Jerry House, Jeff Meyerson, and many other commentators on this blog love the music of the 1960s. When I stumbled across this CD in a Salvation Army thrift store, I realized I hadn’t heard some of these songs for decades. Yes, included on this compilation disc are very familiar songs like Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party” and The Platter’s “Red Sails in the Sunset.” But, when’s the last time you listened to “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” by The Shangri-las? Or The Secrets’ “The Boy Next Door.” How many of these songs do you remember?

The only song I remember from one of the Proms I attended was “The Look of Love” which is a great Slow Dance song. Do you remember your Prom? GRADE: B+

TRACK LIST:

As the war between the evil vampires of the Red Court and the White Council of Wizards heats up, rogue Wizard Harry Dresden is “drafted” by the White Council as a Warden and tasked with defending Chicago. Almost immediately, Dresden explores the horrific events at a film festival. Dresden discovers the daughter of one of his closest friends is involved in Black Magic.

As usual, the action of the novel increases page by page. Dresden’s talking skull, Bob, plays a key role in the plot. There are several battles in Proven Guilty but the last confrontation may be the best in the series so far. Jim Butcher knows how to ratchet up the suspense and danger. If you’re looking for a fast and furious Summer Read, I recommend Proven Guilty. GRADE: B+

Patti Abbott and I have expressed our longing for theater on this blog several times. Fortunately, Terry Teachout of the WALL STREET JOURNAL has provide some alternatives for theater lovers during the coronavirus pandemic. The first was the online availability of ACT ONE and next was THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Now, Teachout recommends the American Player Theatre (in Wisconsin) for two more online plays: Shaw’s Arms and the Man and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Sure, some people might not find the ZOOM format appealing, but beggars can’t be choosers. If you have a hankering for theater, here are two plays that might delight you. Both plays are available for free at pbswisconsin.org/out-of-the-woods until July 26.

Of the essays in Private Investigations, I like the ones that dealt with the author’s writing career best. Jeffrey Deaver’s “Plot Twists: This Writer’s Life” tells how Deaver left his job as a lawyer to become a successful thriller writer. I admire Cara Black’s “Field Notes a la Maigret From Paris,” where Black shows how her love of George Simenon’s novels about Parisian police inspector Maigret led her to writing 19 books in her Private Investigator Aimee Leduc series set in Paris.

The most moving essay (for me) was William Kent Krueger’s story about his mentally ill mother who was an alcoholic and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. I was engrossed in Jacqueline Winspear’s “Writing About War” which shows how her experience of war as a child impacted her writing in the Maisie Dobbs series (a former World War I nurse who becomes a private investigator).

Carole Nelson Douglas’s “Godfathers, Nancy Drew, and Cats” explores the impacts of various events on her writing career. This collection ends appropriately with Anne Perry’s “I Want to Be a Magician” which captures the spirit of her writing. If you want to know more about these writers, these essays reveal some hidden truths, insights, and fascinating background stories. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction : solving the mystery / Victoria Zackheim — 1
Ghosted / Hallie Ephron — 7
Plot twists : this writer’s life / Jeffrey Deaver — 21
An extra child / Sulari Gentill — 33
Field notes à la Maigret from Paris / Cara Black — 45
Lydia and Jack / Connie May Fowler — 57
The land of the morning calm (and other military mysteries) / Martin Limón — 81
The clay that we shape / William Kent Krueger — 95
Origins and destinations / Ausma Zehanat Khan — 105
A trick of the light / Kristen Lepionka — 110
The mystery of deception / Lynn Cahoon — 131
The long shadow of war / Rhys Bowen — 143
I don’t know this word / Rachel Howzell Hallie — 155
The beams keep falling / Steph Cha — 175
Writing about war / Jacqueline Winspear — 187
Can we live without mystery? / Tasha Alexander — 207
Godfathers, Nancy Drea, and cats / Carole Nelson Douglas — 221
The mystery of my lost voice / Caroline Leavitt — 243
Remembering the dead / Charles Todd — 259
Nuns, magic, and Steven King / Robert Dugoni — 273
I want to be a magician / Anne Perry — 287

Acknowledgements — 301

About the Contributors — 303

Diane and I were walking around TARGET when I noticed a display of Good & Gather Sparkling Water. Several flavors were displayed, but the one that caught my eye was the Ginger Peach Sparkling Water. I love ginger and I love peaches so this looked really good. So, I bought an 8-pack.

Part of the problem of trying New Things is that the result might be Disappointment. When I tasted a glass of Good & Gather Ginger Peach Sparkling Water I didn’t taste any ginger. And, I didn’t taste any peach. All I tasted was fizz.

Do you drink sparkling water? Do you have a favorite? GRADE: F

The winters in Western New York can be harsh. Arctic temperatures, blizzards, heavy snow, and treacherous ice abound. As a result, our roads deteriorate from the wild temperature changes. Our street was full of potholes set to damage vehicle suspensions and create tire wear. Fortunately, our city government decided to use some of the coronavirus money they received to pave streets that needed it.

Two days ago a team of workers showed up and stripped out street down to bedrock. Yesterday, another team showed and paved our street. It was stinky. But, today, these photos show you what the finished job looks like: smooth as glass! How are the roads in your community?

Here we are at the penultimate volume of The Great SF Stories series. Volume 24 features the best of 1962, a time where I was reading Science Fiction novels and short stories almost every day. I remember being wowed by Cordwainer Smith’s “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell.” Poul Anderson’s powerful “Kings Who Die” impressed my 14-year-old mind. R. A. Lafferty’s “Seven-Day Terror” remains one of my favorite Lafferty stories of all time. Harry Harrison caused waves with “The Streets of Ashkelon” with its religious aspects.

