I read Niall Ferguson’s history of finance and the banking system, The Ascent of Money, when it came out last year. I found it a breezy historical survey. Tonight on PBS, we’ll see Niall Ferguson turn his book into video. I’ve read several of Ferguson’s books. He’s an engaging writer. In interviews, he comes off as a very smart but personable academic. If you’re interested in money, the financial system, and dry British humor you might want to check this out. Tonight is the first of four episodes to be broadcast on Wednesday nights. Check your local PBS listings for times.

I own about a dozen sets of these Beethoven concertos. So why buy another set? The answer is Richard Goode. Richard Goode is one of my favorite pianists. I have practically every CD he’s ever recorded. Goode’s approach is always intelligent and original. He finds aspects of the music you haven’t heard before. This set displays Goode’s skill and panache. The Budapest Festival Orchestra with Ivan Fischer is more than adequate. There are flasher performers, but Goode’s approach is sleek and stylish without excesses. I love these performances with Goode’s crisp, clean playing. GRADE: A

From the first song, “The Calculation,” to the last song on the CD, “Man of a Thousand Faces,” Regina Spektor’s distinctive, plaintive voice and her piano playing deliver a captivating experience. I loved Regina Spektor’s Begin to Hope CD from a couple years ago, but this new CD has more energy and variety. If you like Neko Case, you’ll love Regina Spektor. GRADE: A

I’ll be interested to see how the “new” Miss Marple, Julia McKenzie, does in her first of four PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY episodes. Again, like in the novel version of Cat Among the Pidgeons where Poirot makes his appearance two-thirds of way into the story, Miss Marple shows up about half-way (Chapter 13 of 28) into A Pocket Full of Rye. I’m assuming she’ll show up sooner in the TV version. Wealthy Rex Fortescue collapses in his office, poisoned. There are plenty of people who wanted the odious Fortescue dead: his sons, their wives, and his own hot, sexy wife. But then other murders occur that fit the pattern of an old nursery rhyme. Miss Marple is the only one who can see the murderer’s design. A Pocket Full of Rye was published in 1953 when Christie was at the top of her game. GRADE: A-

Although Robert van Gulik wrote Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (aka, Dee Goong An) first, in the chronology of the Judge Dee series, The Chinese Gold Murders is the first book. Set in the year 663, Judge Dee becomes the magisrate of Peng-lai, a fictional district on the northeast coast of China. Judge Dee’s predecessor had been murdered so that’s the first priority of the investigation. A tiger is terrorizing the countryside, the ghost of the murdered magistrate appears, the body of a murdered monk has been placed in the wrong grave, and a prostitute delivers a secret message to Judge Dee. From this tangle of events, Judge Dee solves the crimes in his own quirky style with the help of his colorful staff. There are seventeen books in the Judge Dee series. I’ve read them all, loved them all, and recommend them unabashedly. Be warned: like potato chips, once you read one of these excellent books, you’ll find it nearly impossible to stop reading Judge Dee’s adventures.

Earlier this month, Kent Morgan wrote about John Williams’ Into the Badlands: Travels Through Urban America for Patti Abbott’s FORGOTTEN BOOKS FRIDAY. It sounded interesting so I picked up a copy and a copy of its sequel, Back to the Badlands: Crime Writers in the USA. Back in 1988, John Williams left England to tour the USA by interviewing crime writers. Into the Badlands includes interviews with James Lee Burke, James Crumley, James Ellroy, Joe Gores, James Hall, Gar Anthony Haywood, Carl Hiaasen, George V. Higgins, Tony Hillerman, Eugene Izzi, Joseph Koenig, Elmore Leonard, Sara Paretsky, Nick Tosches, and Andrew Vachss. Plus, Williams gives his opinions of restaurants, cab drivers, and American culture in general. Back to the Badlands was published in 2005. The first half of the book is an abridged version of Into the Badlands. The second half features interviews with Vicki Hendricks, Kem Nunn, Kinky Friedman, Daniel Woodrell, and George Pelecanos. I enjoyed both books. GRADE: B (FOR BOTH)

Six months ago, if someone told me that the posting that would generate the most comments would be about a British science fiction writer (E. C. Tubb) and that the I would receive the most vehement comments as a result of a lukewarm review of a 73 year old performer (Leonard Cohen), I would have thought they were crazy. I want to thank Bill, Patti, Jeff, Art, Rick, Todd, Tina, Cap’n Bob, Steve, Beth, Drongo, Fiona, Grady, Pat, Ed, David, Philip, Fay, Craig, Lee, Anna, and all the commentators who keep this blog alive. Special thanks goes to my son, Patrick, who created this blog for me as a Christmas present, my daughter Katie, who monitors its content and keeps me from being too politically incorrect (it’s not her fault when I go over the line), and my wife, Diane, who deals with my obsessive/compulsive tendencies with patience and amusement. Thank you, thank you all.

I’m a sucker for books like this. Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature’s Greatest Hits is a breezy guide through World Literature. Jack Murnighan’s approach is to summarize the book humorously, then talk about the best lines, and finally, what to skip. Murnighan has a Ph.D. in medieval and renaissance literature. It shows in some of his favorite picks like Milton’s Paradise Lost. I have a few quibbles. Murnighan picks Wings of the Dove by Henry James as his best book. I’d probably go with Portrait of a Lady or the underrated The Bostonians. Murnighan does a nice job on recommending translations by giving examples. I had a wonderful time with this book! GRADE: B+

Daedalus is having a DVD sale, but the item that caught my eye and my wallet was THE COMPLETE MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS. We’re talking about 36+ hours on 21 DVDs for only $44.98. AMAZON wants $84.99 for the same thing. The list price is $150.95 so you’re saving Big Bucks! Go to www. salebooks.com and start saving!