A few weeks ago I read Vivian Swift’s first book, When Wanderers Cease to Roam. You can read my review here. I was so delighted with Vivan Swift’s first book, I read her second book, Le Road Trip. Vivian, and her new husband James, travel to France to celebrate their marriage and to enjoy the country with the most tourists (71 million each year). Vivian is a seasoned traveler and you’ll find plenty of great travel tips in this book. She has a clever way of packing. Vivian knows her way around French restaurants and wine (only drink Bordeaux wines). Le Road Trip is a brilliant guide to traveling in Paris and the rest of France. Below, I’ve included a sample page. As you can see, Vivian provides plenty of eye-grabbing watercolors to illustrate her books. A book like this is a browser’s delight! GRADE: A

My sister in Arizona found a copy of THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON: A 35-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE edited by Terry Dowling with Richard Delap and Gil Lamont and sent it to me as a Christmas present. This 1200+ page tome presents the best of Ellison’s work. And, as usual, Ellison’s introductions and notes on his work grip you with their intensity. Harlan Ellison dominated the science fiction awards for years. The range of these stories is impressive. And the portrait of a young struggling writer slowly developing into a legendary figure will remain memorable. I came away from reading THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON wit renewed respect for the man and his work.
Table of Contents
Introduction : sublime rebel 1
Lagniappe 5
The sword of Parmagon 15
The Gloconda 21
The wilder one 27
The saga of Machine Gun Joe 29
Introduction to Glowworm 31
Glowworm 35
Life hutch 47
S.R.O. 59
Lonelyache 73
Punky and the Yale men 89
A prayer for no one’s enemy 113
Pulling hard time 131
In lonely lands 139
The time of the eye 145
Grail 153
I have no mouth, and I must scream 177
Corpse 191
The whimper of whipped dogs 199
The voice in the garden 219
Erotophobia 221
Mom 227
Ecowareness 239
The outpost undiscovered by tourists 241
Dept. of “what was the question?” dept 245
Dept. of “Trivial Pursuit” dept 247
Prince Myshkin, and hold the relish 251
The very last day of a good woman 261
Valerie : A true memoir 269
The other eye of Polyphemus 283
All the birds come home to roost 291
The tombs : an excerpt from Memos from purgatory 307
“Our little miss” 347
A love song for Jerry Falwell 355
Telltale tics and tremors 361
True love : groping for the Holy Grail 371
Adrift just off the Islets of Langerhans : latitude 38[degrees] 54’N, longitude 77[degrees] 00′ 13″W 391
The function of dream sleep 419
The sky is burning 447
The prowler in the city at the edge of the world 455
Along the scenic route 473
The song the zombie sang 483
Knox 495
With Virgil Oddum at the East Pole 509
From Alabamy, with hate 531
My father 543
My mother 549
Tired old man 557
Gopher in the gilly 567
Strange wine 573
The resurgence of Miss Ankle-Strap Wedgie 585
Flintlock : An unproduced teleplay 655
The man on the mushroom 735
Somehow, I don’t think we’re in Kansas, Toto 739
Face-down in Gloria Swanson’s swimming pool 755
Soldier 763
The night of delicate terrors 781
Shattered like a glass goblin 789
At the mouse circus 797
Free with this box! 809
Final shtick 817
One life, furnished in early poverty 827
Jeffty is five 841
Daniel White for the greater good 863
Neither your Jenny nor mine 873
Alive and well and on a friendless voyage 907
“Repent, harlequin!” said the Ticktockman 923
Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes 933
A boy and his dog 951
The deathbird 985
Paladin of the lost hour 1011
Soft monkey 1031
Mefisto in onyx 1043
Where I shall dwell in the next world 1089
The museum on Cyclops Avenue 1099
Objects of desire in the mirror are closer than they appear 1109
Man on spikes 1119
Introduction to “Tired old man” 1127
The man who rowed Christopher Columbus ashore 1131
The thick red moment 1151
The man who was heavily into revenge 1169
Driving in the spikes 1181
An edge in my voice, installment 55 1191
The streets, installment 1 1195
Xenogenesis 1199
Afterword 1237

Back in the Seventies when I was working on my doctorate at the Universality of Wisconsin-Madison, I developed a movie habit. Student film organizations showed movies (mostly foreign films) seemingly every night. Admission was a dollar. So I started going to movies almost every day for a year or so. I thought it might be a good way to meet girls, but I ended up being seduced by cinema.

