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.

This week: the usual suspects

Posted on February 8, 2016 by smellincoffee

Well, dear readers, it’s another month! I have a serious itch for science and science fiction at the moment, so I have no less than five potential science reads stacked up now, and three potential SF books. Among the numbers…Domesticated: Evolution in … Continue reading →

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Unstoppable

Posted on February 6, 2016 by smellincoffee

Unstoppable: the Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State© 2014 Ralph Nader224 pages George Carlin groused that when he heard the word bipartisanship, he knew a larger than usual deception was in the works. Ralph Nader’s Unstoppable offers a different … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ten Stories by Isaac

Posted on February 4, 2016 by smellincoffee

Back in 2007, I discovered Isaac Asimov’s short stories and became a trifle obsessed with him, to the point that I have an entire bookcase devoted to his short stories, essays, novels and books.  Lately I’ve been feeling the itch … Continue reading →

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

Top Ten Tuesday: Historical Fiction, Half Off!

Posted on February 2, 2016 by smellincoffee

This week, the Broke and the Brookish inquire: what are your favorite settings for historical fiction? 1. Medieval Castles, lyres,  armies of armored men on horseback,  columns of swords-, spear- and bowmen…what’s not to like? Besides plagues, I mean. And..the … Continue reading →

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Posted on February 2, 2016 by smellincoffee

Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves© 2015 Adam Levin288 pages  Looking for a growth industry? Try identity theft. Over a third of Americans have experienced some degree of outside use of … Continue reading →

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Ain’t My America

Posted on January 31, 2016 by smellincoffee

Ain’t My America:  The Long and Noble History of Antiwar Conservatism and Middle Class Antimperialism ©  2008 Bill Kauffman 304 pages “You can have your hometown, or you can have the empire. You can’t have both.” You don’t have to … Continue reading →

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Taxi!

Posted on January 30, 2016 by smellincoffee

Taxi! A Social History of the New York City Cabdriver©  2007 Graham Russell Gao Hodges225 pages No film set in New York City is complete without scenes of Manhattan traffic, dense with yellow cars — the patrolling ranks of the … Continue reading →

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Fresh Air and a Fresh Look

Posted on January 27, 2016 by smellincoffee

It’s a new look for This Week at the Library! I’ve been yearning to get away from that dark theme for nearly two years now, but just couldn’t find the quintessential background. Then I realized: my old philosophy blog has … Continue reading →

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Warriors of the Storm

Posted on January 24, 2016 by smellincoffee

Warriors of the Storm© 2016 Bernard Cornwell320 pages “May God strike me dead this moment if I lie!”I drew Serpent-Breath, her blade scraping loud and fast on her scabbard’s throat.“Lord Uhtred!” Æthelflaed called out in alarm. “No!” Uhtred of Bebbanburg is … Continue reading →

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Future Crimes

Posted on January 24, 2016 by smellincoffee

Future Crimes; Everything is Connected, Everyone is Vulnerable, and What We Can Do About ItPaperback subtitle: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for Our Connected World © 2015 Marc Goodman608 pages “It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to … Continue reading →

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