Bill Crider, another big Max Schulman fan, wrote about I Was a Teenage Dwarf here. Inspired by Bill, I read Max Schulman’s very funny Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys! and watched the DVD of the 1958 comedy based on Schulman’s very funny book. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Joan Collins in a comical love triangle: what more could you ask for?

I’ve read all of Richard Ford’s novels and short story collections. Ford is a gifted writer. Canada was published in 2012 to mixed reviews which explains why I hadn’t gotten around to reading it until now. Canada is narrated by Dell Parsons, a college professor in his sixties. Parsons story starts when he was 15 and living in Montana in the Fifties. Dell’s parents decide to rob a bank. You can guess the result. Dell’s sister, Berner, runs away to California with her boyfriend. Dell is taken to Canada by a family friend. That ends Part One. Part Two concerns Dell’s life n Canada where violence also changes his life. Part Three brings us back to the present. I found the three stories really didn’t jell very well. Ford tells three very different stories and tries to blend them. Taken individually, the stories are compelling. But this fragmented novel didn’t work for me. GRADE: C+

Our internist, who had taken very good care of Diane and me for 30 years, died suddenly a month ago. He was 75. Diane and I decided to stay with the same medical group (to avoid all the paperwork and prescription hassles). Diane was assigned to Dr. Patricia O’Donnell (who Diane really likes) and I was assigned to Dr. Eric Koch (pronounced “Cook”) who I’ve only met once, but he impressed me with his thoroughness. I have to go in for blood work before our October appointment. And, I also need an echo cardiogram. Dr. Koch wants his patients to have an echo cardiogram every two years. Diane and I asked both of our new doctors for the Shingles shot. Those ominous ads on TV have freaked us out. And many of our friends have come down with shingles (very painful they report!). So Diane and I both got the Shingles shot and the pneumonia shot. You might consider getting these shots if you’re in your sixties.

The talented Hugh Jackman plays the mutant Logan the Wolverine for the sixth time in this latest installment in the Marvel franchise. The twist in this movie is that the Wolverine, tired and frustrated with his immortal life, becomes mortal. Bullet wounds now don’t heal instantly, arrows and swords can now kill the Wolverine. My quibble with The Wolverine is the absence of a villain with enough gravitas to make the story interesting. Although there’s plenty of action, I never really thought that the Wolverine was at risk. Hugh Jackman carries this movie with his moody presence. This movie is worth seeing, but go in with low expectations. GRADE: B

I’ve been a fan Marvin H. Albert’s work for decades. Albert wrote westerns, suspense fiction, movie novelizations, and mysteries with plenty of panache. The Reformed Gun was published as an paperback original by Gold Medal in 1950. Concho Reynolds takes a bullet during a botched bank robbery in Texas. His partner is killed by the Texas Rangers who start hunting him. Concho heads for Mexico, but his wound worsens. Concho is near death when he’s rescued by a rancher named Grant. Grant and his former partner, Cooley, have had a falling out. Now Cooley wants to kill Grant. Concho has to choose which side to be on and accept the consequences while Concho’s past rushes up to meet him. I found The Reformed Gun enjoyable. Good action, entertaining characters, and an unpredictable plot. A typically fine novel by Marvin H. Albert.

I’ve always liked Huey Lewis & The News. This 30th Anniversary CD of Sports is totally remastered and sounds great! This is not a “Greatest Hits” CD although Sports includes some of this group’s biggest hits. Back in 1983, Sports sold 10 million copies! The whole business model for pop music has changed now. It’s rare when a CD sells that many copies now with iTunes changing listening habits. But if you’re a fan of Eighties music, Sports will feed your nostalgia. Check out Hyey and Gwyneth singing “Cruisin'” below.
TRACK LIST:
Disc 1
1 The Heart of Rock & Roll (5:01)
2 Heart and Soul (4:10)
3 Bad Is Bad (3:46)
4 I Want a New Drug (4:46)
5 Walking On A Thin Line (5:08)
6 Finally Found a Home (3:42)
7 If This Is It (3:46)
8 You Crack Me Up (3:39)
9 Honky Tonk Blues (3:16)
10 The Heart of Rock & Roll (5:12)
11 Walking on a Thin Line (5:3912 If This Is It (4:25)
13 Heart And Soul (4:25)
14 I Want A New Drug (5:27)

Our local newspaper solicited suggestions for Summer Reading and one of the contributors mentioned that Mukoma Wa Ngugi’s Nairobi Heat starts in Madison, Wisconsin. Since I spent many pleasant years in Madison, I was immediately attracted to this thriller. The book opens with the murder of a white teenager at the doorstep of an African activist who teaches courses in Genocide at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The narrator is an African-American detective employed by the Madison Police Department. The investigation leads the detective to Nairobi and a chaotic search for clues in Africa. The body count mounts up. If you’re in the mood for an unusual thriller (with echoes of Le Carre’s The Constant Gardener) give Nairobi Heat a try. It’s a quick read. GRADE: C+

Borgen 2 electrified me even more than BROGEN 1 did. These 10 episodes show the talented Sidse Babett Knudsen as Birgitte Nyborg, the first woman Prime Minister of Denmark, facing political and personal crises. No CGI, no elaborate sets, no spectacular effects. Just a great cast and solid scripts. Borgen 2 builds on the plots from BORGEN 1 so to appreciate the drama, you’ll need to start the series with the first season. If you’re a political junkie like me, dramas like House of Cards and BORGEN are like crack. I highly recommend BORGEN. GRADE: A

Ken Ludwig is a playwright who loves Shakespeare. He started teaching his kids about Shakespeare when they were six years old. Ludwig writes convincingly that Shakespeare can be learned at a young age. His approach is to start with the comedies. How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare includes detailed analysis of many of Shakespeare’s plays including one of my favorites: Twelfth Night. Ludwig’s other technique for teaching kids Shakespeare is to have them memorize some famous Shakespeare passages. You don’t have to have kids to appreciate Ludwig’s book. Trust me, you’ll come away with new insights into Shakespeare’s plays if you read Ludwig’s fine book. After finishing How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare, I wanted to drop everything and read some Shakespeare!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Twelfth Night
Romeo and juliet
Interlude
Henry lV Part l
As You Like
Henry V
Interlude
The Tempest
A List of Favorite Epigrams
Bibliography

Dr. Barnard’s useful book focuses on three factors that affect memory: toxic metals in our diets, foods that protect the brain, and activities that protect the brain. Using the latest research, Barnard’s approach shows how minor adjustments can lead to big chances in memory and cognition. Other factors like genetics, the importance of fats, and the key vitamins that can protect us from dementia and Alzheimer’s are explored. If you’re as concerned about the aging brain as I am, I highly recommend Power Foods for the Brain.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Sharpen Your Memory, Enhance Your Brain
Chapter 2: Foods That Shield Your Brain From Toxic Medals
Chapter 3: Foods That Protect Your From Harmful Fats & Cholesterol
Chapter 4: Foods That Build Your Vitamin Shield
Chapter 5: Mental Exercises That Build Your Cognitive Reserve
Chapter 6: Physical Exercises That Protect Your Brain
Chapter 7: Build Memory Power as You Sleep
Chapter 8: Medicines & Health Conditions That Affect Memory
Chapter 9: A Brain-Enhancing Menu
Chapter 10: Conquer Food Cravings
Chapter 11: Menus & Recipes