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.

COVID has infected my gaming

Posted on August 9, 2020 by smellincoffee

Between the corona chill and the sweltering heat outside, I haven’t been doing much out-and-abouting with friends  —  I had a close circle who I was seeing every weekend, but  now it’s more of a every two-weeks kind of thing … Continue reading →

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Progress report of sorts

Posted on August 7, 2020 by smellincoffee

A few weeks back, I read an article from Leo Babauta, of Zen Habits,  which  offered readers both an observation and a challenge: You can go to the latest memes and viral videos (which are fun!) … or you can … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 4 Comments

The Architecture of Happiness

Posted on August 5, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Architecture of Happiness © 2006 Alain de Botton 280 pages I never thought much about the meaning of architecture until attending a lecture by James Howard Kunstler, given at my university in autumn 2008, entitled “Peak Oil and the … Continue reading →

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Wisdom Wednesday: Perspective

Posted on August 5, 2020 by smellincoffee

This week, I’m bringing together four different quotes, all with a similar perspective —   one on the value of books to the pursuit of wisdom. “Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and … Continue reading →

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Literary humor in RDR2

Posted on August 1, 2020 by smellincoffee

I’m currently wrapping up my fourth playthrough of RDR2, and am continuing to discover new things.  Recently while looting the body of some poor unfortunate (he had a case of bad manners, which I remedied with liberal application of fisticuffs) … Continue reading →

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The End of October

Posted on August 1, 2020 by smellincoffee

The End of October © 2020 Lawrence Wright 482 pages COVID-19 gotcha down? Cheer up! It could be worse. A lot worse. Like…the US president dying on live television, bleeding from the eyes worse.   The End of October was published … Continue reading →

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

Darth Plagueis

Posted on July 31, 2020 by smellincoffee

Darth Plagueis © 2012 James Luceno 498 pages Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the wise? ….it’s not a story the Jedi would tell you.   Beginning decades before The Phantom Menace, and culminating in its end,  Darth … Continue reading →

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In the Garden of Beasts

Posted on July 30, 2020 by smellincoffee

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin © 2011 Erik Larson 432 pages In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt needed a man for a post no one wanted to fill: US Ambassador to Germany.  … Continue reading →

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

Re-read: The Ethical Assassin

Posted on July 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Ethical Assassin © 2006 David Liss 336 pages A few weeks ago for TTT,  I mentioned David Liss as an author who made me smile, and happened to think  about the first novel I read by him, The Ethical … Continue reading →

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How do you read? A bookish meme

Posted on July 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

Ruth from A Great Book Study recently posted a survey I thought of interest, so I’m participating.  Feel free to join in! Do you have a certain place at home for reading? I favor a cozy chair in the living … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 6 Comments