Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

April 2022 in Review

Posted on May 2, 2022 by smellincoffee

April on ReadingFreely is always marked by Read of England, my annual focus on English literature and history. This year it was half history and half historical fiction. Climbing Mount Doom:Dr. Johnson’s London, Liza PicardDangerous Passions, Deadly Sins: Learning from … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 6 Comments

Your one wild and precious life

Posted on May 1, 2022 by smellincoffee

It’s been raining buckets this weekend, but after lunch the sun came out, and I threw on my gym shorts and beaten tennis shoes and hit the road. Water covered lawns, filled ditches, flooded the street — but the bright … Continue reading →

Posted in General, quotations | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A Sea Unto Itself

Posted on April 28, 2022 by smellincoffee

A Sea Unto Itself© 2013 Jay Worrall272 pages Amid the bloodshed and chaos of the French revolution, a singular figure has emerged: General Napoleon Bonaparte, a minor Corsican nobleman who distinguished himself on the field of battle and now has … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Crusader

Posted on April 27, 2022 by smellincoffee

Crusader© 2021 Ben Kane426 pages Lionheart introduced readers to Rufus, an Irish noble turned household knight in the court of England’s own King Richard. Exiled to England as a surety for his father’s good behavior, made an orphan by insurrection … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Churchill’s Shadow Raiders

Posted on April 18, 2022 by smellincoffee

Churchill’s Shadow Raiders: The Race to Develop Radar, World War II’s Invisible Secret Weapon© 2020 Damien Lewis 416 pages A decade ago, in reading Electric Universe, I was delighted to learn about Operation BITING, one of World War 2’s more extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Bringing the dead to life

Posted on April 17, 2022 by smellincoffee

Just a cool thing I saw earlier today. The modern stills have some AI-induced movement, so viewers can see Henry VIII’s jowls tremor as he eyes yet another woman he can marry after beheading or killing her predecessor.

Posted in General | Tagged | 3 Comments

Churchill’s Band of Brothers

Posted on April 14, 2022 by smellincoffee

Band of Brothers: WW2’s Most Daring D-Day Mission and the Hunt to Take Down Hitler’s War Criminals© 2021 Damien Lewis400 pages A few months back, I read D-Day Girls, a history of SOE operatives who prepared the way for Operation … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Sharpe’s Devil

Posted on April 10, 2022 by smellincoffee

Sharpe’s Devil: Chile, 1820© 1992 Bernard Cornwell280 pages Twelve years ago, Cyberkitten introduced me to Richard Sharpe, and for the next two years I happily followed him through India, Iberia, and France. These days I am forced to look for … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Lionheart

Posted on April 6, 2022 by smellincoffee

Lionheart© 2020 Ben Kane400 pages A noble son of Ireland is transported to England as a hostage to secure his father’s loyalty, and the adventure of a lifetime begins. Abused and ill-treated by the petty lords who are given custody … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Drunk Flies and Stoned Dolphins

Posted on April 4, 2022 by smellincoffee

Drunk Flies and Stoned Dolphins: A Trip through the World of Animal Intoxication© 2021 One R. Pagan320 pages Drunk Flies and Stoned Dolphins promises readers amusing stories of animal intoxication, but delivers instead a serious but enjoyable look at animal … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 7 Comments