Category Archives: General

What I Read in 2025

Posted on December 31, 2025 by smellincoffee

Books in bold are superior favorites. I’ve been trying to whip one of my drafts of Provoked into shape fit for posting but am still not happy yet. It will happen, though. I’m close. January(1) Strange Weather in Tokyo, Hiromi … Continue reading →

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The Best of 2025 — Annual Year in Review!

Posted on December 31, 2025 by smellincoffee

Here we are at the end of another year. After the distressing takeover of fiction in 2024,  I was determined to not let that happen again. Then entered CJ Box, whose 26-strong Joe Pickett series lassoed my intentions off their … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday – 2025’s Last One!

Posted on December 31, 2025 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finish reading recently? Marce Catlett: The Force of Story, Wendell Berry. WHAT are you currently reading? President without a Party, Christopher Leahy. An ….incredibly…..detailed….policy history of the Tyler presidency. Also, Jon Meacham’s biography of Andrew Jackson. I … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Movie Favorites for 2025

Posted on December 30, 2025 by smellincoffee

Today’s TTT is our ten most recent acquisitions, but I’m going to be wicked and do my top ten favorite films watched for this year, instead. But first, the Teaseday Tues! [Tyler] was an Old Republican who pledged fealty to … Continue reading →

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Science Survey, 2025!

Posted on December 28, 2025 by smellincoffee

Yes, despite entering the month with three items pending, and despite my history obsession and the sloth that comes with the holidays, I knocked out Chemistry/Physics, Biology, and Local Astronomy this past week. Hurrah for the Christmas holidays! ….reviews will … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday

Posted on December 24, 2025 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? Bosom Friends, a book examining the alliance between James Buchanan and William Rufus King, and Zachary Taylor, a biography of President Zachary Taylor. Also, Millard Fillmore by the aptly named Finkleman. I will not … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Titles Most Recently Added to my Goodreads TBR

Posted on December 23, 2025 by smellincoffee

Today’s treble T is books we hope Santy Clause leaves, or bookish wishes in general.  The compulsory gift-giving is my least favorite part of Christmas, at least when small children aren’t involved – especially when absurd scenarios like adults taking … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday

Posted on December 17, 2025 by smellincoffee

WHAT have you finished reading recently? James Buchanan, Jean H. Baker. WHAT are you reading now? Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and Willliam Rufus King, Thomas Balcerski, and 1858 by Bruce Chadwick WHAT are you reading next? … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Books On my “Winter” TBR

Posted on December 16, 2025 by smellincoffee

Today’s treble-T is books we think we will be reading this winter. As I did in summer and fall, I want to first look back at the prior quarter’s TBR predictions and see how I did. I did….poorly. Of the … Continue reading →

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From Hero to Zero: Franklin Pierce

Posted on December 13, 2025 by smellincoffee

Franklin Pierce wasn’t high on my interest list of presidents to read about for this America @ 250 project until I learned that he was intimate friends with Jefferson Davis and his wife Varina. Pierce and Davis served together in … Continue reading →

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