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.

Wednesday memin’

Posted on October 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? A Prophet without Honor, an alt-history novel told in letters about a German officer who leads to Hitler’s downfall in 1936. WHAT are you reading now? Precipice, Robert Harris. As Europe drifts into suicide … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Teases, round 2!

Posted on October 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

This week’s Teaser Tuesday! “My darling Rosamunde, I don’t wish you to remain in suspense during the reading of this letter. This is a proposal of marriage.” (A Prophet Without Honor, Joseph Wurtenbaugh and Manoj Vijayan) […] “My demented sister, … Continue reading →

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A Prophet Without Honor

Posted on September 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

A Prophet Without Honor without a doubt one of the more interesting alt-history novels I have ever read, in part because it is told not through a straight narrative, but via a collection of excerpts from letters, journals, telegrams, and … Continue reading →

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Moviewatch, September 2024

Posted on September 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

Reagan, 2024.   Biopic released 20 years after the Gipper’s death, this is an adoring take on Reagan’s life, based off of a Paul Kengor book called Crusader.  It’s framed as an aging Soviet  (Jon Voight)  trying to explain the effect … Continue reading →

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September 2024 in Review

Posted on September 29, 2024 by smellincoffee

It is entirely possible that I’ll finish another book tomorrow (I’m reading an interesting alt-history novel that’s told via letters, and depicts the failure of the Nazi regime in 1936), buuuut I wouldn’t bet on it given that I have … Continue reading →

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The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle

Posted on September 26, 2024 by smellincoffee

Albert Entwhistle has had the same routine for years: he goes to work, making his rounds as the village postman while carefully avoids any prolonged conversation, and then he goes home to spend the evening watching TV with his cat … Continue reading →

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And God Came In

Posted on September 25, 2024 by smellincoffee

A friend lent this to me, knowing of my love of all things C.S. Lewis. It’s a biography of Joy Davidman, a Jewish-American convert to Christianity who befriended Lewis over letters, then later moved to England and became his great … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday + Pensacola Pics

Posted on September 25, 2024 by smellincoffee

Plus today’s prompt from Long and Short Reviews, but that would make for a long title. WHAT have you finished reading recently? And God Came In, a biography of Joy Davidman, who became C.S. Lewis’ dearest friend, writing collaborator, and … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Books on my Autumn TBR

Posted on September 24, 2024 by smellincoffee

Hah! As if I have a defined TBR these days, so I’ll front-load this with upcoming releases. First the tease, per usual: Social media platforms are therefore the most efficient conformity engines ever invented. They can shape an adolescent’s mental … Continue reading →

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A Nation Interrupted

Posted on September 23, 2024 by smellincoffee

September 1862: Confederate scouts notice a Union courier riding at high speed. Taking their shot, they drop the rider and investigate as to what’s so important. Turns out that General Lee’s orders for a drive toward Washington via Maryland have … Continue reading →

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