Monthly Archives: December 2010

ETHAN ALLEN



Our allergist told us that we needed to replace any carpeting, stuffed furniture, and mattresses that were 10 years old. So we replaced our carpeting in the living room and went to Ethan Allen for the furniture. We’d heard good things about Ethan Allen quality and after going through their selection process, we’re believers. The new furniture (built in North Carolina) was delivered last week. After trying the chairs and the sofa for a few days, we found we loved the comfort. Yes, the cushions might be too firm for some people, but that’s the way we like our furniture. We don’t like to sink down and struggle to escape. This Ethan Allen furniture is also the HEAVIEST furniture we’ve ever owned. If you judge quality by weight, this is Good Stuff.

RUNNING THE BOOKS By Avi Steinberg

Avi Steinberg, recent Harvard graduate, decides to apply for a job as a prison librarian. Although he doesn’t know anything about libraries and doesn’t have a library degree, Avi gets the job. He learns quickly that working in a prison library means he’s surrounded by con men (and women), pimps, prostitutes, thugs, gangsters, and thieves. Avi teaches “creative writing” classes, both to women inmates and later, to male inmates. It’s through the stories, essays, and memoirs the inmates write that Avi learns about their brutal lives and why they’re in prison. I found Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian one of the most unusual books I’ve read in 2010. GRADE: B+

HOW DO YOU KNOW

I’m a big fan of James L. Brooks’ movies. I cried when I watched Terms of Endearment and laughed at Broadcast News. So my expectations were high for How Do You Know, a romantic comedy starring the fetching Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd. Yes, Jack Nicholson shows up, too. But this is mostly a love triangle with Reese, Owen and Paul. Unfortunately, we know who Reese is going to choose from the beginning of the movie. How Do You Know telegraphs (or should I say “tweets”) its intentions. Many of the “love” scenes are painfully lame. You can safely skip watching this stinker. GRADE: D (for DULL).

TRON LEGACY in 3D


Great special effects, clunky dialogue, predictable plot. That’s my opinion of Tron Legacy, the sequel to the cult classic, Tron from 1982. Of course, the special effects in the original Tron were crude by today’s standards. You can see where most of the budget for Tron Legacy went: it’s right up there on the screen. Those 3D special effects must have cost a fortune! But between the action scenes, the movie bogs down in momentum killing dialogues. “What is a sunrise like?” asks Olivia Wilde (who plays “13” on House). “Radiant,” answers Garrett Hedlund (who plays Sam Flynn, Jeff Bridges’ son). Later in the film, poor Olivia is made to say, “Hang on, this is going to be a rough landing!” There are about a dozen howlers like these in this movie. Yet, when the dialogue stops and the 3D action picks up, the movie becomes amazing. GRADE: B

FORGOTTEN BOOKS #96: TARNSMAN OF GOR By John Norman

Back in 1966, I bought a copy of John Norman’s Tarnsman of Gor and was transported into a world very similar to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom. This “Counter-Earth” is on the other side of the Sun and is ruled by the insectoid Priest-Kings, an alien race with advanced technology. “John Noman” is the pseudonym of John Lange, a college professor, who has written 30 novels in the Gor series. The early books followed the pattern set in Tarnsman of Gor, but the later books focused on S&M sex and philosophical issues (not surprising since the author teaches Philosophy). I found the later books in the Gor series a bit tedious, but the first four or five books in the series deliver all the action and adventure you could ever want!
* 1 Tarnsman of Gor (1966) ISBN 0-345-27583-7
* 2 Outlaw of Gor (1967) ISBN 0-345-27136-X
* 3 Priest-Kings of Gor (1968) ISBN 0-7592-0036-X
* 4 Nomads of Gor (1969) ISBN 0-75925-445-1
* 5 Assassin of Gor (1970) ISBN 0-75920-091-2
* 6 Raiders of Gor (1971) ISBN 0-75920-153-6
* 7 Captive of Gor (1972) ISBN 0-75920-105-6
* 8 Hunters of Gor (1974) ISBN 0-75920-130-7
* 9 Marauders of Gor (1975) ISBN 0-75920-141-2
* 10 Tribesmen of Gor (1976) ISBN 0-75925-446-X
* 11 Slave Girl of Gor (1977) ISBN 0-75920-454-3
* 12 Beasts of Gor (1978) ISBN 0-75921-125-6
* 13 Explorers of Gor (1979) ISBN 0-75921-167-1
* 14 Fighting Slave of Gor (1980) ISBN 0-75921-173-6
* 15 Rogue of Gor (1981) ISBN 0-75921-179-5
* 16 Guardsman of Gor (1981) ISBN 0-75921-368-2
* 17 Savages of Gor (1982) ISBN 0-75921-374-7
* 18 Blood Brothers of Gor (1982) ISBN 0-75921-380-1
* 19 Kajira of Gor (1983) ISBN 0-75921-926-5
* 20 Players of Gor (1984) ISBN 0-75921-932-X
* 21 Mercenaries of Gor (1985) ISBN 0-75921-944-3
* 22 Dancer of Gor (1985) ISBN 0-75921-950-8
* 23 Renegades of Gor (1986) ISBN 0-75921-956-7
* 24 Vagabonds of Gor (1987) ISBN 0-75921-980-X
* 25 Magicians of Gor (1988) ISBN 0-75921-986-9
* 26 Witness of Gor (2001) ISBN 0-7592-4235-6
* 27 Prize of Gor (2008) ISBN 0-7592-4580-0
* 28 Kur of Gor (2009) ISBN 0-7592-4580-0
* 29 Swordsmen of Gor (2010) ISBN 1-6175-6040-5
* 30 Mariners of Gor (2011) [to be published]

