and eventually to her main discussion of her courtship and 40-year marriage, and to the inevitable and tragic ending thereof. While certainly saddening, this book is not about wallowing in grief, but is a celebration of the non-traditional (in many ways) life that she and Hugh built together, and how the strength and love of their relationship rippled outward to affect all they came in contact with: children, god-children, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

I agree, this book is such a real treat. Ms. L'Engle is such a wonderful writer; the way she expresses things makes it all "clear". I love the way she urges you to see the beauties in life, love and happiness. This book not only inspired me to begin playing the piano again; it is the ONLY book that has ever made me cry upon putting it down. This book could change your life. Ms. L'Engle, thank you for changing my life. And Alexandra Stoddard (author), thank you also for not only changing my life, but for introducing me to such a wonderful author! :)

This book, along with C.S. Lewis' A Grief Observed, are two of the best books ever written about love and loss. L'Engle's characteristic style of inspired wanderings brings you back gently and eventually to her main discussion of her courtship and 40-year marriage, and to the inevitable and tragic ending thereof. While certainly saddening, this book is not about wallowing in grief, but is a celebration of the non-traditional (in many ways) life that she and Hugh built together, and how the strength and love of their relationship rippled outward to affect all they came in contact with: children, god-children, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

In "The Young Unicorns", we meet up with the Austin family, who are now living in New York City, as Dr. Austin is working on a research project. We also meet 2 new L'Engle characters. Dave, who used to be in a gang called the Alphabats, and Emily, a blind girl who at times stays with the Austins. Dave now reads Emily her homework, as she can't read it herself. When bizarre things begin happening to the Austin family, and a bishop begins acting strangely, the Austin children begin to worry, and decide, with the help of Dave and Emily, to solve the mystery. But what they don't realize at the time, is that getting involved may cost them their lives.

We all know that L'Engle writes amazing coming-of-age novels, but, after reading "The Young Unicorns", I now know that she also writes amazing mystery/suspense/sci-fi novels. This was an amazingly interesting book, and readers, whether previous L'Engle fans or not, will relish in her character descriptions, and adventure. A must have book.

Erika Sorocco

A Wrinkle in Time has always been my favorite book, and I was hesistant to read L'Engle's other stories because I had grown so attatched to the Murrays/O'Keefe's. This book was my final Austin family novel, and I must say, if by far my favorite.

This novel, while having the classic L'Engle good-triumphing ending, was full of the darker side of life. Like Arm of the Starfish, this book made me very aware that there is evil in the world. At yet, at the same time, this evil can be combatted through love and trust. It's an incredibly powerful story, with amazing twists and characters you won't soon forget.

Another reason I simply adore this book is because it is very clear that Chronos and Kairos are crossing here. Canon Tallis, Mr. Theo, Emily, Dave . . . they all reappear (or have appeared) in other books. It's wonderful to have that kind of connection with a character.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for themselves in a world where black and white are sometimes purple.

Because this is a Madeline L'Engle book, you'll know it's a terrific book. It is about a teenager named Dave who used to be in a gang called the Alphabats, but now reads homework to a blind little girl named Emily. Afetr about 50 pages the book starts to talk about how Emily got blinded, and why she could have been blinded. The book talks about many things at once, including a very strange bishop that was acting out of character. Dave eventually meets this bishop, and finds out that there is more going on in the Alphabat gang then just robberies and graffiti. The book gets very interesting very quickly, and I couldn't put it down. It has a shocking ending, and even though all the plots seem all over the place, they all come together in the end.

This is a beautiful devotional, and a glimpse of the way a brilliant mind works at something we all aspire to: understanding God. It is refreshing to read something that doesn't pretend to have all the answers about Him, but encourages us to "learn to love the mysteries". I don't know about you, but that is what I am trying to do. Instead of simplifying who God is and reducing him to the level of an idol, the author encourages us to see him as Omnipotent God, Creator & Sustainer. It is a breath of fresh air to me, and a wonderful encouragement.

I read the Crosswick Journal series before being buying this treasure as a Christmas gift to myself a few years ago. I was already a fan of Ms L'Engle. However, this book brought her into a new realm. I followed the readings quite faithfully during two yearly cycles. I must say that they provided my those glimpses of grace that were needed during that very difficult time of my life. These are only glimpses because they are relatively short and easy to digest over breakfast. However, as so often happens, glimpses open doors that reveal so much more. My faith in the God of Creation was reaffirmed through this book. This God accepted me as I was (and am) and affirmed me as good. What more can one ask from a book of daily reflections?

Thank you Ms L'Engle. I'm proud to call you a fellow Episcopalian!

L'Engle does something here that few devotional authors dare. She not only supplies answers and inspirations, she poses questions. Questions without easy answers. Questions that penetrate to the heart of true faith in God.

Does she qualify as a mystic? Yes, in that she moves outside the world of pure rationalism.

Is she a Christian? Yes, in the sense that she believes upon Jesus Christ as the savior and as the only begotten Son of God.

Is she an agnostic? Yes, by her own definition. She says that by confessing agnosticism, she is only confessing that she doesn't know everything. She refuses to lie or pretend otherwise. Yet, in the midst of not knowing, she still believes in the God that created the universe.

This devotional breathes life into a sometimes stale genre. L'Engle's openness might challenge, even offend, some. But for those on the limits of faith, those hanging in amidst life's tragedies and unexpected miracles, "Glimpses of Grace" gives a little more grace to move on. This is classic and poignant writing. One closes the pages filled with a greater awe and greater mystery regarding the love of God.