Category Archives: Reviews

A Map of Betrayal

Posted on January 26, 2015 by smellincoffee

A Map of Betrayal© 2014 Ha Jin304 pages When  Lillian Shang touched down in mainland China, her official purpose was to teach. Unofficially, however, she was there to learn — to uncover the truth of her father’s life by tracking down … Continue reading →

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Nullification

Posted on January 23, 2015 by smellincoffee

Nullification: How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century© 2011 Thomas E. Woods, Jr309 pages In a game of word association, chances are that ‘nullification’ would not meet with flattering replies. Nullification is a word associated with the Civil … Continue reading →

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Casualties

Posted on January 22, 2015 by smellincoffee

Casualties: A Novel of the Civil War© 2010 David Rothstein465 pages The year is 1863, and Tom Connor just survived the Battle of Gettysburg. His kid brother didn’t, though, and agonized emotionally he is looking forward to a Christmas furlough … Continue reading →

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Winter World

Posted on January 15, 2015 by smellincoffee

Winter World: the Ingenuity of Winter Survival© 2009 Bernd Heinrich400 pages When winter arrives in the upper reaches of the northern hemisphere, humans take refuge in homes warmed by central heat, or bundle up in clothing. But what do creatures … Continue reading →

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Lives of the Planets

Posted on January 13, 2015 by smellincoffee

Lives of the Planets© 2007 Richard Corfield304 pages             Ever wanted to take a tour of the solar system, but were deterred by that little problem of explosively decompressing once in the vacuum of space? Lives of the Planets takes … Continue reading →

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This week: supercooled birds, President Palpatine, and people causing a ruckus

Posted on January 12, 2015 by smellincoffee

We’re off to a good start for 2015, opening the year up with Bernard Cornwell and two science entries, both of which (Lives of the Planets,  Winter World) will get comments as the week goes on. Yesterday at the library … Continue reading →

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The Empty Throne

Posted on January 9, 2015 by smellincoffee

The Empty Throne© 2015 Bernard Cornwell320 pages Uhtred of Bebbanburg is an impossible man. A Saxon prince raised by Danes,  he  has nonethelessbeen the architect of a great redoubt against them, the defender of Wessex a hundred times over.  A … Continue reading →

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This week: wrapping up with history and science

Posted on December 31, 2014 by smellincoffee

This last week in 2014 I am spending with Lives of the Planets, a natural history of the solar system. It’s proving to be the most enjoyable science book I’ve encountered in months, and will probably take me into the  … Continue reading →

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Gray Mountain

Posted on December 27, 2014 by smellincoffee

Gray Mountain © 2014 John Grisham 384 pages  In late 2008,  New York’s financial sector and the economy built around it began hemorrhaging jobs. Among the casualties were the junior ranks of  lawyers at Samantha Kofer’s firm,  including herself.  Reduced … Continue reading →

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Mission Accomplished

Posted on December 26, 2014 by smellincoffee

To Be Read Takedown Challenge Antifragile, Nassim Nicholas Taleb (7/18/14)The Vikings, Robert Ferguson (6/7/14)Power, Inc; David Rothkopf (6/14/14)An Edible History of Humanity, Tom Standage (7/8/14)Small-Mart Revolution, Michael Shuman (7/12/2014)The World Until Yesterday, Jared Diamond (5/29/14)Fighting Traffic: the Dawn of the … Continue reading →

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