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.

Worth reading: “What’s Become Of Us”?

Posted on May 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

Freya India writes today on not only how social makes us feel, but how it degrades us as people. Over time I’m becoming convinced that our most pressing concern isn’t that social media makes us feel worse about ourselves. It’s … Continue reading →

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Between stimulus and response, there is a space

Posted on May 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

Nearly twenty years ago I stumbled upon Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and the writings of the Stoics. I can’t tell you the exact story because too much time has passed: at the time I was not religious but had an inexplicable … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection, Religion and Philosophy | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

April 2024

Posted on May 1, 2024 by smellincoffee

Well, April didn’t quite go the way I’d expected. A lot of equipment turnover at the library + beginning of big archives project at the library + end-of-term assignments meant that after a few history reads, the only thing I … Continue reading →

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Moviewatch: April 2024

Posted on April 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

Bonnie and Clyde, 1963. Two poor teenagers set forth on a fund-raising tour of the midwest. Highly romanticized, but fun, with a great soundtrack.    Harold and Maude, 1971.       A morbid young man who goes to funerals for … Continue reading →

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To So Few

Posted on April 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

France has fallen, the British army barely got out of Europe running from Hitler’s panzers, and now Britain stands alone. Only her brave lads in the Hawker Hurricanes stand between Hitler and global domination! …well, the guys in the Spitfires, … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Top Ten Reasons We’d DNF’d a Book

Posted on April 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s TTT is picky reasons we’ve DNF’d books. Despite the number and variety of books I read, I’m rather picky about the ones I commit to, let alone buy, so it’s rare for me to DNF a book. I will … Continue reading →

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The Fall of Roman Britain

Posted on April 27, 2024 by smellincoffee

When we speak of the fall of the Roman empire, we’re usually engaging in hyperbole: Rome’s decline in Europe was more of a slow decay and transformation. In Britain, though, first Rome was there and then it wasn’t — and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Prince of Wales

Posted on April 26, 2024 by smellincoffee

Gwynedd calls for aid! A few years ago, the rightful king of Gwynedd, Lylwelyn, marched to the assistance of the Earl of Chesire, largely out of friendship to the Earl’s men Roger and Roland. Now, ambushed after a parlay with … Continue reading →

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The Dangerous Years

Posted on April 25, 2024 by smellincoffee

Hard to believe, but the bloody war’s over. Lieutenant Kelly McGuire distinguished himself as much as he was able, but it wasn’t much of a naval war, the Great One. But while the big war might be over, peace isn’t … Continue reading →

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The Ransomed Crown

Posted on April 23, 2024 by smellincoffee

Sir Roland Inness is returning to the hills he fled from as an outlaw, as a boy who’d slain three Norman men-at-arms for murdering his father and burning his home. He comes here not merely to pay respects to the … Continue reading →

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