Scott Cupp recommended this Young Adult series here. Abigail Rook, a feisty young woman from England, arrives in New Fiddleham (aka, Boston) in 1892. She’s penniless, but persistent. Abigail applies for a job as an assistant to R. A. Jackaby, a detective specializing in “paranormal” investigations. Yes, there are elves, goblins, dragons, and banshees in these adventures. If you’re a fan of magical creatures and Sherlock Holmes-like cases, you’ll enjoy Jacaby and Beastly Bones. GRADE: B (for both)

With the DC Universe expanding with Super Girl, The Flash, and Arrow these animated features aimed at a younger audience still have the power to entertain. This DVD features super villains from Lex Luthor, Sinestro, to Darkseid. If you’re looking for some escapist fun, you’ll find it here.

Since the Paris attacks, Niagara Falls has been lit in the colors of the French flag to show solidarity with the people of France.

With the Bills unlikely win in the Meadowlands over the Jets on Thursday Night Football (weren’t those uniforms hideous!), the Bills are off until their Monday Night Football game against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots next week. With two wins over the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets in four days, the Bills are in the thick of the battle for a Playoff berth. How is your favorite NFL team going to do today?

Wild winds lashed Western New York the past couple of days. Our Japanese Maple still had leaves before the 60 mph winds hit. You can see what the Japanese Maple looks like after the wind storm. The red leaves are everywhere! Snow is in the forecast. I have Big Orange ready to go! How’s the weather where you are?

Last week for FFB I reviewed Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s. This week, I’m reviewing the companion volume, Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s. Mischief by Charlotte Armstrong (1950) is the weakest story in this collection. A sociopathic babysitter threatens the child she’s supposed to take care of. In The Blunderer by Patrickia Highsmith (1955) a man commits a murder and another man wants to commit a murder. Their paths cross with unexpected consequences.

The Beast in View by Margaret Millar (1955) is the best mystery in this volume. Millar uses the novel (for the time) device of multiple personalities to tell a compelling story. Millar keeps the reader guessing right until the conclusion. I liked Fools’ Gold by Dolores Hitchens (1958) because Hitchens shows what happens when peer pressure builds to produce murder. Three young people plan a theft, but of course things go wrong and deaths result. Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s offers better novels than the previous volume. I hope the Library of America continues this series.

Somebody’s Knockin’ on My Door”
“Key to the Highway”
“Tell the Truth”
“Pretending”
“Hoochie Coochie Man”
“You Are So Beautiful”
“Can’t Find My Way Home”
“I Shot the Sheriff”
“Driftin’ Blues”
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”
“Tears in Heaven”
“Layla”
“Let It Rain”
“Wonderful Tonight”
“Crossroads”
“Cocaine”
“High Time We Went”

Read More: Eric Clapton’s ‘Slowhand at 70’ Film Is Coming to DVD and Blu-ray | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-clapton-slowhand-at-70-dvd/?trackback=tsmclip

Roald Dahl’s classic book, Matilda, the story of a brilliant young girl who is mistreated by her narcissistic parents, transforms into a high-energy play in Matilda, The Musical. I was impressed with the performance of little Gabby Gutierrez as Matilda. She delivers a spunky rendition of a brave girl trying to overcome the cruel forces around her. Matilda’s parents send her to a wretched school run by the imperious Agatha Trunchbull who rules her students by force. Bryce Ryness is terrific as the hideous Head Master. My main complaint about Matilda, The Musical is the music. Yes, it’s loud and energetic, but not very memorable. I’d recommend this play for the story, but it needs better music. GRADE: B

I’m very tempted by the new 6-CD deluxe box set of The Cutting Edge but until I actually order it, this “Best of” 2-CD set will do nicely. These discs are full of alternate takes of classic Bob Dylan songs from the recording sessions of Dylan’s Bringing It All back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde. The sound is great and the accompanying booklet provides plenty of facts about the songs and the recording sessions. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, this is a must-buy. Check out the interview with Al Kooper on recording “Like a Rolling Stone” below. GRADE: A
SET LIST:
Disc: 1
1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit – Take 2 (1/13/1965) acoustic
2. I ll Keep It with Mine – Take 1 (1/13/1965) piano demo
3. Bob Dylan s 115th Dream – Take 2 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
4. She Belongs to Me – Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
5. Subterranean Homesick Blues – Take 1 (1/14/1965) alternate take
6. Outlaw Blues – Take 2 (1/13/1965) alternate take
7. On the Road Again – Take 4 (1/14/1965) alternate take
8. Farewell, Angelina – Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
9. If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Take 2 (1/15/1965) alternate take
10. You Don t Have to Do That – Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
11. California – Take 1 (1/13/1965) solo acoustic
12. Mr. Tambourine Man – Take 3 (1/15/1965) with band, incomplete
13. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry – Take 8 (6/15/1965) alternate take
14. Like a Rolling Stone – Take 5 (6/15/1965) rehearsal
15. Like a Rolling Stone – Take 11 (6/16/1965) alternate take
16. Sitting on a Barbed Wire Fence – Take 2 (6/15/1965) unreleased take
17. Medicine Sunday – Take 1 (10/5/1965) early version of Temporary Like Achilles
18. Desolation Row – Take 2 (8/4/1965) piano demo
19. Desolation Row – Take 1 (8/4/1965) alternate take

Disc: 2
1. Tombstone Blues – Take 1 (7/29/1965) alternate take
2. Positively 4th Street – Take 5 (7/29/1965) alternate take
3. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window – Take 1 (7/30/1965) alternate take
4. Just Like Tom Thumb s Blues – Take 3 (8/2/1965) rehearsal
5. Highway 61 Revisited – Take 3 (8/2/1965) alternate take
6. Queen Jane Approximately – Take 5 (8/2/1965) alternate take
7. Visions of Johanna – Take 5 (11/30/1965) rehearsal
8. She s Your Lover Now – Take 6 (1/21/1966) rehearsal
9. Lunatic Princess – Take 1 (1/27/1966)
10. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat – Take 8 (2/14/1966) alternate take
11. One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) – Take 19 (1/25/1966) alternate take
12. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again – Take 13 (2/17/1966) alternate take
13. Absolutely Sweet Marie – Take 1 (3/7/1966) alternate take
14. Just Like a Woman – Take 4 (3/8/1966) alternate take
15. Pledging My Time – Take 1 (3/8/1966) alternate take
16. I Want You – Take 4 (3/10/1966) alternate take
17. Highway 61 Revisited Take 7 (8/2/1965) false start