Diana Rigg fans, rejoice! Here are all the 51 episodes of The Avengers with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel on 16 DVDs. This complete megaset is a bargain at $39.95! I bought it at BJ’s Warehouse. AMAZON has it for $42.48 (still a bargain). Sure, it’s campy. But Diana Rigg still knocks me out! This video transfer seems cleaner than other sets of The Avengers I’ve accumulated over the years. This megaset would be a perfect present for that fan of The Avengers on your gift list. Check out the video below.

Secret wars in Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, as well as the continuing war in Afghanistan are the focus of Jeremy Scahill’s excellent book and movie. Scahill shows how Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) fight undeclared wars all over the world. Drones, SEAL Team Six, and secret operatives assassinate targets on the “Kill List” that Scahill finds just keeps getting longer. Scahill’s book and the movie based on the book gives us all plenty to ponder. GRADE: A (for both)

Making a musical out of the old Patrick Swyaze/Demi Moore/Whoopie Goldberg movie Ghost must have sounded like a great idea to the producers of this touring version. But, if you’re going to have a musical, you should memorable tunes in it, something this musical lacks. The actors have good voices, but none of the songs stay with you other than the old classic “Unchained Melody.” There’s plenty of flashing lights, video, and special effects. None of these can cover up the lack narrative momentum and the forgettable music. Skip this one! GRADE: D

The 2-4 Bills travel to Miami to take on the 3-2 Dolphins. Practice Squad quarterback Thad Lewis hopes to learn from his mistakes in last week’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Vegas had the Dolphins favored by 9 points early this week but the spread has dropped to a mere 7 and 1/2 points. The Bills haven’t won an away game yet in the 2013. I hardly know what to expect this week. My heart tells me the Bills will pull off an upset…but my head says the Dolphins will prevail. What’s going to happen to your team today?

James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are the reasons to go see Enough Said. Director and writer Nicole Holofcener delivers a predictable romantic comedy. Gandolfini plays a chubby divorced man with a daughter who is about to leave home to study fashion at an eastern college. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays a masseuse (divorced, of course) with a daughter who is about to head east to attend Sarah Lawrence College. Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus meet at a party and start dating. At the same party, Louis-Dreyfus meets a poet (Catherine Keener) who becomes one of her clients. The triangle of Gandolfini, Louis-Dreyfus, and Keener power this movie, but it’s predictable. No surprises here. But Gandolfini, in one of his last roles before his untimely death, is genial and clever. I had forgotten how expressive Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ face is. Her magical eyes steal just about every scene she’s in. Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus lift this mediocre movie into something worth watching. GRADE: B+

This 1965 Lawrence Block novel was reprinted in 2005. It’s the story of a con: two men and the girl with the long green heart work a real estate scam on an investor. Plenty of maneuvering and double-dealing result. Lawrence Block impressed me with his knowledge of real estate transactions (the land in question was located in Canada) and banking regulations. These are little things in the totality of the confidence game, but it shows Block did his homework. I also appreciated Block’s attention to detail in using Western New York and Toronto as the setting for most of this novel. Block knows this area well. The only jarring note happened when the narrator has to hide a gun on an airplane. There wasn’t much security at airports back in 1965. If you enjoy well-written, well-plotted suspense fiction, give The Girl With the Long Green Heart a try. And I really like the Bob McGinnis cover!

I’m pitch-hitting for Patti Abbott this week (Happy Birthday, Phil!). Don’t worry, Patti will be back to host FFB next week. If I’ve missed your contribution to Friday’s Forgotten Books, please let me know and I’ll add you to the list.
Sergio Angelini, DICK BARTON: THE CASE OF THE VANISHING HOUSE (1978) by Alan Radnor

Brian Busby, Red Maple: How Canada Became the People’s Republic of Canada in 1981 

Bill Crider, Emerald Flash By Charles Knief

Martin Edwards, Escape to Quebec By Milward Kennedy

Curt Evans, The Fourth Postman By Craig Rice

Ray Garraty, Big City Girl By Charles Williams

Ed Gorman
Jerry House, Shanadu Edited by Bob Briney
Randy Johnson, Coersion By Tim Tigner
Nick Jones, The Switch By Elmore Leonard
B.V. Lawson, Science and the Detective By Brian H. Kaye
Evan Lewis, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar By Edgar Rice Burroughs
Steve Lewis. Arson and Old Lace By Patricia Harwin
Todd Mason, Halloween
J.F. Norris, To the Devil–a Daughter By Dennis Wheatley

