I read the novels in this wonderful LIBRARY OF AMERICA volume as they were published, but it’s nice to have them in one handy volume. Saul Bellow: Novels 1970-1982 includes some of Bellow’s best novels: Mr. Sammler’s Planet, Humboldt’s Gift, and The Dean’s December. I’m constantly surprised at the number of people I encounter who haven’t read Saul Bellow. Trust me, that Nobel Prize for Literature that he won in 1976 was well deserved. And, sadly, Bellow doesn’t appear on college reading lists, either. I’m mystified by the academic neglect of one of our greatest novelists. If you haven’t read these fine novels, you’re in for a treat. You can find the LIBRARY OF AMERICA volumes discounted substantially in bookstores and online. GRADE: A

Emma Stone as suburban high school student in California delights in this comic confection. Emma pretends to have sex with a friend trying to disguise his gay proclivities and that “good intention” leads her to pretending to have sex with a number of high school social outcasts. However, as the outcasts’ social status goes up after encounters with Emma, her own social status goes way down. In English class, taught by “cool” teacher Thomas Haden Church, the class is reading Hawthorne’s classic: The Scarlet Letter. Emma, feeling the student body against her, starts dressing provocatively and wearing a scarlet A on her breast. Emma has high powered parents: Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci. Lisa Kudrow plays a ditzy guidance counselor who will make you laugh. Easy A is very entertaining and surprisingly sweet. GRADE: B+

Case and the Dreamer, Volume XIII: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon completes the fine series published by North Atlantic Books. This final volume of Theodore Sturgeon’s work from 1972 to 1983 includes Forwards by Peter S. Beagle and Debbie Notkin and a summary Afterward by Paul Williams. I own this complete series and have enjoyed every volume. Theodore Sturgeon was one of the best short story writers ever and these volumes prove it. I highly recommend all 13 volumes in this series.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Theodore Sturgeon and The Last Unicorn By Peter S. Beagle
Lifelong Passion: Theodore Sturgeon’s Fiction By Debbie Notkin
Tuesdays are Worse
Case and the Dreamer
Agnes, Accent and Access
Ingenious Aylmer
The Sheriff of Chayute
The Mysterium
“I Love Maple Walnut”
Blue Butter
The Singsong of Cecily Snow
Harry’s Note
Time Warp
The Country of Afterward
Like Yesterday
Why Dolphins Don’t Bite
Vengeance Is
Seasoning
Not an Affair
Black Moccasins
The Trick
Grizzly
Theodore Sturgeon: Storyteller By Paul Williams
Story Notes By Noel Sturgeon
Index of Stories in The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon

Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s novels will be surprised by his latest effort, The Fort. The fort in question is Fort George in Massachusetts (later Maine) named for the British king at the time. The British build a crude fort in the summer of 1779 and expected to be dislodged by a larger American force of irregulars. That’s what should have happened. But what did happen at the Battle of Penobscot Bay was the worst American naval disaster until Pearl Harbor. Cornwell tells the story of how the Revolutionary forces led by the cautious General Lovell refused to attack the fort. The even more cautious Commodore Saltonstall, with 40 ships, delays and delays to take out the three ships the British have defending the fort. Paul Revere comes off as a self-centered diva as he “interprets” orders or ignores them completely. Yes, there is some fighting in this book, but it’s a minor part of the politics of warfare. Cornwell’s meticulously researched story shows the idiotic aspects of war. You’ll come away liking characters on both sides of the conflict. GRADE: B+

The last time I reviewed a Leonard Cohen CD, Live From London, Anna and Lee and Patrick thought I was being too harsh on the artist. After listening to Songs From the Road Cohen’s voice hasn’t improved. But Leonard Cohen’s fans will want this CD/DVD set. Cohen sings some of his more obscure songs. He adds a verse to “Suzanne” and changes the order of verses in “Bird On the Wire.” Hardcore fans will enjoy the 93-minute DVD with concert footage and an interview with Cohen. As I said in my review of Live From London, Cohen’s manager stole his money and now Cohen’s touring at the age of 74 to survive. I keep buying Leonard Cohen’s CDs to support the artist. GRADE: CD/C; DVD/B.
TRACK LIST
Disc 1
1 Lover, Lover, Lover [Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel, September 24, 7:43
2 Bird On the Wire [Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Scotland, November 6, 2008 6:09
3 Chelsea Hotel Royal Albert Hall, London, England, November 17, 2008 3:31
4 Heart With No Companion [Oberhausen King Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Ge 5:06
5 That Don’t Make It Junk O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008 4:22
6 Waiting For the Miracle [Hp Pavilion, San Jose, California, November 13 8:01
7 Avalanche [Gothenburg Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden, October 12, 200 4:17
8 Suzanne Mena Arena, Manchester, England, November 30, 2008 3:41
9 The Partisan Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland, October 10, 2008 5:18
10 Famous Blue Raincoat O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008 5:23
11 Hallelujah [Coachella Music Festival, Indio, California, April 17, 2009 7:32
12 Closing Time John Labbatt Centre, London, Ontario, May 24, 2009 6:07

