Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Murder on the Orient Express

Posted on April 16, 2016 by smellincoffee

Murder on the Orient Express© 1934 Agatha Christie256 pages “Why does everyone on this train tell lies?!” A dark and snowy night; the Orient Express, rolling from Istanbul to Paris, slows to a stop in the wilderness, trapped by the … Continue reading →

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When the Eagle Hunts

Posted on April 15, 2016 by smellincoffee

When the Eagle Hunts© 2002 Simon Scarrow274 pages The Emperor Claudius is determined to make good the conquest of Britain, but his supply fleet sleeps with the fishes. The only Romans to survive a wintry crossing of the (English) channel … Continue reading →

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The English Resistance

Posted on April 15, 2016 by smellincoffee

The English Resistance: the Underground War Against the Romans© 2006 Peter Rex I was scandalized to learn, in seventh grade, that once ages ago, England was conquered. Already I had acquired the mythic conception of England as an indomitable island … Continue reading →

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Master and Commander

Posted on April 15, 2016 by smellincoffee

Master and Commander© 1969 Patrick O’Brian411 pages This morning, in a quiet courtyard, I finished Master and Commander, the first book in Patrick O’Brian’s Napoleonic naval stories.  These have been recommended to me ever since I finished Horatio Hornblower, though … Continue reading →

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This week: 1066 and all that

Posted on April 11, 2016 by smellincoffee

A third of the way into April, this year’s Read of England is already a roaring success. It helps that I had a head start in March, of course. The main reason I tried to reserve a block of time … Continue reading →

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Jane Eyre

Posted on April 11, 2016 by smellincoffee

Jane Eyre© 1847 Charlotte Bronte525 pages   Years ago an online quiz declared to me that of all the characters in English literature, I was most like…Jane Eyre. It may have been a quiz intended for women, but I had … Continue reading →

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Reads to …er, Reels: War of the Worlds

Posted on April 10, 2016 by smellincoffee

“…coming this way, about twenty yards from my ri—” Tonight I turned off the lights and put on a recording of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio dramatization of H.G. Wells’ (confusing, that) The War of the Worlds.  According to a popular … Continue reading →

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Bilbo’s Journey

Posted on April 9, 2016 by smellincoffee

Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of the Hobbit©  2012 Joseph Pearce147 pages The Hobbit begins with the sudden arrival of a pack of dwarves at Bilbo Baggin’s house. Though he is very much the quiet homebody, they have arrived … Continue reading →

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My Man Jeeves

Posted on April 8, 2016 by smellincoffee

My Man Jeeves© 1919 P.G. Wodehouse132 pages “There’s only one thing to do,” I said. “What’s that?” “Leave it to Jeeves.” What ho, readers all!   My Man Jeeves renews my acquaintance with young Bertie Wooster, exemplar of the aristocracy … Continue reading →

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Frodo’s Journey

Posted on April 8, 2016 by smellincoffee

Frodo’s Journey: The Hidden Meaning of the Lord of the Rings © 2015 Joseph Pearce 158 pages Noting that Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring trilogy is rich with symbolism is rather akin to observing that the Pacific Ocean is big. … Continue reading →

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