Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

The Prince

Posted on October 30, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Prince© 1532 Niccolo Machiavelli100 pages Italy, circa 1500, was a rough neighborhood. Divided between powerful city-centered states and frequently threatened by outside empires,  few rulers could rest on their laurels and enjoy a prolonged peace. Even if someone outside … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette

Posted on October 25, 2018 by smellincoffee

Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette: A Mostly Affectionate Account of a Small Town’s Fight to Survive© 2003 Bill Kauffman206 pages Bill Kauffman, as a kid, went places. Starting from a little town in upstate New York, he journeyed as far … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The Memory of Old Jack

Posted on October 24, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Memory of Old Jack© 1974 Wendell Berry223 pages “Now Old Jack, who was the last of that generation that Wheeler looked to with such fililial devotion, is dead. And Wheeler is fifty-two years old, as old as the century, … Continue reading →

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Oliver Twist

Posted on October 19, 2018 by smellincoffee

Oliver Twist© 1837 Charles Dickens447 pages “Please, sir, I want some more.”   I had never read or otherwise encountered Oliver Twist before this month, but I immediately recognized that quote. Something about little Oliver sticks in the minds of … Continue reading →

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Very Good, Jeeves

Posted on October 17, 2018 by smellincoffee

Very Good, Jeeves© 1930 P.G. Wodehouse304 pages This past Saturday I had a very happy surprise. Taking a break from a day of  sacking my closet, wardrobe, and bookcases to donate to charity and get me closer to my simple-living … Continue reading →

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The Shining

Posted on October 15, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Shining© 1977 Stephen King447 pages A recovering alcoholic and recently fired schoolteacher has taken a short-term gig as the winter caretaker of a luxury hotel nestled in the Colorado mountains.  The hotel is forced to close for the season … Continue reading →

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The Wisdom of Whimsy

Posted on October 12, 2018 by smellincoffee

Just spotted a podcast about the importance reading whimsy in the modern age — definitely giving that a listen tonight! Source: “The Wisdom of Whimsy“ “The world can feel awfully grim these days. My news app makes me nervous. But … Continue reading →

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An Iron Wind

Posted on October 11, 2018 by smellincoffee

An Iron Wind: Europe Under Hitler©  2016 Peter Fritzsche376 pages That crowds that cheered Neville Chamberlain’s return to England with a promise of peace in his hand are easy to condemn in hindsight. But no one in the 21st century … Continue reading →

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Frankenstein

Posted on October 9, 2018 by smellincoffee

Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus© 1818 Mary Shelley288 pages “Shall I respect man when he contemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness; and, instead of injury, I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Church of Spies

Posted on October 6, 2018 by smellincoffee

Church of Spies: The Vatican’s Secret War Against Hitler© 2015 Mark Riebling384 pages The Catholic Church was one of Hitler’s earliest enemies, barring its members from participating in the Nazi party and publicly condemning Hitler’s early actions once he had … Continue reading →

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