THIS CROOKED WAY By James Enge

I’m almost done with all my grading. All that I need to do now is to input 200+ FINAL GRADES into our online grading system (and not make any mistakes!). Meanwhile, what I really want to do is to read escapist fiction. While I was proctoring my classes as they were taking their FINAL EXAMS, I read James Enge’s This Crooked Way. Yes, it has the obligatory dragon on the cover (and there are dragons in the book), but Enge’s story of Morlock, a sorcerer who is a Maker (kind of a magic engineer), and his adventures carried me through the day on wings of fantasy. This Crooked Way is the second book of a series. The first book, Blood of Ambrose isn’t very good and the third book, The Wolf Age suffers from bloat. But This Crooked Way, with its episodic format, is just right if you’re in the mood for magic and wonder. GRADE: B+

CTI RECORDS: THE COOL REVOLUTION [4 CD Set]

Back in the 1970s I discovered a record company that brought out instrumental “jazz” albums that I loved. I would buy any album CTI put into the record stores (remember them?). The CTI sound was the early form of “Smooth Jazz.” Many jazz artists found themselves in a losing competition with rock & roll performers. CTI smoothed out jazz, added some pop elements, and established jazz artists found this new music mix generated album sales. CTI is long gone, but SONY (who owns the CTI catalog) is reissuing these wonderful CDs, remixed and remastered, for CTI’s 4OTH Anniversary. CTI Records: The Cool Revolution is a sampler of the CDs that will be released in the months ahead. Forty years after I first listened to this great music, it’s back better than ever! GRADE: A
SET LIST:
Disc 1
1 Sugar / Stanley Turrentine 10:04
2 Moment’s Notice / Hubert Laws 6:57
3 So What / Ron Carter 11:24
4 Autumn Leaves / Chet Baker 7:05
5 Speed Ball / Stanley Turrentine 6:40
6 The Intrepid Fox / Freddie Hubbard 10:43
7 Ifrane / Randy Weston 5:16
8 Free as a Bird / Don Sebesky 8:14
9 So What / George Benson 9:11

Disc 2
1 Red Clay / Freddie Hubbard 12:09
2 It’s Too Late / Johnny Hammond 10:58
3 Home Is Where the Hatred Is / Esther Phillips 3:25
4 We Got a Good Thing Going / Hank Crawford 5:59
5 White Rabbit / George Benson 6:57
6 Fire and Rain / Hubert Laws 7:56
7 What a Difference a Day Makes / Esther Phillips 4:31
8 Follow Your Heart / Joe Farrell 6:52
9 Also Sprach Zarathustra / Deodato 2001 9:02
10 Mister Magic / Grover Washington Jr. 8:59

Disc 3
1 Stone Flower / Antonio Carlos Jobim 3:19
2 Ponteio / Astrud Gilberto 3:41
3 First Light / Freddie Hubbard 11:05
4 Salt Song / Stanley Turrentine 7:15
5 Pensativa / Hubert Laws 3:54
6 Tombo in 7/4 / Airto 6:24
7 Sunflower / Milt Jackson 8:48
8 Return to Forever / Airto 10:15
9 Wave / Paul Desmond 6:17
10 Carly & Carole / Deodato 3:40
11 Brazil / Antonio Carlos Jobim Alternate Take 5:25

Disc 4
1 My Funny Valentine / Gerry Mulligan 8:46
2 All Blues / Ron Carter 9:32
3 Song to a Seagull / Don Sebesky 5:49
4 Pavane / Hubert Laws 7:41
5 What’ll I Do / Chet Baker 3:58
6 Westchester Lady / Bob James 7:25
7 A Child Is Born / Kenny Burrell 8:39
8 Take Five / George Benson 7:09
9 Concierto de Aranjuez / Jim Hall 19:19

MONSOON By Robert D. Kaplan

I realize this is the Holiday Season, but we mustn’t forget that global strategy never takes a holiday. Robert D. Kaplan’s eye-opening study of geo-political changes, Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power is a sobering look at a region that’s under most people’s radar. Yet, 90% of global commerce and 66% of all oil supplies travel by sea and much of it travels the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Part historical survey, part political analysis, part future forecast Monsoon makes sense out of a region that will grow in importance as China’s energy needs continue to grow. If you want to understand the power shifts fast approaching, you’ll find enlightenment in reading Monsoon. GRADE: A

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN: THE COMPLETE SERIES [DVD BOX SET]


Maybe it’s the stress of dealing with research papers, FINAL EXAMS, and the hideous end-of-semester stack of paperwork that caused me to retreat into the Marvel Universe to watch these 26 episodes of action adventures. For less than $20, this package provides 3 DVDs with over 10 hours of content including commentaries by the show’s creators. If you’re a fan of Wolverine and the rest of the X-Men (and women), you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this set. GRADE: A

THE TOURIST


The first half hour of The Tourist resembles a travelogue of Paris and Venice. Finally, after all the scenery, there’s some action and the plot lurches forward in fits and starts. The team who put this movie together seem more intent on making Angelina Jolie look a lot like Sophia Loren. Johnny Depp plays an understated role as a math teacher from Madison, Wisconsin who’s on vacation. There are holes in the plot you could drive an 18-wheeler through. Jolie and Depp have some good chemistry, but they aren’t given much to do. Wait to see this on cable or Netflix. GRADE: C+