FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #786: ATONEMENT OF BLOOD By Peter Tremayne

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Peter Berresford Ellis, a scholar of the ancient Celts and the Irish, writes as “Peter Tremayne” and specializes in complicated mystery novels. “Tremayne” is best known for his Fidelma of Cashel series featuring a 17th Century Irish sleuth who begins as a nun but after about 20 books decides to leave the religious life and pursue murderers as a powerful attorney whose brother just happens to be a King.

Atonement of Blood is the 24th book in the series and opens with an attempted assassination of the King, Fidelma’s brother, and Fidelma vows to investigate the crime while her brother is near death.

As in the dozen or so Fidelma mysteries I’ve read, the plot is tangled as Fidelma tries to discover the identity of the assassin. The search leads Fidelma into the politics of kingdoms–some unfriendly–that surround Cashel. Four years after Cashel won a local war, seeds of conspiracy and treachery lead Fidelma to probe into the deciding battle that resolved the conflict but left groups who planned vengeance. Fidelma interrogates both nobles and warriors to get to the bottom of what really happened.

For 30 years I’ve been enjoying Fidelma’s exploits as she discovers the truth and identifies murderers. Along the way, readers learn a lot about Irish history and the ways of Life in the 17th Century. Do you enjoy historical mysteries? GRADE: B+

Sister Fidelma series:

  1. Absolution By Murder (1994)
  2. Shroud for the Archbishop (1995)
  3. Suffer Little Children (1995)
  4. The Subtle Serpent (1996)
  5. The Spider’s Web (1997)
  6. Valley of the Shadow (1998)
  7. The Monk Who Vanished (1999)
  8. Act of Mercy (1999)
  9. Our Lady of Darkness (2000)
  10. Hemlock At Vespers (2000) (short stories)
  11. Smoke in the Wind (2001)
  12. The Haunted Abbot (2002)
  13. Badger’s Moon (2003)
  14. Whispers of the Dead (2004) (short stories)
  15. The Leper’s Bell (2004)
  16. Master of Souls (2005)
  17. A Prayer for the Damned (2006)
  18. Dancing with Demons (2007)
  19. The Council of the Cursed (2008)
  20. The Dove of Death (2009)
  21. The Chalice of Blood (2010)
  22. Behold a Pale Horse (2011)
  23. The Seventh Trumpet (2012)
  24. Atonement of Blood (2013)
  25. The Devil’s Seal (2015)
  26. The Second Death (2016)
  27. Penance of the Damned (2016)
  28. Night of the Lightbringer (2017)
  29. Die Wahrheit ist der Lüge Tod (2018)
  30. Bloodmoon (2018)
  31. Blood in Eden (2019)
  32. The Shapeshifter’s Lair (2020)
  33. The House of Death (2021)
  34. Death of a Heretic (2022)
  35. The Revenge of the Stormbringer (2023)

ROCKIN’ DOWN THE HIGHWAY [3-CD Set]

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Once again I can quibble with the “36 Classic Rock Hits” subtitle of this 3-CD collection. Maybe “Bang a Gong” by T. Rex might qualify as a “Classic Rock Hit” but I question whether “Long Train Running” by The Doobie Brothers fits the bill.

Of the three CDs in this set, I prefer Disc Three which includes Joe Cocker’s “The Letter,” “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John, and “Ramblin’ Man” by the Allman Brothers.

You would think that a compilation set with a Motor Trend logo and titled Rockin’ Down the Highway might include “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane…but you would be wrong.

How many of these songs do you recognize? Any favorites here? GRADE: B

TRACK LIST:

Disc One:

“Hot Blooded” — Foreigner

“Bang a Gong (Get It On) — T. rex

“Smoke on the Water” — Deep Purple

“School’s Out” –Alice Cooper

“25 Or 6 to 4” — Chicago

“Truckin'” –Grateful Dead

“Stay With Me” — Faces

“Karn Evil 9/1ST Impression, Part 2” –Emerson, Lake and Palmer

“Roundabout” — Yes

“Long Train Running” — The Doobie Brothers

“Ride Captain Ride”– Blues Image

“Can’t Get Enough” — Bad Company

DISC TWO:

“I Want to be Sedated” — The Ramones

“Whip It” — Devo

“Love Shack” — The B-52s

“Back on the Chain Gang” — The Pretenders

“La Bamba” — Los Lobos

“What You Need” — Inxs

Medley: “Just a Gigolo”/”I Ain’t Got Nobody” — David Lee Roth

“My Best Friend’s Girl” –The Cars

“Keep Your Hands to Yourself” — Georgia Satellites

“That’ll Be the Day” –Linda Ronstadt

“Ride Like the Wind” –Christopher Cross

“Soul Man” — The Blues Brothers

DISC THREE:

