Monthly Archives: September 2010

This Week at the Library (15 Sept – 29 Sept)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by smellincoffee

Recent reads… Casino, by Nicholas Pileggi, is the rise and fall of  of two real-life Mafia associates in Las Vegas. The Mao Case is a detective story with political implications set in contemporary Shanghai: Qiu’s detective is likable protagonist, so … Continue reading →

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African Exodus

Posted on September 29, 2010 by smellincoffee

African Exodus: the Origins of Modern Humanity© 1996 Christopher Stringer and Robin McKie282 pages “Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history…” Ever since Charles Darwin made that first and solitary reference to human evolution in … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Favorite Quotations

Posted on September 28, 2010 by smellincoffee

I forgot to post this last week, and decided to post it today instead of “Top Ten Favorite Book Couples“, which I can’t do as I don’t know that many book couples. I drew from the books I’ve read since … Continue reading →

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Teaser Tuesday (28 September)

Posted on September 27, 2010 by smellincoffee

Teaser Tuesday time!  In the heady days before consent forms and drop-of-a-hat lawsuits, patients didn’t realize what they might be in for if they underwent surgery at a teaching hospital, and doctors took advantage of this fact. While a patient … Continue reading →

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Barefoot Boy with Cheek

Posted on September 26, 2010 by smellincoffee

Barefoot Boy with Cheek (© 1943)From Max Shulman’s Large Economy Size © 1948207 pages Blessings on thee, little man, Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan! With thy turned-up pantaloons, And thy merry whistled tunes; With thy red lip, redder still Kissed … Continue reading →

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Stiff

Posted on September 24, 2010 by smellincoffee

Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers© 2003 Mary Roach303 pages Being dead is absurd. It’s the silliest situation you’ll find yourself in. Your limbs are floppy and uncooperative. Your mouth hangs open. Being dead is unsightly and stinky and embarrassing, … Continue reading →

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Booking through Thursday: Current

Posted on September 23, 2010 by smellincoffee

Booking through Thursday asks: What are you reading right now? What made you choose it? Are you enjoying it? Would you recommend it? (And, by all means, discuss everything, if you’re reading more than one thing!)I checked out The Life of … Continue reading →

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Teaser Tuesday (21 Sept)

Posted on September 20, 2010 by smellincoffee

Teases on Tuesdays sometimes come in threes. Here, anyway. Let us begin with fundamentals. The first requisite for a young writer is paper. You will find that the work will go much better if the paper has not been previously … Continue reading →

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The King of Torts

Posted on September 20, 2010 by smellincoffee

The King of Torts© 2003 John Grisham472 pages “Why won’t they just throw money at me to make me go away?” “Now you’re thinkin’ like a real mass tort boy!” Clay Carter is an underpaid and overworked Public Defender, providing … Continue reading →

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The Mao Case

Posted on September 19, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Mao Case: An Inspector Chen Novel© 2009  Qiu Xiaolong289 pages This novel’s title caught my attention, but the setting hooked me. A police mystery set in contemporary China? Eager to explore what is for me terra incognita, I happily … Continue reading →

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