Patton Oswalt, stand-up comic, spent four years watching a different film almost every day. He was addicted and spent a lot of time in the darkness of movie theaters all over the United States. What did Patton Aswalt learn about Life? Hard to say. If you’re in the mood for an occasionally funny romp through film references, you’ll enjoy this slim little book. The best part for me was the APPENDIX that logs all the movies Oswalt watched (and when and where). Are you a silver screen fiend? GRADE: B

Lizzie Borden and H. P. Lovecraft! Cherie Priest takes this mash-up and produces a thrilling adventure in Maplecroft. Lizbeth Borden and her handicapped sister, Emma, live in a mansion on the outskirts of Fall River, Massachusetts. But they are under attack by vicious creatures that smell of the sea. Dr. Owen Seabury, Fall River’s physician, finds himself drawn into the weird circumstances that surround the Borden sisters. Residents of Fall River are being stricken by a strange illness that sends them into a murderous spree. If you enjoy the fear and dread of Lovecraft’s tales, you’ll enjoy this compelling story of dark forces and two women who fight against them. GRADE: B+

Michael Caine plays a retired composer/conductor. Harvey Keitel plays an 80-year-old movie director who is trying to make one last film that will be his “testament.” Both men are friends and are spending time at an exclusive spa in Switzerland. Caine is concerned about his daughter (played by Rachel Weisz). This is a film about aging and legacy. Geezers will find a lot to think about in this movie. GRADE: B

Bob Dylan, All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track weighs five pounds. It’s 704 pages long. And, it does what it purports to do: tell the story of every song Bob Dylan has ever recorded. I, of course, went directly to the pages on “Like a Rolling Stone.” The list of the musicians, the details of the recording studio, the technical team, the genesis and Lyrics, and a discussion of the 20 “takes” provided in a lot of details. That’s the template for most of the hundreds of songs included in this volume. There’s a photo (or two!) on practically every page. For Dylan fans, this is a must-buy. You could re-title this book The Encyclopedia of Bob Dylan and not be far off the mark. What’s your favorite Dylan song? GRADE: A

Diane and I have tickets for Pippin at the Sheas Performing Arts Theater today. This is the “revival” version of Pippin that won a Tony a few years ago. Our local theater reviewer was lukewarm about this touring version. He thought the acrobatic aspects were overdone. Today, you can’t let the audience get comfortable, it seems. Have you seen the original Pippin? Or this touring version? What did you think of Pippin?

ADDENDUM Pippin was a lot like watching Cirque du Soleil. Eye-popping acrobatics and impressive sexual trapeze work! John Rubinstein, the original Pippin back in the Seventies, was playing the role of Charles in this version. The audience was enthusiastic and cheered the cast. GRADE: B

