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.

Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, and Joyeux Noel!

Posted on December 25, 2020 by smellincoffee

Whoever and whereever you are, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the day be filled with good food, good times with people you love, and all the joy in the world.

Posted in General | 8 Comments

O, holy night —

Posted on December 24, 2020 by smellincoffee

I dare you to watch this and not weep.

Posted in General | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Screwtape Letters

Posted on December 23, 2020 by smellincoffee

In the 1940s, as war waged in Europe, another war raged in England:  a struggle for one man’s soul. Advised by his uncle Screwtape, a young demon faced with a new convert to Christianity must work overtime to stifle his … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion and Philosophy, Reviews | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

1913: A Year of Gossip

Posted on December 21, 2020 by smellincoffee

I reviewed this title on goodreads, I described it as “People magazine for prewar Germany & Austria, with Louis Armstrong and a stray Frenchman thrown in for good measure.” There’s no traditional narrative, more a long series of vignettes that … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Present Concerns and even more Lewis quotes

Posted on December 17, 2020 by smellincoffee

Although Present Concerns’ title makes it sound as though it consists of essays by Lewis written about 1940s issues,   the contents still speak to our present day.  One of the passages, quoted to me from a friend, leapt out … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Society and Culture | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Diabolical fragments: selections from Screwtape

Posted on December 16, 2020 by smellincoffee

I recently re-read The Screwtape Letters for Advent, and would have posted a review but realized I rather liked the draft review I’d written in 2013 more, so now I’m trying to graft the best of one onto the other, … Continue reading →

Posted in quotations | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Wisdom Wednesday: Live despite Death

Posted on December 16, 2020 by smellincoffee

Recently a friend was kind enough to bring this article to my attention. It’s from C.S. Lewis, written in 1948 to address the growing fears of his contemporaries, who were shaken by the spectre of Hiroshima and unnerved by the … Continue reading →

Posted in quotations | Tagged | 5 Comments

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

Posted on December 15, 2020 by smellincoffee

Ruth at A Great Book Study shared a fun little book game called “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, where a book is used to fit the lyrics of the song. She did a Little House on the Prairie spin! I … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 3 Comments

Books on my Winter TBR

Posted on December 15, 2020 by smellincoffee

This week, the Artsy Reader Girl is taking a look at our Top Ten Books on Winter TBRs! What are you reading as Christmas approaches and hope for a corona-free future looms? Ends of the Earth: The Polar Regions of … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 13 Comments

Nutcracker novel giveaway!

Posted on December 11, 2020 by smellincoffee

Fellow book blogger Marian H is hosting a giveaway for her new book, Drosselmeyer’s Dream, a fantasy novel inspired by The Nutcracker. How perfect for Christmas! I haven’t visited this story since childhood, so I’m curious myself to see what … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments