Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

The Best American Short Stories (2008)

Posted on January 18, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Best American Short Stories 2008© 2008 Salman Rushdie, editor.358 pages Although I’ve read quite a few short-story collections, most of them are by the same two familar authors — Isaac Asimov and Kurt Vonnegut. Even when I read a … Continue reading →

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The Lives of Dax

Posted on January 13, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Lives of Dax© 2002 various authors, ed. Marco Palmieri367 pages One of the more interesting species introduced in Star Trek Deep Space Nine were the Trill, a symbiotic race consisting of two species: humanoid hosts and slug-like symbionts, which … Continue reading →

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Under and Alone

Posted on January 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

Under and Alone: the True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang© 2005 William Queen288 pages This fall, I unexpectedly became a fan of  Sons of Anarchy, a criminal drama with a plot reminiscent … Continue reading →

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Lamb

Posted on January 7, 2010 by smellincoffee

Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal© 2002 Christopher Moore408 pages “What?” [Joshua] said. “What? What? What?” “Master, you’re walking on the water,” said Peter. “I just ate,” Joshua said. “You can’t go into the water for an … Continue reading →

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Asimov Laughs Again

Posted on January 3, 2010 by smellincoffee

Asimov Laughs Again: More than 700 Favorite Jokes, Limericks, and Anecdotes© 1992 Isaac Asimov357 pages A German was giving an impassioned speech at the United Nations and the interpreter was silent.“What’s he saying?” someone whispered to the interpreter.“I don’t know … Continue reading →

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The Gangs of New York

Posted on January 2, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Gangs of New York© 1927 Herbert Ashbury368 pages A few weeks ago I opted to read Herbert Ashbury’s Gangs of New York to see what his writing style might be like. I have a strong interest in city life … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (30/12)

Posted on December 30, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Black Edelweiss, Johann Voss The Triumph of Caesar, Steven Saylor China Marine, Eugene Sledge Skipping Christmas, John Grisham Ford County: Stories, John Grisham I began my Christmas break with another World War 2 memoir in Johann Voss’s … Continue reading →

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Ford County: Stories

Posted on December 29, 2009 by smellincoffee

Ford County: Stories© 2009 John Grisham320 pages I was delighted to receive John Grisham’s Ford County: Stories for Christmas. I’ve been a Grisham reader since reading a battered paperback copy of The Firm years ago, and many of my favorite … Continue reading →

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China Marine

Posted on December 29, 2009 by smellincoffee

China Marine: An Infantryman’s Life after World War 2© Eugene Sledge 2003192 pages Last week I read Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed, a memoir of his experiences in the Pacific War. The memoir ranks as one of the most … Continue reading →

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Skipping Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2009 by smellincoffee

Skipping Christmas© 2001 John Grisham227 pages One of my own personal Christmas traditions is to read John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas. It’s a tradition I’ve maintained every year since owning the book, although part of the tradition is not reading all of … Continue reading →

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