These short essays were published by The New York Times over the past few years. It took me week to read my way through this 674-page book. I liked “Hegel on Wall Street” by J. M. Bernstein and “Is Philosophy LIterature?” by Jim Holt best. Just about every philosophical subject is covered here. If you have any interest in philosophy, this is the mother lode! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
SECTION ONE: PHILOSOPHY
Prefatory Note
Philosophy. New impressions of an old profession
What is a Philosopher? Simon Critchley
The flight of curiosity Justin E. H. Smith
Philosophy as an Art of Dying Costica Bradatan
Philosophy–What’s the Use? Gary Gutting
In the Cave: Philosophy and Addiction Peg O’Connor
Women in Philosophy? Do the Math Sally Haslanger
What’s Wrong with Philosophy? Linda Martin Alcoff
The Disappearing Women Rae Langton
The Difficulty of Philosophy Alexander George
The philosophical Dinner Party Frieda Klotz
When Socrates Met Phaedrus: Eros in Philosophy Simon Critchley
The geography of philosophy
The Enlightenment’s “Race” Problem, and Ours Justin E. H. Smith
Kung Fu for Philosophers Peimin Ni
Bridging the Analytic-Continental Divide Gary Gutting
Of Cannibals, Kings and Culture: The Problem of Ethnocentricity Adam Etinson
Found in Translation Hamid Dabashi
Born Again in a Second Language Costica Bradatan
Philosophy’s Western Bias Justin E. H. Smith
Rethinking thinkers
Spinoza’s Vision of Freedom, and Ours Steven Nadler
Of Hume and Bondage Simon Blackburn
A Feminist Kant Carol Hay
Sartre and Camus in New York Andy Martin
Kiekegaard’s Antigone Ulrika Carlsson
Freud’s Radical Talking Benjamin Y. Fong
Was Wittgenstein Right? Paul Horwich
Old problems, new spins
Experiments in Philosophy Joshua Knobe
Your Move: The Maze of Free Will Galen Strawson
The Limits of the Coded World William Egginston
On Modern Time Espen Hammer
Logic and Neutrality Timothy Williamson
Paradoxical Truth Graham Priest
The Drama of Existentialism Gary Gutting
Reasons for Reason Michael P. Lynch
Reclaiming the Imagination Timothy Williamson
Art There Natural Human Rights? Michael Boylan
Philosophy, literature and life
Is Philosophy Literature? Jim Holt
Does Great Literature Make Us Better? Gregory Currie
Stormy Weather: Blues in Winter Avital Ronell
Poetry, Medium and Message Ernie Lepore
Boxing Lessons Gordon Marino
The Practical and the Theoretical Jason Stanley
The Meaningfulness of Lives Todd May
The Spoils of Happiness David Sosa
SECTION TWO: SCIENCE
Prefatory Note
Science. Can science explain everything?
What is Naturalism? Timothy Williamson
Why I Am a Naturalist Alex Rosenberg
On Ducking Challenges to Naturalism Timothy Williamson
The Core of Mind and Cosmos Thomas Nagel
Things Fall Apart Philip Kitcher
The evolution of right and wrong
Moral Camouflage or Moral Monkeys? Peter Railton
Evolution and Our Inner Conflict Edward O. Wilson
If Peas Can Talk, Should We Eat Them? Michael Marder
The Future of Moral Machines Colin Allen
Cambridge, Cabs and Copenhagen: My Route to Existential Risk Huw Price
Where is my mind?
Mary and the Zombies: Can Science Explain Consciousness? Gary Gutting
A Real Science of Mind Tyler Burge
Out of Our Brains Andy Clark
Do Thrifty Brains Make Better Minds? Andy Clark
Blinded by neuroscience?
Bursting the Neuro-utopian Bubble Benjamin Y. Fong
Bodies in Motion: An Exchange Alex Rosenberg & William Egginton
Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will? Eddy Nahmias
Is the “Dumb Jock” Really a Nerd? Jason Stanley & John W Krakauer
The social impact of science
Learning How to Die in the Anthropocene Roy Scranton
Can Neuroscience Challenge Roe v. Wade?
Depression and the Limits of Psychiatry Gary Gutting
Why are States so Red and Blue? Steven Pinker
The Enigma of Chinese Medicine Stephen T. Asma
The Dangers of Pseudoscience Massimo Pigliucci & Maarten Baudry
Can we live with uncertainty?
Nothing to See Here: Demoting the Uncertainty Principle Craig Callender
The Dangers of Certainty: A Lesson from Auschwitz Simon Critchley
The Riddle of the Human Species Edward O. Wilson
SECTION THREE: RELIGION & MORALS
Prefatory Note
What is faith?
Philosophy and Faith Gary Gutting