Do you remember these stories? Any favorites here? GRADE: A-

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by Martin H. Greenberg – 9

1. “The Insane Ones” by J. G. Ballard (AMAZING, January 1962) – 15
2. “Christmas Treason” by James White (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, January 1962) – 29
3. “Seven-Day Terror” by R. A. Lafferty (IF, March 1962) – 59
4. “Kings Who Die” by Poul Anderson (IF, March 1962) – 69
5. “The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity” by Fritz Leiber (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, March 1962) – 109
6. “Hang Head, Vandal!” by Mark Clifton (AMAZING, April 1962) – 121
7. “The Weather Man” by Theodore L. Thomas (ANALOG, June 1962) – 139
8. “Earthlings Go Home!” by Mack Reynolds (ROGUE, August 1962) – 185
9. “The Streets of Ashkelon” by Harry Harrison (NEW WORLDS, September 1962) – 195
10. “When You Care, When You Love” by Theodore Sturgeon (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, September 1962) – 215
11. “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell” by Cordwainer Smith (GALAXY, October 1962) – 267
12. “Gadget vs. Trend” by Christopher Anvil (ANALOG, October 1962) – 295
13. “Roofs of Silver” by Gordon R. Dickson (MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, December 1962) – 315

This CD compilation is the only ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY one I own. Back in the 1990s, it seemed like everyone was putting out CD compilations from Rolling Stone to Starbucks. Some of these selections don’t strike me as “Rock Anthems.” Take America’s “Horse With No Name” for example. Or Gary Wright’s “Dream Weaver.” I confess my ears have been burned out by Don McLean’s “American Pie” which was played unceasingly back in the day. Fortunately, this set is redeemed by one of Maggie Mason’s favorites: Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” What do you think of these “Rock Anthems”? GRADE: B

TRACK LIST:

DISC 1:

1-1–Free All Right Now Written-By – Fraser*, Rodgers*

1-2–Rod Stewart Maggie May Written-By – Quittenton*, Stewart*

1-3–Elton John Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me Written-By – Taupin*, John*

1-4–Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama Written-By – King*, Rossington*, Van Zant*

1-5–The Guess Who American Woman Written-By – Cummings*, Peterson*, Kale*, Bachman*

1-6–The Allman Brothers *Ramblin’ Man Written-By – Betts*

1-7–Robert Palmer A ddicted To Love Written-By – Palmer*

1-8–America (2) Horse With No Name Written-By – Bunnell*

1-9–Humble Pie Hot ‘N’ Nasty Written-By – Clempson*, Ridley*, Shirley*, Marriott*

1-10–Golden Earring Radar Love Written-By – Hay*, Kooymans*

1-11–Boston More Than A Feeling Written-By – Scholz*

1-12–Rick Derringer Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo Written-By – Derringer*

DISC 2:

2-1–Blood, Sweat And Tears And When I Die Written-By – Nyro*

2-2–Grand Funk Railroad We’re An American Band Written-By – Brewer*

2-3–Don McLean American Pie Written-By – McLean*

2-4–Quiet Riot Cum On Feel The Noize Written-By – Jim Lea, Holder*

2-5–Nazareth (2) Love Hurts Written-By – Bryant*

2-6–Bachman-Turner Overdrive Takin’ Care Of Business Written-By – Bachman*

2-7–Gary Wright Dream Weaver Written-By – Wright*

2-8–Foreigner Cold As Ice Written-By – Grammatico*, Jones*

2-9–Iron Butterfly In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Written-By – Ingle*

2-10–Jefferson Airplane White Rabbit Written-By – Grace Slick

2-11–Alice Cooper School’s Out Written-By – Dunaway*, Buxton*, Bruce*, Smith*, Furnier*

2-12–Three Dog Night Joy To The World Written-By – Axton*

The 9th book in the Harry Dresden series features Dresden in a desperate quest to clear his vampire brother, Thomas, from a cunning plot by powerful Magical Interests.

Harry Dresden, professional Wizard and Private Investigator for the City of Chicago, grew up an orphan. His upbringing included a lot of physical and mental abuse which explains his taciturn disposition. But, as we Harry Dresden fans all know, Harry has a heart of gold under his gruff exterior. So when Harry’s brother, Thomas, is in Big Trouble, Harry throws caution to the winds to save him.

In addition, Harry takes on a mentorship role of Molly, a teenager who dabbled in Black Magic. Harry accepts his role despite the provision that if Molly ever resorts to Black Magic again, she–and he–will be executed by the White Council of Wizards.

There’s a lot going on in White Nights and the pages turn with rapidity. If you’re looking for escapist reading, here it is! GRADE: B+

Patti Abbott, in a comment over this past weekend, mentioned how much she misses live theater. So do I. I read Terry Teachout’s theater column in the WALL STREET JOURNAL which praised the UK’s National Theatre web site that offers free plays for a limited time. I’m hoping Skylight shows up later this summer, but for now until July 16 you can watch The Deep Blue Sea.

Terence Rattigan‘s The Deep Blue Sea contains one of the greatest female roles in contemporary drama, played by Helen McCrory. Here’s the link:

Helen McCrory plays Hester Collyer and Tom Burke is Freddie Page, a couple dealing with Serious Problems. Yes, there are occasional laughs, but the core of The Deep Blue Sea centers around love and despair. The play is available for free through July 16. Then, another play will be made available. This isn’t ideal, but beggars can’t be choosers. GRADE: B+