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.

WWW Wednesday & Long and Short Prompt

Posted on November 27, 2024 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? Becky Chambers’ A Closed and Common Orbit, about two individuals’ struggle for self-realization. WHAT are you reading now? Sort of looking at The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, which seems cozy and heartwarming and … Continue reading →

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A Closed and Common Orbit

Posted on November 26, 2024 by smellincoffee

A Closed and Common Orbit follows closely on the heels of Becky Chambers’ A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, but departs from the good ship Wayfarer to tell instead two coming-of-age stories that prove conjoined. One character is … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Top Ten Thankful Freebie

Posted on November 26, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s TTT is a thankful freebie, so I’m going to highlight ten authors I’m glad to have found in the last year (or two). But first, tease time! My business is giving people what they need. You heard my rules. … Continue reading →

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A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Posted on November 22, 2024 by smellincoffee

Rosemary Harper is a newly certified clerk, fresh from college, signing aboard the good ship Wayfarer for her first gig. It’s going to be a long one, too: galactic politics have just opened up the possibility of a lucrative job … Continue reading →

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

Eruption

Posted on November 21, 2024 by smellincoffee

There’s trouble brewing in paradise. Rumblings and earthquakes and the swelling of Mauna Loa indicate that an eruption is imminent, and it may be a big one, threatening the single urban area on Hawaii’s Big Island. Unfortunately, the situation is … Continue reading →

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The Answer is No

Posted on November 20, 2024 by smellincoffee

I’ve gotten to really like Fredrik Backman this year, and by happy luck his short story “The Answer is No” was available as a ‘first read’ for Amazon prime subscribers. It’s the story of a happy loner named Lucas, who … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday + Long and Short Prompt + Sci Fi Prompt

Posted on November 20, 2024 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? The Gulf, a big ol’ history of the Gulf of Mexico, which I’ve fallen for completely. I don’t mean beach-combing and eating shrimp & grits, I mean just being smitten by the energy of … Continue reading →

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What If? 2

Posted on November 19, 2024 by smellincoffee

A few years back I read a silly science book called What If? in which the author of the webcomic XKCD (known for its math and science humor), tackled preposterous questions with scientific seriousness. On seeing the sequel available via … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday: Random Goodreads Picks + Teaser Tuesday

Posted on November 19, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s treble-T is the oldest-published books on our TBR list but that sounds like work and I’m in grad school so I abstain. (Courteously.) Instead, I’m going to ask AI for ten random numbers, check those numbers against my Goodreads … Continue reading →

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The Illustrated Man

Posted on November 18, 2024 by smellincoffee

I’ve read to encounter a Bradbury piece that didn’t give me food for though, and The Illustrated Man is no exception. A collection of short stories framed by a mysteriously-tattooed stranger showing off his array of colorful and ever-changing ‘illustrations’, … Continue reading →

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