Kyra Sedgwick, who plays the lead character on The Closer, decided she would make this her final season as Brenda Leigh Johnson. “I want to leave when we’re on top,” Sedgwick said. The ensemble cast will go on in 2012 as a spin-off, Major Crimes. But, without Kyra Sedgwick, I’m doubtful about its success. Until then, we’ll have a dozen or so episodes of The Closer to enjoy. I plan to enjoy every moment.

Tonight on Masterpiece Mystery Julia McKenzie returns as Miss Marple. The Pale Horse was not a Miss Marple book. This is another case of the BBC folks taking Christie’s non-Poirot and non-Marple mysteries and adapting them to feature Christie’s famous characters. There’s a murdered priest and the death of a young, rich heiress. The book played up the witchcraft and occult angles to the murders. It will be interesting to see how much this Miss Marple version of The Pale Horse deviates from the book. It’s not one of the stronger Christies. GRADE: B

When I read Garry Wills’ critical review of All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age where Wills dismisses the book as “shallow and inept” I knew I had to read it. Wills is partly right. All Things Shining is not a deep book. It cites familiar texts (The Odyssey, Moby Dick, The Inferno, etc.) and doesn’t add much new. However, if you’re a person who wants a guide to these classic works, All Things Shining will fit the bill. The only goofy part of the book is the authors’ assertion that David Foster Wallace is the “best mind of his generation” (actually A.O. Scott of the NY TIMES said it first). Infinite Jest weighs in at over a 1000 pages and, trust me, it was a grind to finish reading it. That caveat aside, All Things Shining competently explores these works in an unexciting fashion. GRADE: B-

The genre of High Adventure is languishing today. But a century ago, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Talbot Mundy, and Harold Lamb filled plenty of pulp magazines with great adventure fiction. Bison Press is reprinting Harold Lamb’s wonderful stories. The first volume, Wolf of the Steppes published in 2006, collects some of Harold Lamb’s best work. Lamb’s Cossack character Khlit is a rogue who survives by his wits, and when that fails, he uses his skill with his sword. Khlit’s adventures traveling the steppes are presented in order for the first time in this fat volume. The pages fly by as you read about the marvels and the dangers of fabled cities and crafty barbarians. If you’re looking for that “sense of wonder,” you’ll find it between the covers of Wolf of the Steppes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Khlit
Wolf’s War
Tal Taulai Khan
Alamut
The Mighty Manslayer
The White Khan
Changa Nor
Roof of the World
The Star of Evil Omen
The Rider of the Gray Horse
Appendix
About the Author
Source Acknowledgments

Saul Frampton’s biographical analysis of Michael de Montaigne’s Essays and Travel Journal motivated me to drop everything and reread some of Montaigne’s great essays. When I Am Playing With My Cat, How Do I know That She Is Not Playing With Me: Montaigne and Being in Touch With Life presents a chronological approach to Montaigne’s life and works. Frampton relates the essays to incidents in Montaigne’s life and illuminates the connection between family and friends and the writings. If you’re a fan of Montaigne, you’ll find plenty of valuable insights in Frampton’s book. Now, I have to drop everything (again) and reread more of Montaigne’s essays. GRADE: A

I’ve been discharged from Rehab. My surgeon will be pulling out the surgical stables later today so I should be more comfortable after that’s done (the staples are starting to pinch). My gastric system, which was shut down by the anesthesia and narcotic pain killers, is back up and running. I’m walking around with a cane. I have a PT session scheduled for Monday. I have about a month and a half to recuperate before the Fall Semester begins. Life is Good.

For those of you who contemplate Major Surgery, my advice is to expect the unexpected. My total knee replacement surgery when perfectly. Yet, who knew I would be affected by ileus where I had an NG2 tube put down my nose into my stomach to suck out four quarts of gunk. And then I had an upper GI X-ray where I had to drink a goopy, oily concoction that would reveal if I had an blockages (I didn’t). But the witch’s brew started up my excretory system so I’m grateful for that.

I learned something I’ve always suspected: narcotics are Evil. In my case, the narcotic pain killers caused more problems than the surgery itself. Avoid them! I’m managing my pain with Tylenol. And exercise.

Diane supported me during this adventure in SurgeryLand. She made sure I was getting the best care while I was struggling. Diane kept friends and family informed of my progress. She is a gem.

Thank you all for your kind wishes and goodies. I’m glad to be back to blogging!

Moment in the Sun weighs in at 955 pages. That alone will turn many readers off. I think John Sayles made a strategic mistake when he decided that Moment in the Sun would have an ensemble of characters. Sadly, the center does not hold. Moment in the Sun involves its characters in the war for the Philippines (1898-1902). With the dozens of characters, I had a few favorites. I was moved by Hod, the reluctant boxer and soldier; Dr. Lunceford, a proud African-American physician who loses everything to racism; and Royal, an African-American solider with some of the worst luck in the world. Sayles is intent on showing the follies of Imperialism and sometimes that gets in the way of the story, too. There’s also the most graphic scene of a child-birth that I’ve ever read. But the sum doesn’t add up to all the parts. GRADE: B

Matthew Hughes is best known for channeling Jack Vance and producing quality SF novels like Majestrum and The Spiral Labyrinth. With The Damned Busters, Hughes channels Thorne Smith (of Topper fame). Chesney Anstruther accidentally summons a demon and all Hell breaks loose…literally. The demons in Hell go on strike. Chesney finds himself caught up in various shenanigans including being a superhero with some unique powers. If you’re looking for something light and frothy to read, The Damned Busters would make a perfect novel for the beach. GRADE: B

Charles Baxter has long been one of my favorite short story writers. Gryphon is the perfect place for readers who want to sample Baxter’s work. The title story is narrated by a young boy whose classroom has been transformed by an unusual substitute teacher. Baxter’s characters find themselves in situations that spin out of their control. What impresses me about Charles Baxter’s stories is the variety of subjects he’s able to write about convincingly: oldsters who are shop-lifters, lovers who are in the midst of breaking up, a doctoral student who can’t seem to finish his dissertation, crime and punishment. If you want to read some of the best stories being written today, I recommend Gryphon. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Would-be Father
Horace and Margaret’s Fifty-second
Harmony of the World
Winter Journey
Surprised by Joy
The Eleventh Floor
Gryphon
Fenstad’s Mother
Westland
Shelter
Snow
The Disappeared
Kiss Away
The Next Building I Plan to Bomb
Flood Show
The Cures for Love
Poor Devil
Ghosts
Royal Blue
The Old Murderer
Mr. Scary
The Cousins
The Winner