Author Archives: smellincoffee

Unknown's avatar

About smellincoffee

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

COVID Reviews #5: Star Trekkin’ Across the Universe

Posted on October 8, 2020 by smellincoffee

This week I’ve been finishing the Vanguard series, set in the Original Series timeline and unfolding concurrently with the first three seasons of Star Trek. The first novel opened with the Enterprise enroute to its “Where No Man Has Gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Wisdom Wednesday: The gift of now

Posted on October 6, 2020 by smellincoffee

This WW is taken from a Star Trek novel, Storming Heaven by David Mack “Be glad for all the places you get to be, and everyone you meet along the way. It’s human nature to focus on beginnings or endings, … Continue reading →

Posted in quotations | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Any Approaching Enemy

Posted on October 6, 2020 by smellincoffee

France roils in revolution, its armies are opposed to most of Europe, and on the seas the Royal Navy is hunting its prey. A large French fleet is out and about — doing what, no one is sure. But they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

COVID Reviews #4: Persians, Nukes, and Bugs

Posted on October 5, 2020 by smellincoffee

On Wednesday I will have my COVID retest, annnnd I hope to have an answer by Thursday or Friday if I am fit for public consumption. I hope so: being in quarantine is a bit like being in a nursing … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

COVID Reviews #3: Romans, Dogs, and Saudis

Posted on October 2, 2020 by smellincoffee

I don’t know if anyone misses my usual chatty, sometimes florid reviews, but they’re impossible to do on a phone. More mini-reviews it is! Continuing my onslaught of the TBR pile, I finished Lives of Famous Romans, by Olivia Coolridge. … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Scaling Mount Doom: September 2020

Posted on October 1, 2020 by smellincoffee

Beginning last month, I decided to start doing a monthly ‘face-the-verdict’ post  to help me stay focused on my TBR takedown, and the related goal of further minimizing my book collection. This month bears witness to the fact that I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 5 Comments

COVID Reviews #2: Afghans and Turks and Austrians, oh my!

Posted on September 30, 2020 by smellincoffee

Khaled Hosseini’s third book is also his most unusual. His previous two books followed friendships which which were forged, broken, and tested over the years as Afghanistan reeled from one chaotic event to another. And the Mountains Echoed is more … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Top Ten Favorite Quotes

Posted on September 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

Top ten favorite quotations from books is a…daunting challenge,  to say the least. I’ve been reading purposefully since 2006,  and have encountering a great many challenging or insightful words since then. I am sorry that these all run together,   but … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 5 Comments

Of Putin, Hamilton, wars, and corona

Posted on September 27, 2020 by smellincoffee

I entered quarantine on Tuesday, immediately after having my COVID test done. Since then my physical condition has improved (coughing is minimal, energy levels are much better) although until I test negative I’m still locked away from the public. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Corona diary with extra corona

Posted on September 24, 2020 by smellincoffee

This update is a bit different because I’m typing on my phone. I’m making arrangements now for a 2 week quarantine. Unfortunately, I have the plague. It’s a mild thing — I would not have thought to test for it … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 7 Comments