Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Spain in the Southwest

Posted on May 5, 2017 by smellincoffee

Spain in the Southwest: A Narrative History© 2013 John Kessell480 In the early 1500s, the Spanish triumphed over the Aztecs and established a new Spain — an empire forged out of the new world.  The equatorial tropics were only the … Continue reading →

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Captain to Captain

Posted on May 2, 2017 by smellincoffee

Captain to Captain© 2016 Greg Cox368 pages Captain Kirk is surprised to be hailed by the formidable former first officer of the Enterprise, a woman so accomplished she still retains the nickname “Number One”, enroute to a little shore leave. … Continue reading →

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Departing England

Posted on May 1, 2017 by smellincoffee

From the cover of Commodore Hornblower Yesterday we bid goodbye to April, and thus for me, to Read of England 2017.  I believe I found a good balance between literature and history, though next year I may mix in a … Continue reading →

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The Canterbury Tales

Posted on April 30, 2017 by smellincoffee

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *ahem* If you’ve ever glanced at my Classics Club list, you’ll see Canterbury Tales sitting there, and I’ve regarded it as one of the tougher ones on my list — in the same tier as the Russians,  April is the … Continue reading →

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From Narnia to a Space Odyssey

Posted on April 29, 2017 by smellincoffee

From Narnia to a Space Odyssey: The War of Ideas between Arthur C. Clarke and C.S. Lewis ed. Ryder Miller © 2003 175 pages First of all, reader, understand that the title of this book is overstated. It is not … Continue reading →

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1066: A New History

Posted on April 28, 2017 by smellincoffee

1066: A New History© 2009 Peter Rex The list of English kings begins with William the Conqueror, but such a list is really a thing of propaganda; although England’s patchwork of ancient kingdoms were slow to be united against threats … Continue reading →

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Sense and Sensibility

Posted on April 25, 2017 by smellincoffee

Sense and Sensibility© 1811 Jane Austen409 pages Sense and Sensibility is the story of two sisters, Marianne and Elinor,  who are left to live on a fixed income after their father perished and the law forced him to leave all … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare announcement

Posted on April 23, 2017 by smellincoffee

Bernard Cornwell chose this, the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, to announce his next novel: Fools and Mortals. It will follow young Richard Shakespeare as he tries to make his way in the acting world, dominated by his estranged older … Continue reading →

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The Armada

Posted on April 21, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Armada© 1959 Garrett Mattingly443 pages In the late summer of 1588, all of Europe held its breath as an enormous Spanish fleet, consisting of a hundred and fifty vessels of varying sizes, set sail for the English channel. Their … Continue reading →

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In the Beginning

Posted on April 18, 2017 by smellincoffee

In the Beginning: the Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture © 2001 Alister McGrath354 pages In some circles of American Protestantism, the authority of the King James Bible is coequal … Continue reading →

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