“Radar Love” –Golden Earring

“Ramblin’ Man” –Allman Brothers

“All Right Now” — Free

“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” — Elton John

“Rocky Mountain Way” — Joe Walsh

“I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band” — The Moody Blues

“Taking Care of Business” — Bachman Turner Overdrive”

“In a Big Country” — Big Country

“Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” — Robert Palmer

“Wild Thing” — The Troggs

“The Letter” –Joe Cocker

“Free Bird” — Lynyrd Skynyrd

WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #167: THREE BLIND MICE AND OTHER STORIES By Agatha Christie

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Three Blind Mice and Other Stories (aka, The Mousetrap) includes some Miss Marple stories, some Hercule Poirot stores, and a Harley Quin story.

“Three Blind Mice” is the basis for the famous play, “The Mousetrap,” which opened in London in 1952 and became the longest running play in the English language.

But my favorite stories in Three Blind Mice and Other Stories are “Tape-measure Murder” and “The Third-Floor Flat” and “The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly.” In “Tape-measure Murder” Miss Marple solves the murder with a clever twist. Poirot investigates the murder of a woman in an apartment building and solves a tricky time-line problem to snare the killer. A wealth couple see Poirot after their young son is kidnapped. They receive letters before the kidnapping asking for 25,000 pounds. The couple refused to pay. The kidnapper sent another note giving the day and the time of the kidnapping. The couple contacted the police who staked out their estate at the appointed time. Nonetheless, the boy was kidnapped. Poirot uses his little gray cells to resolve the crime.

If you’re looking for some short stories with engaging crimes and puzzles, Three Blind Mice and Other Stories will answer your needs. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  • Three blind mice — 1
  • Strange jest — 73
  • Tape-measure murder — 87
  • The case of the perfect maid — 103
  • The case of the caretaker — 119
  • The third-floor flat — 135
  • The adventure of Johnnie Waverly — 157
  • Four and twenty blackbirds — 173
  • The love detectives –189

NICKEL CREEK CONCERT

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Diane wanted to see Nickel Creek so I bought the tickets and we drove over to the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts. Sadly, the venue was only half full for the performance.

Nickel Creek consists of mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins, and guitarist Sean Watkins with bassist Jeff Picker. Over the years, the group revitalized bluegrass and folk in the early 2000s and popularized a new era of “Americana Music.”

After a nine year absence, the Platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning group returned in 2023 with a highly-anticipated album, Celebrants, with 18 songs written collectively during the Pandemic while in Santa Barbara.

After Monica Martin’s short set opening the concert, Nickel Creek lit up the stage with some furious playing. I’ve always considered Sara Watkins a talented singer and fiddle player. Chris Thile knows how to tickle the strings of his mandolin, while guitarist Sean Watkins (Sara’s brother) and bassist Jeff Picker provide melodic accompaniment. All in all, an enjoyable musical experience. Are you a fan of blue-grass music? GRADE: B

SETLIST:

  1. Where the Long Line LeadsPlay Video
  2. The Lighthouse’s TalePlay Video
  3. This SidePlay Video
  4. Going Out…Play Video
  5. CelebrantsPlay Video
  6. DestinationPlay Video
  7. Jealous of the MoonPlay Video
  8. In the House of Tom BombadilPlay Video
  9. Stone’s ThrowPlay Video
  10. Thinnest WallPlay Video
  11. When You Come Back Down(Tim O’Brien cover)Play Video
  12. Elephant in the CornPlay Video
  13. Somebody More Like YouPlay Video
  14. Water Under the Bridge, Part 1 / The MeadowPlay Video
  15. Out of the Woods(Sinéad Lohan cover)Play Video
  16. Smoothie SongPlay Video
  17. 21st of MayPlay Video
  18. When in RomePlay Video
  19. Sabra GirlPlay Video
  20. Scotch & Chocolate?Play Video
  21. The FoxPlay Video
  22. Hayloft(Mother Mother cover)Play Video
  23. Holding Patte

THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING By Rick Rubin

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Rick Rubin is a nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time and the most successful producer in any genre by Rolling Stone. He has collaborated with artists from Tom Petty to Adele, Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys to Slayer, Kanye West to the Strokes, and System of a Down to Jay-Z.

Rubin approaches creativity to show what works…and what doesn’t. Rubin’s lessons apply to every aspect of creativity— whether music, writing, painting, or, as Rubin says, even more pragmatic situations, such as starting a business, or solving personal problems. The Creative Act is as much a guide to life as it is a guide to art. In a series of short, pithy chapters, Rubin focuses on all the elements of the creative process and how they should be used and improved.

