Those of you who are fans of old radio programs will want to experience the hilarious spoof of those hard-boiled private eye series provided by the wacky Firesign Theatre company. This 4-CD box set includes for the first time such legendary performances such as “Cut ‘Em Off at the Past,” “The Case of the Missing Shoe,” “The Three Faces of Al,” plus rare and unreleased skits with take-offs on commercials, too. I’d like to say these CDs would be perfect for a long driving trip, but there’s a risk you might be laughing so hard you might drive off the road listening to this stuff. I’ve been a fan of the Firesign Theatre since the Sixties. Their clever, entertaining, and twisted homages to Old Time Radio programs will delight you. Take a listen to the sample below. GRADE: A

Snakes. Lots and lots of snakes. That’s what you’re going to encounter when reading S. J. Bolton’s second novel, Awakening. Clara Benning, a veterinary surgeon, is called in when a spooky plague of serpents invades her small English village. Like Sacrifice, Bolton’s first novel, Awakening generates plenty of suspense as the plot unfolds. The roots of the mystery stretch into the past and Clara’s investigations invite further violence. The pages flew by when I read this gripping novel. GRADE: B+

Despicable Me features a super-villain called Gru who wants to steal the moon. His nemesis, Vector the other super-villain, steals a shrinking-ray gun that’s essential to Gru’s masterplan. As part of his nefarious plot, Gru adopts three cute little girls. And that’s when his plans go off the rails. The girls change Gru…for the better. The graphics are amazing and the story is surprisingly touching. And you’ll love Gru’s little minions. GRADE: B

This concert was filmed in June, 2009 in High-Definition. The sound is sharp and clean, unlike some concert DVDs I’ve heard (U2 comes to mind). I didn’t notice any low points in this 3-hour concert. It’s all good. GRADE: A
TRACK LISTING:
1. London Calling
2. Badlands
3. Night
4. She’s The One
5. Outlaw Pete
6. Out In The Street
7. Working On A Dream
8. Seeds
9. Johnny 99
10. Youngstown
11. Good Lovin’
12. Bobby Jean
13. Trapped
14. No Surrender
15. Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
16. The Promised Land
17. Racing In The Street
18. Radio Nowhere
19. Lonesome Day
20. The Rising
21. Born To Run
22. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
23. Hard Times (Come Again No More)
24. Jungleland
25. American Land
26. Glory Days
27. Dancing In The Dark
28. Credits (Raise Your Hand)Raise Your Hand (Instrumental)
29. The River (Glastonbury)
30. Wrecking Ball (Live at Giants Stadium)

The river – bruce springsteen live 2009 glastonbury
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Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a geeky twenty-something who meets the girl of his dreams (literally!), Ramona Flowers (a girl who changes her hair color every 10 days) played by the winsome Mary Elizabeth Winstead. In order to win Ramona, Scott has to fight and defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes. If these sounds like a plot for a video game, you’re on the right track. The plot will suddenly turn into a video game graphic with laser beams, magic swords, and incredible fake violence. Bodies (most Scott) sail into and through brick walls as the battle between Scott and the evil ex-boyfriends and ex-girl friend kicks into action. If this all seems silly, it is. But I had to admire the unconventional way the film presented its love story. Yes, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a romantic comedy, albeit a goofy geeky one. I liked it. GRADE: B

When I was a horny freshman at Marquette University back in 1967, I read John Barth’s classic The Sot-Weed Factor and was blown away. Barth’s faux-18th Century adventure novel takes its narrator, would-be poet Ebenezer Cooke, into a roll-coaster ride of conspiracies, double-dealing, false-identities, comic sexual situations, and mind-bending intrigues. After having my mind turned into pudding by The Sot-Weed Factor, I immediately turned to Barth’s then current best seller, Giles Goat-Boy. Giles Goat-Boy is a allegory of college being the true representation of the world. It sure made a lot of sense to me at the time. Plus, Giles Goat-Boy is full of sex, another plus when you’re 18. As time went by, John Barth and his work slowly receded from the top rank of Fiction Rankings. Barth’s brand of sardonic Black Humor fell out of fashion. But, decades later, I still remember reading these amazing books avidly.

One of the greatest delights in the world for me is to discover a new, wonderful writer. My latest discovery is S. J. Bolton who has published three novels so far (I own them all now). Bolton’s first novel, Sacrifice, starts with the narrator, obstetrician Tora Hamilton, discovering a body of woman buried in the peat moss behind her house. The setting is the insular Shetland Islands where Tora stumbles on a series of crimes that stretch back decades. What makes Sacrifice so compelling is Bolton’s ability to generate suspense as Tora manages to find herself in more and more menacing situations. Bolton keeps ratcheting up the danger. You’ll be on the edge of your seat for most of Sacrifice. This is a stunning good first novel! GRADE: A-

Grab a copy of 500 Essential Cult Books and look forward to hours browsing. You’ll see some great cover art and some books you’d love to own. The authors try to present a cross-section of books: paperbacks, hardcovers, fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels. Yes, some will quibble that this or that title isn’t included. But, if you want to see the covers of 500 unique books, run out and buy this book. That may encourage McKinnon & Holland to start working on a sequel. GRADE: A

Tony Judt was one of my favorite historians. He died August 6, 2010 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” In his final year of life, Judt worked feverishly on this book: Ill Fares the Land, which is his final statement about Life. Judt says we are becoming more selfish and isolated from one another. The Right is attacking Social Security and unemployment benefits while playing the “immigrant card” to garner votes. Judt argues persuasively that only government can address large problems like global warming and energy shortages. This slim book holds plenty of wisdom. I also recommend Tony Judt’s masterpieces: Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 and Reappraisals: Reflections on the Forgotten Twentieth Century. GRADE: A

By the time you read this, I’ll be fast asleep (with the help of some Versed) and undergoing a routine colonoscopy. I’m sure most of you have had this fun procedure. Actually, the worst part was the “prep” which I endured yesterday. Colon-rectal cancer is largely preventable if you have regular colonoscopies and have any pre-cancerous polyps removed. Early detection and treatment are the keys. And, you get to wake up to a kindly nurse. If you’d like to read about Dave Barry’s hilarious colonoscopy, click here. I plan to sleep off the Versed so if I don’t respond to your comment right away, please understand I need to be lucid (or something close to it) in order to respond. I should be fully recovered by tomorrow.