Juri Nummelin,

James Reasoner, The Second Life of Monsieur the Devil By H. Bedford-Jones

Kelly Robinson,  Tales of St. Austin’s By P. G. Wodehoouse

Richard Robinson, D-99 by H.B. Fyfe
Gerard Saylor, Jitterbug By Loren D. Estleman
Ron Scheer,The Doctor By Ralph O’Connor
Kerrie Smith, M.O. Crimes of Practice Edited by Martin Edwards
Kevin Tipple,  Flank Hawk By Terry W. Ervin II
TomCat,
Prashant Trikannad,  The Draw By Jerome Bixby
James Winter,

Yvette,  The Man in the Tricorn Hat By Delano Ames

Barry Strauss’ informative and entertaining analysis of three of the greatest generals in history highlights the strengths and flaws of each of these iconic leaders. I learned Alexander went to war because Greece was broke. I learned Hannibal was a master of cunning and maneuver on the battle field. And I learned that Caesar pardoned five of the senators who eventually assassinated him. Strauss provides excellent commentary on key moments in each general’s life: Gaugamela, Cannae, and Pharsalus. Each general takes risks that lead to victory…and eventual loss. Strauss lifts the fog of war to show what Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar did well and what mistakes they made. I can’t think of a more concise and lucid account of these great leaders. If you have any historical or strategic interest in these masters of warfare, I highly recommend Masters of Command. GRADE: A

I’m a big fan of Italian food. Friends have recommended Marcella Hazan’s cookbooks to me for years. I finally got around to reading one: Marcella Says: Italian Cooking Wisdom from the Legendary Teacher’s Master Classes, With 120 of Her Irresistible New Recipes. Just a few pages into Marcella Say I discovered Marcella Hazan is a cook, not a chef. No exotic ingrediants, no bizarre techniques, no need for a blow-torch, just straight-forward cooking. I’ve tried a few recipes and found them delicious! I really liked the Asparagus and Shrimp Risotto. If you’re into Italian food, Marcella Says is worth a look. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
At Master Class
Crostini, Antipasti, Spuntini, and Pickles
Soups
Rice
Pasta Sauces
Homemade Pasta and Gnocchi
Fish
Chicken
Veal
Beef
Lamb
Pork
Vegetables
Salads
Baked Desserts
Gelati, Semifreddo, and Mascarpone
Appendix
Index

If you’re a fan of The Wizard of Oz this incredible 75th Anniversary limited collector’s edition needs to be part of your collection. Bursting with extras, this set includes:
-Sing-a-long feature with the film
-Complete Magic Cloak of Oz silent shorts (60 min)
-All-New Feature Length Documentary The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
-The Dreamer of Oz TV Special (101 min)
-Munchkins at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Featurette (20 min)
-Patchwork Girl of Oz (60 min)
-6 hr. MGM Documentary When the Lion Roars (exclusive to Blu-Ray)
Exclusive Promotional Items:
-52 pg Hardcover Photo Book
-Ruby Slippers Sparkle Globe
-Collectible Award Pin Set by The Noble Collection
-Journal
-Frameable Map of Oz
Amazon exclusive Promotional Item:
-4 GB “Wicked Witch of the East” flash drive
It doesn’t get much better than this! And this set would make a great present for that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative!

Rebecca Lando’s fascinating The Working Class Foodies Cookbook: Real Food for Real People Real Cheap: 100 Delicious Seasonal and Organic Recipes for Under $8 per Person delivers on its promise. Lando shows you how to find quality food at reasonable prices. And then she shows you how to prepare 100 yummy recipes. Check out Rebecca Lando’s video below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: My Quest to Eat Well on a Tight Budget
Chapter 2: How to Be a Working Class Foodie
Chapter 3: Your Pantry
Chapter 4: How to Use This Book
Chapter 5: Basic Cooking From the Pantry
Chapter 6: Appetizers and Snacks
Chapter 7: Sides, Soups and Salads
Chapter 8: Main Dishes
Chapter 9: Desserts