I was impressed by Rubin’s warnings about common mistakes in the creative process:

  • Clinging to rules or guidelines that may stifle the childlike creative impulse.
  • Trying to imbue art with too much intention rather than respecting a work of art’s own natural unfolding. The ultimate purpose or destiny of a work of art is almost never clear to the artist.
  • Competing with collaborators, or other artists or creatives, rather than nurturing one’s own voice.
  • Forcing art. The more it is forced, rather than allowed to unfold naturally, the more it loses its innate character.
  • Prioritizing the criticisms or voices of others, rather than oneself and staying true to the work of art.
  • Focusing on commercial outcomes— this can lead to a work of art that feels more artificial or compromised, and will likely not be as successful as it could be.
  • Aspiring to perfection. There are no objective measures for the success or purpose of a work of art, and to obsess over achieving perfection is to play a game you can’t win — in fact, sometimes art that is flawed can be more emotionally resonant than something that is “flawless.” It’s a bit of a paradox. Even flawless art contains a flaw, that of a lack of humanity.

If you want to understand and enhance your creativity, check out Rick Rubin’s THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING. Highly recommended! Where does your creativity come from? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Everyone is a creator — 1

Tuning in — 5

The source of creativity — 13

Awareness — 19

The vessel and the filter — 25

The unseen — 31

Look for clues — 37

Practice — 43

Submerge (the great works) — 49

Nature as teacher — 51

Nothing is static — 55

Look inward — 59

Memories and the subconscious — 63

It’s always there — 67

Setting — 69

Self-doubt — 73

Make it up — 77

Distraction — 85

Collaboration — 89

Intention — 93

Rules — 97

The opposite is true — 107

Listening — 109

Patience — 113

Beginner’s mind — 117

Inspiration — 127

Habits — 133

Seeds — 143

Experimentation — 149

Try everything — 157

Crafting — 163

Momentum — 169

Point of view — 177

Breaking the sameness — 183

Completion — 191

The abundant mindset — 201

The experimenter and the finisher — 205

Temporary rules — 207

Greatness — 215

Success — 219

Connected detachment (possibility) — 225

The ecstatic — 229

Point of reference — 235

Non-competition — 237

Essence — 241

Apocrypha — 247

Tuning out (undermining voices) — 253

Self-awareness — 257

Right before our eyes — 263

A whisper out of time — 269

Expect a surprise — 273

Great expectations — 277

Openness — 283

Surrounding the lightning bolt — 289

24/7 (staying in it) — 295

Spontaneity (special moments) — 299

How to choose — 305

Shades and degrees — 309

Implications (purpose) — 313

Freedom — 317

The possessed — 323

What works for you (believing) — 325

Adaptation — 327

Translation — 331

Clean slate — 335

Context — 339

The energy (in the work) — 343

Ending to start anew (regeneration) — 349

Play — 353

The art habit (sangha) — 359

The prism of self — 363

Let it be — 369

Cooperation — 371

The sincerity dilemma — 379

The gatekeeper — 385

Why make art? — 391

Harmony — 397

What we tell ourselves — 403

SURPRISE SNOW!

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Just a few days ago, our temperatures were in the 70s. Then, this crazy weather surprised us by dropping five inches of snow on us. Plus Arctic temperatures that felt like ZERO! It was time to fire up Big Orange and snowblow the driveway and all the neighborhood sidewalks.

How’s the weather in your neighborhood?

THE DATA DETECTIVE By Tim Harford

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Tim Harford shows how statistics and be used–and misused. He uses a quote to introduce a factor that skews statistics. “As Donald Trump’s former right-hand man Steve Bannon infamously told writer Michael Lewis: ‘The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.'” (p. 13). Making up “Fake News” and inventing statistics can overwhelm rational analysis.

