Shel Silverstein biography

I started the biography of Shel Silverstein (A Boy Named Shel) that author Lisa Rogak sent me. Quickly discovered that there was little the man couldn't do if it involved the written word : cartoons, books, essays, plays, songs, poems.

I knew he wrote A Boy Named Sue, but didn't realize that he had also written The Unicorn, the Irish Rovers hit. Or that in addition to writing for Johnny Cash, he also wrote hits for Loretta Lynn, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Bobby Bare, Marianne Faithful, and Emmylou Harris. Did you know he wrote Marie Laveau and Queen of the Silver Dollar? He also composed original music for several films and was nominated for an Oscar for the score of Postcards from the Edge.

Of course, the children's books will be the most long lasting of his accomplishments because they will never grow old. A Light in the Attic has actually been banned from some libraries for the very reason that children love it. I can pick up any one of Uncle Shelby's children's books and enjoy the silliness and the truth with fresh pleasure. Well, except for The Giving Tree, which I avoid because it makes me cry. Each and every time.

NPR has some audio clips from The Best of Shel Silverstein. And the link to his official site that I posted some time back -- great animation and Shel reciting poems. Another good link, Shel Silverstein Remembered.

funny links and other stuff

I know. I know. I've posted this link before; but...I just can't help it and want to be sure the rest of you have the opportunity to snort and snicker, too. It is Miss Information. Again.

And since I am being insensitive, I must note that John Mandeville has posted on Geoffrey Chaucer's blog. Oh, and just one more, Katherine de Swyneford has a new post. How can you resist a post titled "Constaunze is swych a bitche!" Of course, the conflict is an old one, but still...

I received my advanced edition of The Ravenscar Dynasty by Barbara Bradford yesterday. The title will be released on Amazon.com in December. I was gone all afternoon and checked the mail when I got home around 7:30 and found it. :)

Danielle and others received the same email...some accepted the offer. Danielle also posted a link to Isabella's blog for an entry about review etiquette. I like the Edwardian period and hope that I'll enjoy the book. I enjoy a wide variety of books so it shouldn't be a problem. The only other offer I had for a review copy was after I'd reviewed a book by the same author.

I now have a surfeit of books:
- a huge Robin Hobbs tome
-City of Bones by Michael Connolly
-The Ravenscar Dynasty
-about 8 books on order (mentioned in previous posts) and a few that have just been hanging around waiting for me (that makes a total of about 15 books either in a pile or on the way)

I've finished Wild Swans and Falling in Love with Natassia and will review them later, right now, I'm off to spend this beautiful afternoon with my husband.