What Are You Reading

IMHO, no better superhero movie was ever made than Chris Nolan's Batman "The Dark Night."

It's all there - morality tales interweaving, good versus evil twisted this way and that, terrorist / terrorism analyzed, stretched and left exposed but unsettled. The Joker gives some of the most thought provoking morality speeches I've ever heard in a movie.

Batman is mentally and physically pulled every which moral way. To Lizzie's quote reference, his moral rigidity is all but broken inside a metaphor for everything society is facing today.

Batman is the most morally complex and interesting of the superheroes, who, not surprisingly, has no super power - he's all about will, motivation, judgement and intelligence.

Fading Fast said:

It's almost like he's cornered the market on "readable," erudite, historical insights on American Democracy.

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For all Tocqueville is, Burke's Reflections and Camus' equally prescient Algerian Chronicles somewhat bookend his Democracy and Ancien Regime.
Bromwich's excellent Burkean intellectual study based on correspondence and canon begs for a similar tome on Tocqueville; however much of the latter's writing
remains unpublished.

The latest issue of Consumer's Union Reports to come across my desk is the November 1936 issue, which includes several articles of interest.

The 1937 crop of radios comes up for review, with an interesting statement for those bought the sets new and those who collect them today -- the 1937 models in general offer greater value for the consumer dollar than any model year yet. But the Boys make it difficult to sort out exactly what new features are worthwhile and what others are shiny gimcrackery -- the profusion of "magic" this and "phantom" that and "focused" whatever, and "acoustic" what-not on this year's models tends to obscure certain realities of which the buyer must beware.

In general, CU recommends passing up any set with less than six tubes -- circuit design as of late 1936 does not offer really satisfactory reception in any set of five tubes or less, regardless of the marketing hype. But on the other hand, inflated tube count such as you'll find on high-end 12, 18, or 24-tube sets, offers little substantial improvement in measurable performance. In such cases, especially in the higher-end sets, such extra tubes are often superfluous, and are the result of intentionally poor design simply for the sake of boasting about more tubes. Some of the sets tested revealed that extra tubes were installed in positions in the circuit where they had no function at all: they lit up, but that was it.

The big feature boasted of by many manufacturers is "automatic frequency control," often sold under a fancy name like "Magnetic Tuning," "Magic Brain," or some other such obfuscationist trademark. CU finds that this function is generally not worth the added expense, and when improperly used or incorrectly calibrated, it can adversely affect the performance of the set. "Volume Expansion," a feature found on sets sold as "High Fidelity" models often *is* worth the added expense, as long as the purchaser doesn't expect the exaggerated results claimed in the advertising or by what we would call today "audiophools."

The best buy for 1937 is the Silvertone Model 4465, a large table model in the style referred to by modern collectors as a "tombstone model." It's an eight tube set sold by Sears for $34.50 complete, and produces superior performance on all bands, satisfying volume, and easy operation. The only criticism CU has is that the dial is too ornate, and the fussy ornamentation makes it difficult sometimes to read.

The Montgomery Ward equivalent of the above set, the Airline P-462-C-418, is Not Acceptable, with poor tone quality, loud hum, and a poorly-calibrated dial. The specimen purchased by CU arrived with three unsoldered connections, three others that required re-soldering, and one tube grid lead completely missing, indicating no quality control whatsoever at the factory.

Three major national brands, Philco, RCA Victor, and Crosley rate about the middle of the pack for quality. Unfortunately, no Zenith sets -- probably the most coveted 1937 models by collectors today for "style" reasons -- were tested, so we can't confirm whether these sets' notoriously poor power supply design was considered an issue when they were new.

A discussion of labor conditions in the radio manufacturing industry follows, with Philco workers, represented by the United Electrical and Radio Workers Union, enjoying the highest wages and best working conditions in the industry. Workers at the notoriously anti-labor Crosley Corporation must deal with the industry's lowest pay and oppression by a strong-arm squad of vicious thugs hired by management to keep them in line.

Another article of interest covers the 1937 toaster models -- with the Proctor Turn-o-Matic earning the Best Buy rating, although despite it's name it's not actually an automatic toaster. It does have a mechanism that turns the toast automatically when you open the side doors, but you still have monitor the toast itself. The Best Buy automatic is the Heatmaster Model 884 from Sears, with excellent performance and quality construction.

My own toaster, the Manning-Bowman Model 78 just misses Best Buy quality due to its tendency to toast unevenly on the bottom of the bread. My Manning-Bowman 78 displays exactly this issue.

And finally there's an advance look at the 1937-model automobiles, all of which promise greater fuel economy than those of previous years, and overall a better quality of engineering than has been seen previously. Design is also improved, though not as much as what's going on under the skin. The make-by-make ratings haven't been completed yet -- they'll appear once production has had a chance to even out any kinks. The least expensive car you can buy new is a Willys, which you can drive off the lot in New York for $570. A new Lincoln Zephyr will run you $1363.

