Category Archives: General

Wiseguy

Posted on September 4, 2014 by smellincoffee

Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family © 1986 Nicholas Pileggi, Henry Hill 256 pages How does a boy from a nice family grow up to be a gangster? Well, it helps to live across the street from a mob-owned cab … Continue reading →

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The Sorrows of Empire

Posted on August 26, 2014 by smellincoffee

The Sorrows of Empire© 2009 David Mack464 pages In the original series episode “Mirror, Mirror”,  Star Trek heroes Kirk,McCoy Uhura, and Scotty inadvertently changed places with their counterparts in a mirror universe, alter egos who were agents of a galactic … Continue reading →

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The Maltese Falcon

Posted on August 23, 2014 by smellincoffee

The Maltese Falcon© 1929 Dashiell Hammeett217 pages “You have always, I must say, a smooth explanation ready.” “What do you want me to do, learn to stutter?”  A beautiful woman whose life is in danger; a streetwise and world-worn private … Continue reading →

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This week: TBR progress

Posted on August 18, 2014 by smellincoffee

This past week I was positively underwhelmed by The Bishop in the West Wing, a mystery novel by Andrew Greeley, a Catholic priest.  I’d hoped the novelty of a priest writing about a priest solving mysteries could make for an … Continue reading →

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To Reign in Hell (Rise and Fall of KHAAAAAAAAAAN #3)

Posted on August 15, 2014 by smellincoffee

To Reign in Hell: the Exile of Khan Noonien Singh©  2006 Greg Cox384 pages “No! This is not the end!  Khan Noonien Singh will never surrender, not to this accursed planet and not to the treacherous vagaries of fate. Hear … Continue reading →

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This week: demon rum

Posted on August 11, 2014 by smellincoffee

This week I finally finished Huckleberry Finn, though I’m not sure why it’s generally ranked higher than Tom Sawyer.  Presumably its assumed merit comes from it dealing with more serious themes, as a boy on an adventure has to choose between … Continue reading →

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And now, for something completely different:

Posted on August 3, 2014 by smellincoffee

Yesterday I spent the day in the area of Mobile, Alabama, and Dauphin Island, the latter of which is breathtakingly beautiful. I’ve never been to Mobile, but I wanted to visit because it seems so strange; a city technically part … Continue reading →

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Castles of Steel

Posted on July 31, 2014 by smellincoffee

Castles of Steel© 2004 Robert K. Massie880 pages Everyone’s recipe for cooking up the First World War is slightly different, but one essential ingredient is that of the arms races between various countries,  especially the Anglo-Germanic quest for naval supremacy. … Continue reading →

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The Rise and Fall of KHAAAAAAAN! Volume II

Posted on July 29, 2014 by smellincoffee

The Eugenics Wars: the Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume II© Greg Cox 2001434 pages  Having seized power in India and cultivated a network of spies and yes-men who will do his bidding throughout Asia, genetically engineered and … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Authors Who Live in my Stacks

Posted on July 29, 2014 by smellincoffee

This week’s top ten topic is an interesting one;  authors we own the most books of.  For the most part there’s a gulf between the authors I’ve read the most of and the books I own. I’ve read all of … Continue reading →

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