Mystery and Evidence Time Crane
The Rigor of Love Simon Critchley
Does It Matter Whether God Exists? Gary Gutting
The Importance of the Afterlife. Seriously Samuel Scheffler
The varieties of religious disagreement
In Praise of the Clash of Cultures Carlos Fraenkel
What’s Wrong with Blasphemy? Andrew F. March
Why I love Mormonism Simon Critchley
An Imperfect God Yoram Hazony
The Politics of the Binding of Isaac Omri Boehm
On Questioning the Jewish State Joseph Levine
The Freedom of Faith: A Christmas Sermon Simon Critchley
Morality’s God problem
Good Minus God Louise M. Antony
Morals Without God? Frans de Wall
The Sacred and the Humane Anat Biletzki
Confessions of an Ex-Moralist Joel Marks
Are We Ready for a “Morality Pill”? Peter Singer & Agata Sagan
The Light at the End of Suffering Peg O’Connor
Some hard moral cases
The Maze of Moral Relativism Paul Boghossian
Is Pure Altruism Possible? Judith Lichtenberg
The Living Death of Solitary Confinement Lisa Guenther
Should This Be the Last Generation? Peter Singer
The Meat Eaters Jeff McMahan
Think Before You Breed Christine Overall
On Forgiveness Charles L. Grisworld
Questions for Free-Market Moralists Amia Srinivasan
The Myth of Universal Love Stephen T. Asma
SECTION FOUR: Society
Prefatory Note
Economics and politics
Hegel on Wall Street J. M. Bernstein
What is Economics Good For? Alex Rosenberg & Tyler Curtain
The Taint of “Social Darwinism” Philip Kitcher
The Veil of Opulence Benjamin Hale
Dependents of the Sate Amia Srinivanson
The Failure of Rational Choice Philosophy John McCumber
Mandela’s Socialist Failure Slavoj Zizek
When Hope Tramples Truth Roger Scruton
The modern family
Is Forced Fatherhood Fair? Laurie Shrage
“Mommy Wars” Redux: A False Conflict Amy Allen
When Culture, Power and Sex Collide Linda Martin Alcoff
Lady Power Nancy Bauer
The End of “Marriage” Laurie Shrage
Black, white or other
Fugitive Slave Mentality Robert Gooding-Williams
Walking While Black in the “White Gaze” George Yaney
Getting Past the Outrage on Race Gary Gutting
A Lesson From Cuba on Race Alejandro de la Fuente
Is the United States a “Racial Democracy”? Jason Stanley & Vesla Weaver
What if Occupied Language H. Samy Alim
Does Immigration Mean “France is Over”? Just E. H. Smith
Freedom from the barrel of a gun
Who Needs a Gun? Gary Gutting
The Weapons Continuum Michael Boylan
The Freedom of an Armed Society Firmin DeBrabander
Is American Nonviolence Possible? Todd May
The Moral Hazard of Drones John Kaag & sarah Kreps
A Crack in the Stoic’s Armor Nancy Sherman
Rethinking the “Just War” Jeff McMahan
This American life
The Gospel According to “Me” Simon Critchley & Jamieson Wester
Deluded Individualism Firmin DeBrabander
The Very Angry Tea Party J. M. Berstein
Is Our Patriotism Moral? Gary Gutting
The Cycle of Revenge Simon Critchley
What is a “Hacktivist”? Peter Ludlow
The Myth of “Just Do It” Barbara Gail Montero
How to Live Without Irony Christy Wampole
Navigating Past Nihilism Sean D. Kelly
Acknowledgements
Contributors

I finally saw Creed which is basically a retelling of the Rocky story. Michael B. Jordan plays a young boxer from Los Angeles who travels to Philly to ask Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him. Rocky recognizes that this kid is really the son of his opponent Apollo Creed. Initially, Rocky resists but then gives in through guilt and starts training the young fighter. You know how the story goes. The kid trains hard ends up getting an offer to fight the World Champion in Liverpool, England. The Heavy-weight Champion, Pretty Rick Conlan, is bigger, faster, meaner. The fight scenes are intense and gripping. I’m not a boxing fan, but this film really moved me. GRADE: B+

Back in the Sixties, I read Sax Rohmer novels as fast as Pyramid Books would publish them. I was fascinated by the Fu Manchu series, but I also enjoyed Rohmer’s Gaston Max mysteries, The Yellow Claw and The Golden Scorpion. Plenty of action and suspense power these adventures. William Patrick Maynard’s informative Introduction puts Rohmer and these two novels in perspective. Stark House should be applauded for bringing these two spooky novels back into print in such a nice package!