Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Mean Streets

Posted on January 15, 2017 by smellincoffee

Mean Streets: Confessions of a Nightime Taxi Driver© 2002 Peter McSherry256 pages Mean Streets takes readers into the dark side of Canada, or at least the dark side of Toronto. Ever since the 1970s, Peter McSherry has been driving the night … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

In the City of Bikes

Posted on January 13, 2017 by smellincoffee

In the City of Bikes: the Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist© 2013 Pete Jordan448 pages “It is quite possible that all the bicycles in the world are not in Amsterdam, but you’ll never be able to convince me.”  American tourist, … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Twilight War

Posted on January 12, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Twilight War: the Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year War with Iran656 pages© 2013 David Crist  In the presidential campaign of 2008, John McCain made plain what kind of aggressive foreign policy he would pursue by half-singing a chipper little … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New features

Posted on January 11, 2017 by smellincoffee

The beginning of the New Year brings with it a good opportunity to try new things.  Since this blog’s creation in 2007, nonfiction has always dominated fiction, for my mission  in life is to learn all I can about this … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Laughing Without an Accent

Posted on January 9, 2017 by smellincoffee

Laughing without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen© 2008 Firoozeh Dumas256 pages In 2003, Firoozeh Dumas charmed readers with stories about her transoceanic childhood, unfolding in both in Iran and the United States in the 1970s. This sequel to … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Chinese in America

Posted on January 7, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Chinese in America: A Narrative History© 2003 Iris Chang558 pages Like most Americans, my earliest notion of the Chinese in America is an association with the Transcontinental railroad. As it happened, their story begins before that, with the California … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wonder and Skepticism

Posted on January 7, 2017 by smellincoffee

Last night I suddenly wanted to listen to Carl Sagan’s last address to the Committee for the Scientific Investigation for Claims of the Paranormal (now known as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry).   I needed to hear Sagan’s voice, his … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves

Posted on January 5, 2017 by smellincoffee

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves© 1963 P.G. Wodehouse227 pages As had so often happened before, I felt that my only course was to place myself in the hands of a higher power. “Sir?” [Jeeves] said, manifesting himself. Bertie Wooster has two … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Never stop learning

Posted on January 5, 2017 by smellincoffee
Posted in Reviews | Tagged | 1 Comment

Telling the Future

Posted on January 1, 2017 by smellincoffee

Well, dear readers, another year is upon us!  How shall we use the time?   Here are some things to expect in the coming year from these parts… 1. Discovery of AsiaMy big challenge this year is to make good … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | 4 Comments