Statistical analysis is only as good as the data being analyzed. In the 2016 Presidential Election, voters were unsettled by events–like the Justice Department probe into Hillary Clinton’s emails–and opinion polls didn’t reflect the actual state of the race. “Both problems hit U.S. pollsters in the notorious 2016 election, when the polls seemed to put Hillary Clinton ahead of Donald Trump in the swing states that would decide the contest. There was a late swing toward Trump, and also the same kind of non-response bias that had doomed the 2015 UK polls: it turned out to have been easier for pollsters to find Clinton supporters than Trump supporters.” (p. 147)

When used correctly, statistics can be a powerful tool. But today with all kinds of misinformation and hacking and data manipulation by Bad Actors, it is harder than ever to achieve accurate results. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction – How To Lie With Statistics 1

Rule 1 Search Your Feelings 19

Rule 2 Ponder Your Personal Experience 47

Rule 3 Avoid Premature Enumeration 65

Rule 4 Step Back And Enjoy The View 87

Rule 5 Get The Backstory 105

Rule 6 Ask Who Is Missing 135

Rule 7 Demand Transparency When The Computer Says No 153

Rule 8 Don’t Take Statistical Bedrock For Granted 185

Rule 9 Remember That Misinformation Can Be Beautiful, Too 213

Rule 10 Keep An Open Mind 239

The Golden Rule Be Curious 265

Acknowledgments 281

Notes 285

Credits 307

Index 309

FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #785: THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK Edited by David Wingrove

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What was the state of Science Fiction in 1984? The answers can be found in THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK edited by David Wingrove. Wingrove provides several sections to give a wide range of information to the reader (just check out the Table of Contents below).

The book begins with an introduction by Brian Aldiss on the history of SF, following from his earlier Billion Year Spree (1973) and preparing for his revision of it with Wingrove as Trillion Year Spree (1986).

Then there are 40 pages on SF sub-genres by Brian Stableford (my favorite part of the book!):

I enjoyed the 10 superb vignettes by leading writers (Bradbury, Cowper, Le Guin, Silverberg, Sladek, Tuttle, Wolfe, Zelazny) revealing their own writing habits. While the pieces by Wingrove and Malcolm Edwards on sf publishing and criticism are informative, given the 1984 publishing date, these analysis’s are good for historical value only.

Finally, there’s the superbly grumpy and negative afterword by Kingsley Amis on why none of it is any good, at least none that has been published since his own New Maps of Hell in 1960.

THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK is a consumer’s guide to 880 novelists and more than 2000 works; a brief history of science fiction; 15 sub-genres of Science Fiction, analysis of major works; verbal pictures of science fiction writers at work while 12 writers explain their methods; a status report on science fiction publishing and checklist of science fiction magazines; science fiction criticism and checklist of critical works. Highly recommended! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

LINDA RONSTADT, COLLECTOR’S EDITION [3-CD Set]

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I found this 3-CD set of Linda Ronstadt songs in a local thrift store for a dollar. These 30 SONGS from this 2009 collection include most of Lonstadt’s hits from “You’re No Good” to “Blue Bayou.” Ronstadt charted 38 US Billboard Hot 100 singles. Twenty-one of those singles reached the top 40, ten reached the top 10, and one reached number one (“You’re No Good“).

Ronstadt skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s with the release of her multi-platinum, chart-topping albums “Heart Like a Wheel,” “Simple Dreams” and “Living in the USA,” which cemented her status as one of the decade’s leading musical stars. 

One of the most successful female singers of all time, Ronstadt has released 29 studio albums and sold over 100 million records across the genres of rock and roll, country and Latin music.  Dubbed the “First Lady of Rock,” Ronstadt is the only female artist to have released five consecutive platinum albums. Ronstadt is the recipient of 11 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award.

Diane and I saw Linda Ronstadt in concert in Buffalo in 1983 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Of course, it was a sell-out. Ronstadt delivered a rousing concert and earned plenty of applause. Beautiful voice and beautiful songs!

In a 2022 interview with “Today,” Ronstadt explained that she learned she was suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, an incurable brain disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease. 

I’ve been a fan of Linda Ronstadt and her music since the early 1970s. Are you a Linda Ronstadt fan? Do you have a favorite song?

TRACK LIST:

