Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted on October 12, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson©  Edited 1987, Alfred Ferguson378 pages Two summers ago I began to read Thoreau, and as I continue to find him philosophically compelling I wanted to read the works of Thoreau’s contemporary and like-minded friend, … Continue reading →

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Caesar and Christ

Posted on October 12, 2010 by smellincoffee

Caesar and Christ© 1944 Will Durant752 pages Ave, Caesar! Athens’ grip on my imagination is rivaled only by Rome — Rome, navel of the world; Rome, which established the languages laws, and religion of western Europe. Like Our Oriental Heritage … Continue reading →

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Full Circle

Posted on October 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

Full Circle© 2009 Kirsten Beyer576 pages Following the success of the Deep Space Nine relaunch, both The Next Generation and Voyager‘s crews received new life in the form of book series. Voyager‘s series stalled after four books, but her characters … Continue reading →

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Packing for Mars

Posted on October 9, 2010 by smellincoffee

Packing for Mars: the Curious Science of Life in the Void© 2010 Mary Roach334 pages It’s a long way to Tipperary.  Humans are not extremophiles. We have very specific environmental requirements for not dying in all manner of unpleasant ways, … Continue reading →

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The Life of Greece

Posted on October 6, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Life of Greece© 1939 Will Durant754 pages Ancient Greece is the cradle of western civilization, and from my elementary school days on, this world occupied by serene columns and men in togas has fascinated me. That interest grew with … Continue reading →

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Christine

Posted on October 5, 2010 by smellincoffee

Christine© 1983 Stephen King471 pages Let’s go for a ride, big guy. Let’s cruise. It’s 1983, and Dennis Guilder is just starting to get a handle on what happened four years ago, in that last and terrible year of high … Continue reading →

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Stephen Fry in America

Posted on October 4, 2010 by smellincoffee

Stephen Fry in America: Fifty States and the Man Who Set Out to See Them All© 2008 Stephen Fry314 pages While I am not familiar with Stephen Fry’s work,  his reputation for humor and science advocacy  lured me me into … Continue reading →

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Spook

Posted on October 2, 2010 by smellincoffee

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife© 2005 Mary Roach311 pages Having so thoroughly enjoyed Stiff last week, I visited the library this past Wednesday with the intent of reading more by the same author. I’ve walked by this book hundreds of … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (15 Sept – 29 Sept)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by smellincoffee

Recent reads… Casino, by Nicholas Pileggi, is the rise and fall of  of two real-life Mafia associates in Las Vegas. The Mao Case is a detective story with political implications set in contemporary Shanghai: Qiu’s detective is likable protagonist, so … Continue reading →

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African Exodus

Posted on September 29, 2010 by smellincoffee

African Exodus: the Origins of Modern Humanity© 1996 Christopher Stringer and Robin McKie282 pages “Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history…” Ever since Charles Darwin made that first and solitary reference to human evolution in … Continue reading →

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