#sid fleischman

I achieved the accomplishment this year of reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan for the first time. I’m very glad I read it, and it impacted me for sure. I think the book is an important one, and it’s special to me. However, I think I am even more impacted by two different live stage productions of Pilgrim’s Progress that I’ve seen live and recorded (one by The Logos Theatre, which I saw live in 2024, and one by Christian Theatre Productions, which I have been watching my whole life ever since I first saw it live).

By The Great Horn Spoon! By Sid Fleischman (1963)

Looking at my reading list, I see a couple of surprises... All of them are books I was not expecting to enjoy so much. I was surprised by how much I LOVED The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg. It's a story about four smart kids and their teacher and their community, and the unexpected connections between them. I can see why it won a Newbery, but it's also simply enjoyable and entertaining. I also LOVED Princess Academy when I reread it for the first time in 10+ years. It became a favorite this time, when I merely liked it before. It's exactly the sort of book I want to read and write, with adventure, family, a coming-of-age story, and excellent themes and characters. Another book I was unexpectedly obsessed with was Bandit's Moon by Sid Fleischman. I was really compelled by the central character of the book--the titular bandit leader--and I was very interested in the history behind the book. I was also really riveted as I wondered how the book would end and what the fate of that character would be.

"The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin" is an American Western comedy film based on the 1963 novel 'By the Great Horn Spoon!' by the American magician, author and screenwriter Albert Sidney Fleischman.

This book is entertaining but not particularly captivating. I remember enjoying it far more when I was younger, so many I've just grown out of it, but the simplistic prose just did not hold up to my current standards for kidlit. Still, the concept of a whipping boy is an interesting one, and the story is certainly entertaining (thanks to spoiled Prince Brat often enough). I just wished that this book was fleshed out far more.

Another book I remember reading was called By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman. Don't remember as much with that one. I remember the cover of the book more than anything.

Written By: Sid Fleischman Narrated By: Taylor Mali Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks Date: December 2011 Duration: 3 hours 31 minutes