Monthly Archives: December 2021

What I Read in 2021

Posted on December 31, 2021 by smellincoffee

Books in bold are superior favorites. — January — 1. Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell us About Ourselves, Frans de Waal 2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll (CCSB)3. Permanent Record, Edward Snowden4. The Old Man and … Continue reading →

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A southern trilogy: Rick Bragg’s folks

Posted on December 30, 2021 by smellincoffee

All Over but the Shoutin’ is perhaps Rick Bragg’s most well-known work, beginning a trilogy that, in its focus on one family in the early and mid-20th century,   takes readers into the generally ignored territory of the poor white working class of the South.   … Continue reading →

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Quotes from Rick Bragg’s family trilogy

Posted on December 30, 2021 by smellincoffee

ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN’   “I know how silly and paranoid that sounds, especially coming from a man who gets a perverse thrill from taking chances. But it is a common condition of being poor white trash: you are always … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Tuesday: My Ten Favorite Reads from 2021

Posted on December 27, 2021 by smellincoffee

Final Top Ten Tuesday of 2021! The Old Man and the Boy, Robert Ruark. Stories of a young boy growing up under the watchful eye and biting wit of his grandfather, who teaches him to be a man who lives … Continue reading →

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Science Survey 2021

Posted on December 27, 2021 by smellincoffee

In the last four years it’s been my habit to structure my science reading, mitigating my tendency of reading some subjects devotedly and ignoring the others (‘others’ almost always being physics and chemistry.) This year I completed the survey early, … Continue reading →

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Wide open spaces: riding with state troopers and a British lass

Posted on December 26, 2021 by smellincoffee

Goals and ambitions disappear in the glow of Christmas lights, lost in the end-year hubbub and reflection. I’ve been taking it easy by reading a couple of on-the-job memoirs, one by a Nevada state trooper and the other by a … Continue reading →

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Thoughts from Philosophy: Who Needs It

Posted on December 22, 2021 by smellincoffee

In early November I finished reading Philosophy: Who Needs It by Ayn Rand. Her works are so much of one piece that every time I’ve started tinkering with a review I find it repeats some of the same assessments of … Continue reading →

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On protecting, serving, and burying

Posted on December 22, 2021 by smellincoffee

Merry Christmas week, all! Some book comments for you amid a busy holiday week… The first, Police Craft is a sequel to the author’s 400 Things Cops Know, which shared insights on how cops view the world — reading body … Continue reading →

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The Speckled Beauty

Posted on December 16, 2021 by smellincoffee

The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and his People© 2021 Rick Bragg256 pages There’s no bond like that between a boy and his dog – except, maybe, that of an old man and his dog.   Rick Bragg never meant to adopt “Speck”, the mangy and … Continue reading →

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Readin’ Dixie: The Index

Posted on December 13, 2021 by smellincoffee

Pursuant to my goal of reading more southern history and literature, I’m creating an index to get an at-a-glance idea of areas I’ve read more in or have ignored. I’m planning on developing this more in 2022! LAND, LITERATURE, and … Continue reading →

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