Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

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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The Great War: A Christmas Pause

Posted on December 24, 2014 by smellincoffee

At the beginning of January, I decided to devote part of the year’s reading to the Great War, in recognition of its 100-year anniversary. I created a list of books that would address some areas of the war I was … Continue reading →

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This week: Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2014 by smellincoffee

With the fourth Sunday of Advent behind us, I suppose it is  liturgically safe to bid one and all a MERRY CHRISTMAS.  I work all of two days this week, the rest of the time being spent feeling somewhat sorry … Continue reading →

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Brian’s Saga, continued: Winter, River, and Return

Posted on December 21, 2014 by smellincoffee

Brian’s Winter /  The River / Brian’s Return© Gary Paulsen 1996, 1991, 1999             Hatchet told the story of a young teenager named Brian who survived a crash landing in the middle of the Canadian wilderness.  Forced by the pressing … Continue reading →

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Lord of the World

Posted on December 20, 2014 by smellincoffee

Lord of the World © 1908 Robert Hugh Benson 352 pages At the turn of the 21st century, war between the states of Europe and the East threatens; at the midnight hour, however, comes an obscure American politician, a senator … Continue reading →

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