Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

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 →

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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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The Iran Wars

Posted on October 3, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Iran Wars: Spy Games, Bank Battles, and the Secret Deals that Reshaped the Middle East © 2016 Jay Solomon 352 pages When the young people of Iran hit the streets in protest about suspicious election returns in 2009, the … Continue reading →

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Oktoberfest and Octoberfright

Posted on October 2, 2018 by smellincoffee

Well, dear readers, it’s October again.  I’ll be opening with a nod to German history, this time with a WW2 emphasis as I’m trying to address my TBR pile of doom.  I’m sure it will go down smoothly  with a … Continue reading →

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Within Arm’s Reach

Posted on October 1, 2018 by smellincoffee

Within Arm’s Length: The Extraordinary Life and Career of a Special Agent in the United States Secret Service © 2014, 2018 Dan Emmett 320 pages Dan Emmett was a kid when he witnessed President Kennedy’s assassination on television, but instead … Continue reading →

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

Build Your Own PC for Dummies

Posted on September 29, 2018 by smellincoffee

Build Your Pwn PC For Dummies© 2009 Mark Chambers336 pages Both my increasing interest in learning how to work with computer hardware, and my nephew’s desire to build a gaming computer,  have led to me watching hours of build videos … Continue reading →

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The Looming Tower

Posted on September 28, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Looming Tower: Al-Queda and the Road to 9/11 © 2006 Lawrence Wright 480 pages “[…] we’re told that they were zealots, fueled by religious fervor…religious fervor. And if you live to be a thousand years old, will that make … Continue reading →

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