-1Silver Threads And Golden Needles Written-By – Reynolds*, Rhodes
1-2Poor, Poor Pitiful Me Written-By – Warren Zevon
1-3Tracks Of My Tears Written-By – Tarplin*, Robinson*, Moore*
1-4Love Is A Rose Written-By – Neil Young
1-5That’ll Be The Day Written-By – Holly*, Allison*, Petty
1-6Blue Bayou Written-By – Melson*, Orbison
1-7Someone To Lay Down Beside Me Written-By – Karla Bonoff
1-8Love Has No Pride Written-By – Kaz*, Titus
1-9It’s So Easy Written-By – Holly*, Petty
1-10Different Drum Band – The Stone Poneys Featuring – Linda Ronstadt Written-By – Mike Nesmith*Band 
2-1Tumbling Dice Written-By – Richards*, Jagger
2-2Back In The U.S.A. Written-By – Chuck Berry
2-3Ooh Baby Baby Written-By – Robinson*, Moore
2-4Just One Look Written-By – Payne*, Carroll*
2-5Hurt So Bad Written-By – Hart*, Weinstein*, Randazzo
2-6Heat Wave Written-By – Holland*, Holland*, Dozier
2-7You’re No Good Written-By – Clint Ballard Jr.
2-8Get Closer Written-By – Jonathan Carroll
2-9I Knew You When Written-By – Joe South
2-10Long, Long Lime Written-By – Gary White
3-1When Will I Be Loved Written-By – Phil Everly
3-2When Something Is Wrong With My Baby Featuring – Aaron Neville Written-By – Porter*, Hayes
3-3Someone To Watch Over Me Written-By – Gershwin*, Gershwin
3-4All My Life Featuring – Aaron Neville Written-By – Karla Bonoff
3-5How Do I Make YouWritten-By – Billy SteinbergWritten-By – Billy Steinberg
3-6When I Grow To Old To Dream Written-By – Hammerstein II*, Romberg
3-7What’s NewWritten-By – Haggart*, Burke*Written-By – Haggart*, Burke*
3-8Easy For You To Say Written-By – Jimmy Webb
3-9Don’t Know Much Featuring – Aaron Neville Written-By – Mann*, Weil*, Snow*
3-10Winter Light Written-By – Kaz*, Ronstadt*, Preisner

WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #166: THE OXFORD BOOK OF IRISH SHORT STORIES Edited by William Trevor

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In the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day, I decided to give a nod to my Irish heritage by reading The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories. I’ve had this book on my shelf for years so this seemed like the Right Time to finally read it. William Trevor does an excellent job selecting stories for this book. Trevor omitted George Bernard Shaw and Sean O’Casey “because they conveyed their ideas more skillfully in another medium; and Samuel Beckett…for the same reason.” (p. xvi)

Of the writers Trevor includes, James Joyce’s “The Dead,” Joyce Cary’s “Bush River,” Liam O’Flaherty’s “The Pelar’s Revenge and “The Fanatic” stood out to me. Trevor doesn’t hesitate to include more than one story for some of the authors.

The stories in The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories are arranged chronologically so the development of Irish literature is on display. If you’re interested in wonderful short stories with a wide variety of styles and sensibilities, I highly recommend you try The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories. Do you have a favorite Irish writer? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION — ix

Hour of death — 1

Fionn in search of his youth — 2

Cromwell and the friar — 3

Girl and the sailor — 9

Four-leafed shamrock and the cock — 11

Cow that ate the piper [folk-tales edited and translated from the Irish by Sean O’Sullivan] — 12

Conal and Donal and Taig [folk-tale translated and retold by Seumas MacManus] — 14

Adventures of a strolling player / Oliver Goldsmith — 19

Limerick gloves / Maria Edgeworth — 27

Death of a devotee / William Carleton — 52

Brown man / Gerald Griffin — 73

Green tea / Sheridan Le Fanu — 78

Albert Nobbs / George Moore — 109

Sphinx without a secret / Oscar Wilde — 152

Philippa’s fox-hunt / E. E. Somerville & Martin Ross — 157

Priest / Daniel Corkery — 172

Weaver’s grave / Seumas O’Kelly — 182

The Dead / James Joyce — 228

My little black ass / Padraic O Conaire — 267

Triangle / James Stephens — 271

Bush river / Joyce Cary — 277

The Pedlar’s revenge / Liam O’Flaherty — 287

The Fanatic / Liam O’Flaherty — 300

Her table spread / Elizabeth Bowen — 311

The Faithless wife / Sean O’Faolain — 319

The Sugawn chair / Sean O’Faolain — 338

Guests of the nation / Frank O’Connor — 342

The Majesty of the law / Frank O’Connor — 354

Pastorale / Patrick Boyle — 363

The Hare-lip / Martin O Cadhain — 375

The Poteen maker / Michael McLaverty — 382

The Ring / Bryan MacMahon — 388

Sarah / Mary Lavin — 392

Desert Island / Terence De Vere White — 401

The Pilgrims / Benedict Kiely — 412

Weep for our pride / James Plunkett — 425

Loser / Val Mulkerns — 437

The Bird I fancied / Aidan Higgins — 445

Death in Jerusalem / William Trevor — 455

The Diviner / Brian Friel — 471

An Occasion of sin / John Montague — 482

Irish revel / Edna O’Brien — 495

First conjugation / Julia O’Faolain — 515

The Beginning of an idea / John McGahern —

Life drawing / Bernard Mac Laverty — 541

Airedale / Desmond Hogan — 553

ACKLOWLEGEMENTS — 565

INDEX OF AUTHORS — 569