Disc 2
1 Lover, Lover, Lover [Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel, September 24, 2009
2 Bird On the Wire [Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Scotland, November 6, 2008
3 Chelsea Hotel Royal Albert Hall, London, England, November 17, 2008
4 Heart With No Companion [Oberhausen King Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Ge]
5 That Don’t Make It Junk O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008
6 Waiting For the Miracle [Hp Pavilion, San Jose, California, November 13, 2009
7 Avalanche [Gothenburg Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden, October 12, 2008
8 Suzanne Mena Arena, Manchester, England, November 30, 2008
9 The Partisan Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland, October 10, 2008
10 Famous Blue Raincoat O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008
11 Hallelujah [Coachella Music Festival, Indio, California, April 17, 2009
12 Closing Time John Labbatt Centre, London, Ontario, May 24, 2009
13 Backstage Sketch Bonus Track

Based on Brad Mezrich’s The Accidental Billionaires, The Social Network tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg is dumped by his girl friend and he retaliates by creating Facebook. Yes, that’s a simplification, but essentially that’s the plot. But Aaron Sorkin’s canny script tells the story through the lens of two lawsuits brought against Zuckerberg: one by his former best friend and the other by the Winklevoss twins who claim Zuckerberg stole their idea for a social network web site. Jesse Eisenberg plays the near autistic Zuckerberg to automaton perfection. Justin Timberlake surprises with a startling performance as Sean Parker, evil Napster creator. Andrew Garfield, who will play Peter Parker in the next Spiderman movie, plays Zuckerberg’s best (and only) friend, Eduardo to sympathetic perfection. David Fincher turns what could have been a dull documentary into a thriller. GRADE: A-

Diane decided it was time for home improvements so we had a new vanity, a new counter top, and a new Delta faucet installed in our first floor bathroom. Diane liked the results so much she had the remodeling guys install a new counter top, and a new Delta faucet, and a new bathroom floor in our upstairs bathroom. The installer told us: “I have to remove the toilet to install the flooring. If you want me to install a new toilet when I’m done with the flooring, I’ll install it for free.” Who could pass up that offer! Diane and I had a Kohler Cimerron toilet installed in our first floor bathroom a couple years ago and were impressed with the quality and the eco-friendly 1.4 gallon flush power technology so we went to Lowe’s an bought an “all in one box” unit. We’re also very impressed with the quality and style of the Delta faucets. If you’re planning on updating your bathroom or thinking about a total remodeling, we can highly recommend Kohler and Delta.

Thanks to a heads up by Bill Crider, I’m now the proud owner of Thriller: The Compete Series. The list price is $149.99. Deep Discount has this 14 DVD set for a mere $74.95! That’s half price off for 67 classic episodes by Robert Bloch, Cornell Woolrich, Robert E. Howard, and other Name writers. The episodes included performances from William Shatner, Leslie Nielsen, Mary Tyler Moore, Elizabeth Montgomery, Rip Torn, Richard Chamberlain, Cloris Leachman, Robert Vaughn, John Carradine, Ursula Andress and many more! Shipping is free! Thriller was a precursor to Twilight Zone and Night Gallery. Click here to order.

Dante’s Divine Comedy garners my vote as the Most Unusual Book of the year. Seymour Chwast adapts Dante’s masterpiece, Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise into a graphic novel format. The result is a black & white noirish retelling of the classic story. Purists will be offended, but I found Chwast’s effort impressive. There’s some startling graphic on nearly every page. You should definitely check this out. GRADE: A-