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.

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates

Posted on July 11, 2025 by smellincoffee

“From the halls of MONteZUUUUUUMA, to the shores of Tripoli” — ever wonder where that Tripoli business comes from? While I’d sometimes encountered references to the early United States having issues with pirates in the Med in its early history, … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Friends Divided

Posted on July 9, 2025 by smellincoffee

When I first read Gordon S. Wood, his Revolutionary Characters annoyed me in its short shrift given John Adams. Adams was one of the earliest voices inveighing against Parliament’s abuses of the American colonies, and I was flabbergasted that he … Continue reading →

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

WWW Wednesday and Visiting Literary Worlds

Posted on July 9, 2025 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? Friends Divided, Gordon S. Wood. This book is why I’ve been so review-quiet the last week: it’s a beefy boy. WHAT are you currently reading? I’m listening to Kenneth Branagh read The Magician’s Nephew, … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Top Ten Books I’d Like to Re-Read

Posted on July 8, 2025 by smellincoffee

Today’s topic makes me sigh a bit on the inside,because one of my intended themes for 2025 was “The Great Re-Read”, in which I’d re-read a few books that played substantial parts in changing my thinking 10-15 years ago. So … Continue reading →

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Sean Bean, King Arthur, and Twelve Other Angry Men

Posted on July 7, 2025 by smellincoffee

Over the weekend I listened to two audiobooks: Sean Bean reading King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, an edition collected by Benedict Flynn; and an ensemble cast performing the original teleplay of Twelve Angry Men, the classic … Continue reading →

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Stephen Fry Reads Harry Potter

Posted on July 4, 2025 by smellincoffee

One of my favorite audiobook narrators is Stephen Fry, whose version of the Harry Potter series is one I’ve heard about from the very first time I tried a Harry Potter novel back in August 2007. (Interestingly, Jim Dale’s Harry … Continue reading →

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The changing look of “reference”.

Posted on July 3, 2025 by smellincoffee

Today while looking through library photos in hopes of finding shots that would make it possible for me to find where we buried a time capsule in 1995, I saw one that begged for a “Then and Now” type framing. … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday

Posted on July 2, 2025 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? Uncharted, a history of the 2024 campaign; and kinda sorta Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I listened to most of the audiobook read by Stephen Fry, finished it in print, and am continuing … Continue reading →

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Teasin’ Tuesday and June 2025 in Review

Posted on July 1, 2025 by smellincoffee

Gloriosky, is it July already? June is gone, and with it, half of 2025. Today I’m going to combine my monthly wrap-up with Tuesday meming — first the tease, then the top ten! Teaser Tuesday The strongest version of a … Continue reading →

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

Moviewatch: June 2025

Posted on June 30, 2025 by smellincoffee

I’m reasonably sure I won’t be watching a movie tonight, so here’s this month’s movie list! Edit: I watched a movie, but you’ll have to wait an entire month to find out which one. She’s All That, 1999. Another movie … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged | 2 Comments