Letters from the CU membership reveal mixed reaction to the Reports' discussion of liquor in recent issues. M. J. G. of Markesan, Wisconsin is militantly opposed to CU giving space to liquor ratings, given the immense social harm caused to the working class by the products of the alcoholic beverage industry. A. T. P. of Oakland, Nebraska agrees, pointing out that workers can ill afford to waste their money on a product proven to be harmful to their health. But G. A. D. of Philadelphia and J. H. of New York City both say, in essence, "bottoms up!" J. H. tempers his comment a bit, though, by pointing out that if people are determined to drink liquor they should be entitled to the same protection against fraud as the consumers of any other product.

On the editorial page, CU notes that it has been threatened with legal action by the proprietors of the Ronrico Company -- a distributor of Puerto Rican rum that's actually a front for the pharmaceutical company McKesson & Robbins -- for pointing out that its rum contained measurable levels of sulphuric acid. CU basically thumbs its nose at Ronrico and McKesson and their lawyers, and urges members to pressure their local health departments for an outright ban on the distribution of the product. "This is the kind of answer members should make to those who threaten to prevent CU from telling the truth." Bottoms up, indeed.

"Black Roses" by Jane Thynne, a recommendation from Forum member and author AmateisGal.

A solid novel that sits in the sub-genre of fiction books set in Nazi German that aren't full-on historical fiction (you kinda need to know the basic outline of the history of the period to fully follow this one - but you will learn some neat historical details) or mysteries as the suspense builds with the story but this isn't a "solve this event" book.

Instead, it's more a book for those interested in the period and looking for a lighter read that gives you the atmosphere of the period and city versus serious history or heavy fiction. And here, Ms. Thynne does an outstanding job of taking you, not only into 1930s German, but the home and mind of Joseph and Magda Goebbels. They serve as the unintentional spark for the heroine - a young English actress who moves to Germany for a acting opportunity, and a fresh start in life - to stumble into spying.

More would give too much away. My only complain is some 2016 moral / political ideology and preening seeps in as views on women's roles in society and hunting of animals are given a very modern sensibility for the "good" characters. That said, it's a fun read and solid entry in the world of fiction set in 1930s German.

Fading Fast said:

"Black Roses" by Jane Thynne, a recommendation from Forum member and author AmateisGal.

A solid novel that sits in the sub-genre of fiction books set in Nazi German that aren't full-on historical fiction (you kinda need to know the basic outline of the history of the period to fully follow this one - but you will learn some neat historical details) or mysteries as the suspense builds with the story but this isn't a "solve this event" book.

Instead, it's more a book for those interested in the period and looking for a lighter read that gives you the atmosphere of the period and city versus serious history or heavy fiction. And here, Ms. Thynne does an outstanding job of taking you, not only into 1930s German, but the home and mind of Joseph and Magda Goebbels. They serve as the unintentional spark for the heroine - a young English actress who moves to German for a acting opportunity, and a fresh start in life - to stumble into spying.

More would give too much away. My only complain is some 2016 moral / political ideology and preening seeps in as views on women's roles in society and hunting of animals are given a very modern sensibility for the "good" characters. That said, it's a fun read and solid entry in the world of fiction set in 1930s German.

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Glad you enjoyed it! I found the historical detail to be incredible. I know the next one in the series (5th, I think) was just released.

I have to admit, though, that in the four books I've read, there are a few that aren't as strong as the others. I suppose that happens in most series.

AmateisGal said:

Glad you enjoyed it! I found the historical detail to be incredible. I know the next one in the series (5th, I think) was just released.

I have to admit, though, that in the four books I've read, there are a few that aren't as strong as the others. I suppose that happens in most series.

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One thing I really liked - and tried to reflect in my earlier comments - is that she, basically, assumes you know the general history of the period and, instead, delves into an interesting corner - in this case, the Goebbels' marriage.

Most series lose some energy along the way and, then, hopefully, pick it up again.

Fading Fast said:

One thing I really liked - and tried to reflect in my earlier comments - is that she, basically, assumes you know the general history of the period and, instead, delves into an interesting corner - in this case, the Goebbels' marriage.

Most series lose some energy along the way and, then, hopefully, pick it up again.

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Yes. I really liked the inside look at the Nazi wives. Quite intriguing, and as the series goes on, there are other glimpses into the upper echelons of Nazi society.

AmateisGal said:

Yes. I really liked the inside look at the Nazi wives. Quite intriguing, and as the series goes on, there are other glimpses into the upper echelons of Nazi society.

