May I Gently Suggest, #3
February 5, 2012Welcome to Gentle Suggestions. 
Joshilyn Jackson is a master. I didn't know this for far too long. I've enjoyed her blog for a while, I figured she was an entertaining writer and I should check out her novels--and then I did and then I read them all and I was so tired and hungry and amazed. This one may be her best yet. I have to warn you, if you think you can read a couple of chapters before you go to bed, you are incorrect. You'll get sucked in and then it will be dawn. 
Julia's Child is, simply, a delightful romp. In fact I used the phrase "delightful romp" in the blurb I was asked to write for it, but then the author was all maybe you should read it first? And I was like, what? I haven't blurbed before, I mean, shut up, fine. And guess what I WAS RIGHT it was. DELIGHTFUL. ROMPY. I didn't put that in the blurb, though, because really. I did add that I missed my subway stop because I was so absorbed in reading the book, because I DID. Truth in blurbing! 
Suggested by a reader! Who was correct! This was very fun. Boy, am I an advanced reviewer. "Very fun." Note the use of the word "very." That means the reviewer found the book more than simply fun--she found it super-duper fun! Oof.
I don't think I should have read this right after the Magician's King, though--I've now had enough surly teenaged boys encountering magical lands filled with mystery and danger, thank you.
“Polymath” doesn’t even begin to describe Silverstein. His creativity extended in so many directions that his archivists must be versed not just in turn-of-the-century world children’s literature, but Waylon Jennings’s deep cuts; not just in reel-to-reel tape preservation, but how to keep an old restaurant napkin scribbled with lyrics from falling apart. And you also learn that Silverstein seemed to have a terrific time drawing, rhyming, and singing his way through life.
Finally, I haven't grabbed a copy of the new Shel Silverstein collection Every Thing On It, but I'm going to--if not for Henry, then for ME. I loved this piece about Silverstein's life, and the amazing body of work he left behind. Except it made me cry at the end. Damn it.
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Reader Comments (24)
I am always looking for a book to keep me up all night. I mean, the babies would otherwise let me sleep in 45-minute chunks, and what's the fun of that? Much better to be guiltily awake of my own accord with a great book. Thanks for the recommendations!
To me, Shel Silverstein will always be the guy who wrote "A Boy Named Sue." I do remember his poems fondly from my childhood, but sadly my own kids just are not into him. How do you think his work has aged?
I think you should retitle this series to Read These Now, Fucker.
Adding the first two to my Kindle.
Oh, Marinka--I'm just too gentle for that.
I have been searching for new books and figure I'll start with Joshilyn Jackson (primarily because like you, I read her blog but have never read her novels. Huh). Also, I'm glad there's more than one novel (because for me, there's nothing worse than falling in love with an author and wanting more but there not being more).
Dude. Have you read The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman? All the superlative comments scrawled across the paperback are annoying, but I have to say, it lives up to the hype.
Thanks for the gentle suggestions! I think Shel Silverstein has aged well because I have heard from teachers that sometimes when they ask kids to pick poems to share with the class, they specify "No Shel Silverstein" or the kids will choose little else.
I don't think there's anything dated about Uncle Shelby.
Yes! Miss Peregrine... was FUN! And the protagonist isn't as bogged down by teenaged angst as so many other young teenaged protagonists, so I liked that.
I love "A Boy Named Sue"
and I sing my boy-o to sleep with "The Unicorn" (little too upbeat for that, but I like it.)
I love "The Mermaid," too. And his poetry books.
I hate "The Giving Tree." Still, it's a powerful book to inspire my level of hate for it.
I must have been living under a rock. I didn't know he was gone.
Roo, I hate The Giving Tree, too. Blech. I choose to believe he wrote that by mistake. Like he fell down some stairs and wrote a story along the way. Like that.
Have you read Runny Babbit? It's another posthumous publication and it's been cracking Henry up for years.
I'm so glad that you hate The Giving Tree. If you liked it, I would have had to ignore your other recommendations. But, to give Silverstein his due, my younger son had to memorize a poem when he was about Henry's age, and 20 years later we both can still recite "Always Sprinkle Pepper In Your Hair."
I am almost ready for a new book and so just added the Jackson book to my Kindle. Thank you for the gentle suggestion.
OMG! Thank you, Alice!
I'm with you all on Giving Tree.
And for poor sleepy @emmy: when I my babies were newborns, I had this elaborate system for reading while breastfeeding, which involved a music stand, clothespins (to hold open the book, and to help me flip the pages whilst a piranha was attached to my nipple) and a clip-on light aimed at the page. Somehow, it made all those late night feedings one micron less crushing. I read several Harry Potter books this way, in 10 minute stints.
i just picked up Every Thing On It at costco, yesterday! haven't had a chance to even open it yet, but am excited about it. which reminds me.... must make sure my 12 yr old knows where all the Shel books are. I loved them at that age.
I ordered "Every Thing On It" and Henry read it out loud to us at dinner. He was beside himself with the hilarity. We're a tougher audience, but it was still pretty great.
I don't know Runny Babbit! I'm so excited to check it out!
Thanks for the recommendation!
( I feel weird about all these exclamation points, but in my head I really am exclaiming!)
Rompy, delightful and worthy of a missed subway stop? Sounds great. Thanks for the recommendation.
I am really loving your book posts! I'm filling up my "to read" shelf on goodreads. I recently read I'm Looking Through You, by Jennifer Finney Boylan, which I loved and found unexpectedly funny and enjoyable, and A Gate at the Stairs, which blew me away. But if you haven't read Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer, you should drop everything and read it right. Now. Seriously.
These books seem a good read. Wish this is available in my google cloud
reader.
I have been searching for new books and figure I'll start with Joshilyn Jackson (primarily because like you, I read her blog but have never read her novels. Huh). Also, I'm glad there's more than one novel (because for me, there's nothing worse than falling in love with an author and wanting more but there not being more).
How about free caricatures for all the mommies out there to cheer up your valentines day ... help me find my happy place .... caricaturistmom.blog.com :)
How about free caricatures for all the mommies out there to cheer up your valentines day ... help me find my happy place .... caricaturistmom.blog.com :)
How about free caricatures for all the mommies out there to cheer up your valentines day ... help me find my happy place .... caricaturistmom.blog.com :)
I came back to say thank you for the "Miss Perigrine's" recommendation....... I was just put on bed rest and needed something. Something a little weird. Something a little different than my couch and barking orders from said couch to my 3 children and worn out husband. And then I needed something that gave me just enough heebie jeebies (in the beginning) that I couldn't sleep at least one night.
Honestly, it was perfect.
(Hope you got credit when I ordered the Kindle version. Or did I figure out the loophole to NOT get you credit?)