For most of the 20th Century, John O’Hara was considered one of the best short story writers in the world. O’Hara tried his hand at novels, with mixed results. His first novel, Appointment in Samarra (1934), a story of destiny and tragedy, remains one of O’Hara’s most popular books. Butterfield 8 (1935) explores the speakeasy world of a hedonistic Manhattan. Gloria Wandrous, based on a woman O’Hara knew, lives in a world of alcohol and sex. In 1960, a greatly “modified” version of Butterfield 8 earned Elizabeth Taylor her first Academy Award,

Hope of Heaven (1938) is set in Los Angeles and centers around a relationship between Peggy Henderson, a young leftist woman working at a bookstore, and Jim Malloy, a world-weary screenwriter. struggling to make it in Hollywood. In Pal Joey (1940), a novel in the form of fourteen interconnected stories, O’Hara’s mastery of the short story comes into play to create one of his most powerful works. This novel was also the basis for the Rodgers & Hart musical. These four novels, flaws and all, are worth reading. Are you a John O’Hara fan? GRADE: B+

It took us a while to catch up with Ralph Breaks the Internet but with the Holidays over and the kids back to school, Diane and I enjoyed what amounted to a Private Screening when we attended a matinee showing. We liked the 2012 Wreck-It Ralph animated movie featuring 1980s arcade games with their wacky characters. Director and co-writer Rich Moore cleverly created Ralph (John C. Reilly) a “Bad Guy” in a video game who was actually a pretty good guy outside his game. In this sequel, Ralph is happy with his life, but his best friend, racer Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), is bored by her Candy Rush game. When their arcade gets a WI-FI connection, Ralph and Vanellope discover the Internet.

Unlike Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet doesn’t really have a villain. Most of the mischief is caused by Ralph himself as he tries not to lose his best friend to a Grand Theft Auto clone game called Slaughter Race featuring the beautiful and skillful Shank (Gal Gadot). For a kids movie, Ralph Breaks the Internet deals with the risks of online shopping, pop-up ads, viruses, and the Dark Web in a surprisingly sophisticated fashion. There’s a lot going on in this movie. Most of it is fun. GRADE: A-

The Government might be shut down, but this blog is open and available. The New York Times reported that while the United States is only 5% of the world’s population, we consume 30% of the world’s narcotics. That statistic goes a long way to explaining the number of accidents, car crashes, shootings, thefts, and mayhem of 2018. And then, there’s Trump and his minions.

Amid all this chaos, the intelligence and wit of Patti, Jeff, Deb, Rick, Beth, Todd, Art, Bill, Maggie, Bob, Prashant, Sergio, Carl, Lauren, Steve, Jerry, Wolf, Stan, Dan, Michael, Elgin, Scott, Jim, John, Randy, James, Kent, and Mathew as well as all of you who make this blog a part of your day brought hope and sanity in these times of darkness and strife. So I want to say thank you.

Thank you very much.

Two more intriguing matchups complete Wild Card Weekend. In the first game, the LA Chargers take on the surprising Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are favored by 2 1/2 points. Rookie QB Lamar Jackson offers new offensive dimensions to the Ravens’ scoring abilities. But, will it be enough to defeat the wily old veteran QB, Philip Rivers? Reigning Super Bowl Champs, the Philadelphia Eagles, take on the menacing Chicago Bears. Can Nick Foles do it again? Vegas doesn’t think so: the Bears are favored by 6 points. I’m picking the Ravens and the Bears. Who do you think will win these games?

I always enjoy Wild Card Weekend when the competition is fierce and the talent level is balanced. In the first game, the Houston Texans are favored by 1 point. But, I think the Indianapolis Colts will win. In the second game, the Dallas Cowboys are favored by 2 points. I’m picking the Seahawks. Which teams do you think will win?

Ron Goulart’s The Dime Detectives: A Comprehensive History of the Detective Fiction Pulps has been on my shelves since it was published in 1988. I’ve read Goulart’s excellent Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of the Pulp Magazines. The Dime Detectives focuses on pulp magazines like Black Mask, Detective Fiction Weekly, Crimebusters, Thrilling Detectives, Dime Detective, and Spicy Detective from their formation in the 1920s, to their popularity in the 1930s, to their decline in the 1940s, to their demise in the 1950s. Goulart discusses some of the great pulp writers of those decades: Dashiell Hammett, Robert Leslie Bellem, Carroll John Daly, Raymond Chandler, Erle Stanley Gardner, Hank Searls, John D. MacDonald, John Jakes, and many others. If you’re a fan of pulp detective fiction, you’ll love The Dime Detectives. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: The Dime Detectives 1
Chapter 2: Nick Carter Strikes Again 11
Chapter 3: The Black Mask School 21
Chapter 4: “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” 51
Chapter 5: The Hard-Boiled Decade 74
Chapter 6: The New Wild West 96
Chapter 7: Dan Turner and the Spicy Gang 120
Chapter 8: Dangerous Dames 135
Chapter 9: Gentlemen of the Press 149
Chapter 10: The Phantom Detectives 167
Chapter 11: Screwballs, Oddballs, Etc. 186
Chapter 12: A Hearse of a Different Killer 205
Chapter 13: Dead and Done For 231
Bibliography 239
Index 247

Marcellus Wiley claims the mantel of “NFL Outlier” because he made it out of poverty and gang-ridden Compton, California and was admitted to Columbia University on a sports scholarship. He was an excellent Defensive End and ended up being drafted in the Second Round (again unlikely for a player from an Ivy League College), After four years in Buffalo, Wiley moved to San Diego. As his NFL career started to unwind, Wiley moved to the Dallas Cowboys. He ended his career playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Throughout his NFL career, Marcellus Wiley learned plenty of lessons. He developed into an NFL quality player by listening to his coaches at Columbia. Wiley learned to play the Defensive End position by listening to Hall of Fame lineman, Bruce Smith. Later, Wiley discovers what all those drugs he had been given to help him stay on the field cost him.

I always liked Marcellus Wiley. He was a care-free player while he played for the Buffalo Bills. After Wiley retired from the NFL, he became a commentator for ESPN and FOX SPORTS. He’s intelligent and funny. But after reading Never Shut Up I’m impressed by Wiley’s determination to overcome his many problems. Inspiring! GRADE: B+
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Finding My Own Path, And Getting My Ass Beat Along the Way 9
Chapter 2 One More Rep For Janet Jackson 34
Chapter 3 The Game Within The Game At Columbia U 54
Chapter 4 Bwaaa! All the Way to the NFL 80
Chapter 5 “Wild Style” and the Story of Bruce Smith’s Shoes 106
Chapter 6 At The Top Looking Down 132
Chapter 7 Dat Dude Goes To SM Diego 160
Chapter 8 What’s Your word? 183
Chapter 9 The Reverend Of Jacksonville 198
Chapter 10 Exactly Me 218
Chapter 11 A Real Hydration Situation 236
Chapter 12 Bigger Than Me 256
Acknowledgments 273

Trying to reboot a classic movie is risky business. Although Mary Poppins Returns features a wonderful cast–Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters–the script just isn’t magical enough. Mary Poppins makes a great entrance with her talking umbrella, but things slow down to a crawl with the sub-plot of Micheal and Jane Banks (Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer) trying to save their home from foreclosure by an evil banker (Firth). Several musical numbers look great on the screen, but the music in Mary Poppins Returns is instantly forgettable. No “A Spoonful of Sugar” or “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocous” graces this sequel. I hope Mary Poppins returns, but with a better movie next time. GRADE: B