My side of the Mountain:
My Opinion: Jean Craighead George tells the story of a boy who really wants to get away from it all. So, he leaves home to live in the mountains, where he learns to live off the land and gains a sense of independence and adventure before he finally reunites with his family. Well I loved the book.It is a wonderful adventure fiction. But It sounds way too real and possible. So I am a bit worried to let my kiddos read this book until they are all settled and have kids and no way can run away to live this life:-).

White Nights:
My Opinion: It is a bit of a sad love story but it is so beautiful that I have not choice but to add it to my list. Why no choice? Because it brings hope in the midst of all sadness. This is how it ends.
" May your sky be always clear, may your dear smile be always bright and happy, and may you be for ever blessed for that moment of bliss and happiness which you gave to another lonely and grateful heart ... Good Lord, only a moment of bliss? Isn't such a moment sufficient for the whole of a man's life?"

The Four Agreements:
My Opinion: My opinion on this book is very similar to what about.com. This is a wonderful book for stress management and personal growth. It's written in simple language, but deals with complex themes that can help people bring sweeping changes to their lives. A drawback to the book is that some of the 'agreements' are too extreme and, if taken literally, can cause additional problems.
Click here to view explanation of each.

Essays (Montaigne):
My Opinion: Montaigne wrote in a kind of crafted rhetoric designed to intrigue and involve the reader, sometimes appearing to move in a stream-of-thought from topic to topic and at other times employing a structured style which gives more emphasis to the didactic nature of his work. His arguments are often supported with quotes from Hellenic Greek, Latin and Italian texts.

Little Prince:
My Opinion: An earlier memoir by the author recounts his aviation experiences in the Saharan desert. He is thought to have drawn on these same experiences for use as plot elements in The Little Prince. Saint-Exupéry's novella has been adapted to various media over the decades, including stage, screen and operatic works. Just beautiful.

The Happy Prince:
My Opinion: Where do I begin. Just read and you will know. Yet anothr lovestory. Happy Ending. :-)

"Stages" by Herman Hesse, a poem from The Glass Bead Game.
As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.

The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permamence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.