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What is true - or seems true from my lowly position in the world - is that in totalitarian regimes there is as much fear of the state at the highest level as there is below. Magda knew her husband could have her killed (I doubt too many of the husbands and wives of, say, our secretary of state or commerce worry about that) and even the men in power - like Ernst Rohm - are only a flash away from falling out of favor and being killed. What a horrible construct where everyone lives in fear, always. People were always disappearing from the higher echelons of the USSR back in its day - that is no way to go through life.

The Dream of Enlightenment: The Rise of Modern Philosophy by Anthony Gottlieb

Gottlieb reads well and quite enjoyably, a former editor of The Economist but is somewhat unfair to Descartes.

I'm trotting along with Larry McMurtry's Western, Telegraph Days, a first-person tale of a young woman (think a rather libertine version of True Grit's Mattie Ross) who, after the death of their father, travels with her brother around the West of the 1870s, encountering Buffalo Bill Cody and Billy the Kid, among others. It's lively.

greatestescaper said:

I've not yet read Chandler nor have I seen the film version of The Thin Man and it took me two or three attempts to start The Thin Man before I read it all the way through. Ultimately I enjoyed it, but those first two or three times I'd start it, and about five or ten pages in found myself putting the book back on the shelf. Of course I really enjoyed The Maltese Falcon as well, but all of these discussions of Hammett and Chandler remind me of my interest in reading westerns. I was reared on Louis L'amour pulp westerns and it was not until college that a friend shared with me a copy of Elmer Kelton's The Good Old Boys. Since then I've gone on to read more of Kelton's work, and while I still enjoy L'amour, Kelton was quite the wordsmith and really had a way of capturing life in the American West. That said I would add that L'amour had a fantastic way of painting a fight scene that was full of detail, yet not overly cumbersome, and really read with the pacing of the action which I will always respect.

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The Western and the hardboiled crime novel have a great deal in common. Many authors who write in one genre have crossed over to the other -- Elmore Leonard began with Westerns like Hombre, which became that neat movie with Paul Newman, and Loren D. Estleman writes very good ones (his Page Murdock stories in particular like White Desert and Stamping Ground). So if you like the Western story, there are modern authors who love the genre too.

I had the same problem as you with Thin Man and Maltese Falcon when I first tried them in my teen years, and had it multiple times over many years. Finally I sat down and stuck with Falcon, and it was worth while.

The Italian Wife by Kate Furnivall, set in Italy in 1932. I haven't read a lot of fiction set in Fascist Italy before the war, so this is quite interesting.

Operation Nemesis by Eric Bogosian.

Greencanoes said:

Currently reading
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A Splendid Savage: The Restless Life of Frederick Russell Burnham
by Steve Kemper, 2016

A great book about an amazing character. Burnham scouted his way from the Indian Wars on the American frontier all the way to Africa where he fought in various conflicts in South Africa and Rhodesia including the Matabele and Boer Wars. He taught Robert Baden Powell everything he knew about military scouting and became a role model for Baden-Powell's boy scouting movement. Highly recommend.

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An interesting individual, indeed. I read his book, 'Scouting on Two Continents' many years ago. I was primarily interested in his part in the Boer War but it was an interesting read overall.

Currently re-reading my second favourite George MacDonald Fraser book, 'Flashman and the Redskins'. Not a particularly 'correct' title, but...it's Flashman, after all.

"The American Home Front 1941-1942" by Alistair Cooke

Rereading Larry Niven's Protector, his 1970s SF novel about an alien race called the Pak, from a star closer to the galactic center, who turn out to be . . . our ancestors. And not in the "these advanced humanoids landed on earth and were taken for gods" way, either.

Mildred Pierced by Stuart Kaminsky. I love this series (Toby Peters Mystery). They are set in the 1940's, and Toby Peters is a (reluctant) PI to the stars. This one, if you can't tell by the title, features Joan Crawford.

Vera Godfrey said:

Mildred Pierced by Stuart Kaminsky. I love this series (Toby Peters Mystery). They are set in the 1940's, and Toby Peters is a (reluctant) PI to the stars. This one, if you can't tell by the title, features Joan Crawford.

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I'm intrigued (respect your opinion and looked it up a bit on-line). Should I just jump in with this one or go back to the beginning of the series?

Fading Fast said:

I'm intrigued (respect your opinion and looked it up a bit on-line). Should I just jump in with this one or go back to the beginning of the series?

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The first one I read was Murder on the Yellow Brick Road (second in the series), but I never did get around to reading the first. You could jump in anywhere, but I recommend reading one or two from the beginning. After that, I think it's pretty fair game.
Thanks!

Another one by Stuart Kaminsky, A Few Minutes Past Midnight. This one features Charlie Chaplin.