*** Leonard Bernstein – The Joy of Music
*** Robert E. Howard – Bran Mak Morn

The Bernstein was very interesting and enjoyable, but I think I benefit more from Bernstein when I can hear him working through the music he’s talking about, as in his lectures on video.

Bran Mak Morn was very good, being full of Picts and Celts and Vikings all battling their way through the British isles. The basic grounding is historical, but from that basis, Howard goes in all kinds of fantastic directions. The storytelling and writing are definitely more grounded and less purple than his Conan books, and I enjoyed most of the stories.