I’ve been reading John Cheever since the 1960s. In brilliant stories like “The Swimmer,” “The Enormous Radio,” and “Goodbye, My Brother” Cheever revealed himself to be a master story-teller. True, Cheever had plenty of demons. But he managed to keep the demons at bay long enough to produce some of the best short stories of the 20th Century. I’ve read Cheever’s novels, too. While they don’t reach the heights of Cheever’s short stories, his novels are witty, sly, and underrated. Celebrate what would have been Cheever’s 100th Birthday today by reading something Cheever wrote!

Worth It…Not Worth It? cares the subtitle: Simple & Profitable Answers to Life’s Tough Financial Questions. Should you use a credit union or bank? Should you renovate the kitchen or finish the basement? (Or do both as Diane is considering!) Buy stocks or mutual funds? This slim volume explains aspects of the most common financial problems in clear, simple language. It weights the options and presents a rationale for choosing one option over another. Yes, you can probably find this information in books five or six times the size of Worth It…Not Worth It? But it would be a rare finance book that would lay out the information this neatly. I’m using this book in my INVESTMENTS class next Fall Semester. GRADE:
A

Harry Whittington wrote in every genre except science fiction. Versatility was his strong suit. That skill comes into play in The Devil Wears Wings. The Devil Wears Wings is a caper novel. Buz Johnson was an ace pilot in World War II and Korea. But once he leaves the military, Johnson spirals down, down, down. The cause of most of Johnson’s problems is alcohol. When the story opens, Buz Johnson has been reduced to giving flying lessons in a small Florida town. Johnson is approached by creepy Sid Coates who has a scheme to make both of them rich. Coates needs a pilot to fly a plane to make his bank robbery plan work. Reluctantly, Buz Johnson agrees to fly the get-away-plane. Whittington, as always, throws in plenty of plot twists and turns. If you haven’t read Harry Whittington, The Devil Wears Wings is a good place to start.

Our Holiday Inn in Brookline had HBO so Sunday night at 10:30 P.M. we watched Julia Louis Dreyfus in VEEP. Dreyfus plays Selena Meyer, Vice President of the United States. Anna Chlumsky stands out as Dreyfus’ loyal and plucky assistant. Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, and Reid Scott are Dreyfus’ staff of political wonks. There’s plenty of political paranoia and shady shenanigans…as you might expect in a political comedy. I was less impressed by the overuse of four-letter words. Some people find them funny. I don’t. As for my opinion of VEEP, let’s just say we’re not signing up for HBO.

Jonah Lehrer’s breezy guide to creativity is filled with wonderful stories. My favorite is how Mattel produced the Barbie doll and created the first billion dollar toy. Lehrer explores the elements of creativity. He suggests certain cities produce great ideas and products because of the way they’re designed. Why is General Electric the only company still existing from the original Dow Jones average? Imagine presents plenty of examples and research. Lehrer makes sense out of all the information in an entertaining, yet enlightening, manner. Worth a look! GRADE: A

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel stars Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Around these two women, the rest of the ensemble revolve. Fans of Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, and Penelope Wilton, will love this movie about a group of aging Brits who stay at a run-down hotel in India. Based on the 2004 novel, These Foolish Things, by Deborah Moggach, the film offers fun and some serious moments. John Madden, director of Shakespeare in Love, keeps things moving. A light, but entertaining movie. GRADE: B+

Boston College’s graduation ceremonies are today. By the time you read this, Diane, Patrick, and I will be heading over to the BC campus. Katie will stroll across the stage in a few hours and accept her Master’s Degree. Then, the job hunt begins. But the field of Elder Care is growing so I’m sure Katie will find a good job. Katie wants to stay in Boston so that narrows the job search. Congratulations, Katie!

George Pelecanos sets What It Was back in the 1970s. A psychopathic killer who calls himself Red Fury is on a rampage. When Fury steals the heroin that belonged to the Mafia, a couple contract killers are sent out to deal with the problem. Homicide Detective Frank Vaughn is also on the trail of Red Fury. Vaughn finds former cop, Derek Strange, involved in the case, too. If you’ve read any of Pelecanos’ work, you know that the writing is tight, the plot is supercharged, and the violence is graphic. I’ve enjoyed all the Pelecanos novels I’ve read. GRADE: B+

Narek Hakhnazaryan, the brilliant cellist, was born in 1988. Can you remember what you were doing in 1988? That makes Hakhnazaryan 24 years old. He may be young in years, but he plays with passion and talent. Noreen Cassidy-Polera accompanied Hakhnazaryan on a new Steinway with panache. The Ramsi Tick Concert Series audience gave Hakhnazaryan and Cassidy-Polera several standing ovations (I was one of them). If this duo shows up in your town, they’re well worth hearing.
PROGRAM:
Fantasiestucke, Op. 73 Robert Schumann
Sonata in A Major Cesar Franck
Sonata Gyorgi Ligeti
Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Nocturne, Op 16, No. 54 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Introduction &
Polonaise Billiante, Op. 3 Federic Chopin