“Let us consider a different murder,” said Hamza. “The scene changes. Look again at the faces of the victims. There is no recent passion in their expressions, no flushed cheek, no kiss-swollen lips. It was not love that drew them to that room, but silver and secrets. And it was not jealous fury that tore their lives from them. The spectral husband fades, and is replace by a colder shadow.” (p. 161)

Former Imperial Librarian Li Du returns to 18th Century Beijing in the capacity of a humble assistant to Inspector Sun of the North Borough Office. Li Du took the position to secretly access records about his former mentor, Shu. Shu was executed years ago as part of a plot against the Emperor. Since Li Du was Shu’s friend, Li Du was exiled. The Emperor later lifted that exile which allowed Li Du to return to Beijing.

But, before Li Du can solve the mystery of Shu, he’s confronted by a double murder at the Black Tile Factory. The wife of the owner and a government official were found stabbed to death. Li Du resists the obvious conclusion that this a crime of passion. Instead, Li Du finds himself drawn into a web of corruption and conspiracy in the imperial capital.

I’ve read the first two Li Du mysteries. You can read my review of Jade Dragon Mountain here and The White Mirror here. You don’t have to read the previous two books to enjoy City of Ink. I enjoyed these different historical mysteries. GRADE: A

I’ve seen Fiddler on the Roof five times and this version at the Shea’s Performing Arts Center is the best of the bunch. The story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman in the small Russian town of Anatevka in 1905, and his wife Golde and their five daughters lights up the stage in this updated musical. Director Barlett Sher’s staging for this touring company reflects his innovations for the Broadway production. Things are changing in Russia and those changes are reaching Tevye’s family. The musical starts with a song of “Tradition” which introduces one of the themes of this play. Tevye would like to stick with Tradition, but the marriages of his daughters test his resolve. Yehezkel Lazarov, who plays Tevye brilliantly in this touring version of Fiddler on the Roof, finds his ideals and religion tested as his daughters marry…untraditionally. I really enjoyed the performances of Mel Weyn as Tzeitel, Ruthy Froch as Hodel, and Natalie Powers as Chava. They sing the classic “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” in their innocence ignorant of the fates that await them. (My favorite is the bookish Chava!)

The dance sequences burst with energy, especially the fabulous Bottle Dance. Classic songs like “Sunrise, Sunset” and “If I Were a Rich Man” sound great! If this wonderful touring musical shows up in your neighborhood, I highly recommend it! GRADE: A
SONG LIST:
Act I
“Prologue: Tradition” – Tevye and Company
“Matchmaker, Matchmaker” – Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava
“If I Were a Rich Man” – Tevye
“Sabbath Prayer” – Tevye, Golde, Company
“To Life” – Tevye, Lazar Wolf, Russian soloist and Men
“Tevye’s Monologue” – Tevye
“Miracle of Miracles” – Motel
“Tevye’s Dream” – Tevye, Golde, Grandma Tzeitel, Rabbi, Fruma-Sarah and Company
“Sunrise, Sunset” – Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel and Company
“The Bottle Dance” – Instrumental
Act II
“Entr’acte” – Orchestra
“Now I Have Everything” – Perchik and Hodel
“Tevye’s Rebuttal” – Tevye
“Do You Love Me?” – Tevye and Golde
“The Rumor/I Just Heard” – Yente and Villagers §
“Far From the Home I Love” – Hodel
“Chavaleh (Little Bird)” – Tevye
“Anatevka” – The Company

Susan Shapiro teaches writing at Columbia University. The goal for each student is to get published before the semester is over. Shapiro has published hundreds of articles and a dozen books so she knows the publishing process. Susan Shapiro points out that several of her successful students were retirees. Writing about retirement and its problems is fertile ground for the Baby Boomer audience. Shapiro presents an approach to producing quality work and how to stay productive. She shows how to find markets for the material you write. If you’re considering writing for some extra income, The Byline Bible is a practical guide to getting your work published. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Dedication iii
Foreword / Peter Catapano (New York Times Editor) 1
Introduction 5
Chapter 1 — Where to start –Asssignment #1 13
Chapter 2 — The joy of getting killed 92
Chapter 3 — Finding your essay a home 102
Chapter 4 — Under cover 108
Chapter 5 — After yes: now what? 134
Chapter 6 — Writing regional –Assignment #2 146
Chapter 7 — It’s my opinion –Assignment #3 173
Chapter 8. — Selling short humor –Assignment #4 201
Chapter 9 — Secret service –Assignment #5
Chapter 10 — Pitch vs. writing 249
Glossary 258
Acknowledgements 262
About the Author 264
Index 265

Quarterback Nate Peterman (aka, “The Turnover Machine”) will be at the controls of the hapless Buffalo Bills offense today because the other two Bills QBs are hurt. The Bills opponent, the mighty Chicago Bears, is favored by 10 points. How will your favorite NFL fare today?

While we were in Boston visiting Katie (and seeing Hamilton) we also attended the Huntington Theatre Company’s play by Charles Marowitz, Sherlock’s Last Case. Maria Aitken directs a clever story where Sherlock is threatened by the son of Professor Moriarity. The staging alternates between Baker Street and a spooky cave. I enjoyed Rufus Collins as an arrogant Sherlock Holmes and Mark Zeisler as a frustrated Doctor Watson. Jane Ridley is a flighty Mrs. Hudson. Antoinette Robinson surprises as Liza Moriarity. And Malcolm Ingram presents a solid Inspector Lestrade. If you’re in the mood for a twisty Sherlock play, I recommend Sherlock’s Last Case. GRADE: B+

During the 1940s and 1950s, ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION magazine dominated the Science Fiction market. The best writers, the best stories, the best cover artwork found its way to the pages of the magazine edited by the legendary John W. Campbell. Alec Nevala-Lee’s well-written history, Astounding, shows how the key figures–Campbell, Asimov, Heinlein, and Hubbard–made that magazine the key factor in shaping the SF genre durning those decades.

I grew up reading Astounding as a kid. The Kelly Freas covers with the names of great Science Fiction writers inside were irresistible. I still treasure my July 1958 issue of Astounding Science Fiction featuring Jack Vance’s classic “The Miracle-Workers” on the cover. John W. Campbell was a “hands on” editor, frequently pitching ideas for stories to his stable of writers. Isaac Asimov gives credit to Campbell for assisting in the development of “The Three Laws of Robotics” and the “psychohistory” of the Foundation series.

Later, Campbell’s fascination with extrasensory perception and Dianetics caused Asimov and Heinlein to seek other markets. But for about 20 years, Astounding set the standard for the best Science Fiction could offer its loyal readers. If you want to know more about the history of SF, Astounding will enlighten and delight you! For another perspective on Astounding, James Wallace Harris offers an excellent review here. And Micheal Dirda’s fine review can be found here. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PROLOGUE: ASIMOV’S SWORD 1
PART I: WHO GOES THERE? (1907-1937) 15
1. The Boy from Another World (1910-1931) 17
2. Three Against the Gods (1907-1935) 35
3. Two Lost Souls (1931-1937) 53
PART II: GOLDEN AGE (1937-1941) 71
4. Brass Tacks (1937-1939) 73
5. The Analytical Laboratory (1938-1940) 99
6. In Times to Come (1939-1941) 127
PART III: THE INVADERS (1941-1945) 149
7. A Cold Fury (1941-1944) 151
8. The War of Inventions (1942-1944) 175
9. From “Deadline” to Hiroshima (1944-1945) 191
PART IV.: THE DOUBLE MINDS (1945-1951) 215
10. Black Magic and the Bomb (1945-1949) 217
11. The Modern Science of Mental Health (1945-1950) 241
12. The Dianetics Epidemic (1950-1951) 267
PART V: THE LAST EVOLUTION (1951-1971) 297
13. A Fundamental attack on the Problem (1951-1960) 299
14. Strangers in a Strange Land (1951-1969) 327
15. Twilight (1960-1971) 353
EPILOGUE: BEYOND THIS HORIZON 381
Acknowledgements 409
Notes 413
Bibliography 499
Index 509

Tana French livens up the Halloween season with a stand-alone novel, The Witch Elm. Toby Hennessy, a marketing guy at a small art gallery, confronts two intruders in his apartment in the middle of the night and gets beaten badly. Toby wakes up in a hospital with a concussion, broken ribs, and PTSD. The reader who is not used to Tana French’s ways might conclude The Witch Elm will center around Toby’s beating: who were those thugs? What were they stealing? Did someone hire them?

But, no. The Witch Elm pivots to IVY HOUSE and dying Uncle Hugo. Toby travels to be with his beloved uncle to recover from his injuries and to help a relative with cancer. But that isn’t what The Witch Elm is about, either. A body is found in the wych elm tree on Uncle Hugo’s property. Who is the dead man? Was he murdered? Who murdered him? The Witch Elm juggles several plots until the Big Reveal in the last 40 pages. If you’re a Tana French fan, you’ll enjoy this twisty mystery. If you’re looking for an absorbing crime novel, The Witch Elm will keep you guessing for all of its 501 pages. GRADE: B+

The “Cloudy Affair” costume is on sale for $49.95. The official description: “Uh oh! We sense a political scandal! Disclose all your dirty little secrets in this exclusive Cloudy Affair costume featuring a red mini dress with a plunging cowl neck, halter straps, a form-fitting skirt, a low open back, and large, foam, fake breasts. (Wig and mushroom not included.)”

I hope Stormy Daniels gets some royalties from this outfit! Enjoy a wonderful Halloween!

Director Roger Mitchell (best known for Notting Hill) sets up some cameras while legendary actresses Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi Dench, and Dame Joan Plowright chat about their careers, their husbands (Plowright was married to Sir Lawrence Olivier), and their futures. All four women are in their 80s and suffer from a number of physical problems. But, despite the years, these wonderful actresses liven up the screen talking about roles won and lost. Eileen Atkins admits to turning down the role of Cleopatra FOUR TIMES because she didn’t think she was beautiful enough. Roger Mitchell includes footage from various movies and archival clips of these actresses in action over the decades. These four friends have been meeting together for years and their interaction shows us another softer and funnier side to these stars.

My favorite line in Tea With the Dames comes from Judi Dench’s then husband, Michael Williams. Dench took the role of James Bond’s boss, M, when Williams told her, “I long to live with a Bond woman.” GRADE: A-

It’s been 10 years since the Buffalo Bills hosted a Monday Night Football game. ESPN executives must be pulling out their collective hair wondering why they’re broadcasting this potentially lopsided game. The New England Patriots have a 9-1 record playing the Bills in Buffalo over the past 10 seasons. The Patriots are averaging 31 points a game, the Bills score a meager 12 points a game. The Patriots are favorited by 14 points. Not good. The Bills’s best player, running back LeSean McCoy, is in Concussion Protocol. Looks bad for the home team tonight.