Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

No Less than Victory

Posted on December 7, 2009 by smellincoffee

No Less than Victory© 2009 Jeff Shaara449 pages This was released only a month ago, and completes Shaara’s WW2-Europe trilogy, the previous titles being The Rising Tide and The Steel Wave. The books are historical fiction, although most characters — perhaps … Continue reading →

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Asimov: The Complete Stories, Volume I

Posted on December 7, 2009 by smellincoffee

Isaac Asimov: The Complete Stories, Volume I© 1990 Isaac Asimov614 pages I finished this book over a week ago, but academic responsibilities have seen my writing limited to papers for class and my creativity beyond that slightly dampened. I acquired … Continue reading →

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The Best of Robert Ingersoll

Posted on November 25, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Best of Robert Ingersoll© 1993 Roger Greely175 pages This week, I was able to read through a collection of quotations by Robert G. Ingersoll under the title of “best of”. The quotations are introduced by a biographical essay of … Continue reading →

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Marx in Soho

Posted on November 22, 2009 by smellincoffee

Marx in Soho © 1999 Howard Zinn 88 pages “Oh, ja — ‘capitalism has triumphed!’ — but over whom?” – Marx, Marx in Soho Although The Zinn Reader held a near-monopoly on my attention last week, there was a brief … Continue reading →

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The Zinn Reader

Posted on November 21, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Zinn Reader© 1997 Howard Zinn668 pages When I pulled this book from the shelf, I did so with the intention of checking it out and reading it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I did not anticipate the book monopolizing my … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (12/11)

Posted on November 12, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: A Gladiator Dies Only Once, Steven Saylor The Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins Off the Books, Sudhir Venkatesh Caesar’s Judgment, Steven Saylor An Honorable German, Charles McCain Robert Ingersoll, David Anderson In this past two weeks, … Continue reading →

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Robert Ingersoll

Posted on November 12, 2009 by smellincoffee

Robert Ingersoll© 1972 David Anderson141 pages You may have never heard of Robert Ingersoll before, but you’ve probably seen him: I use a portrait of him as my “user picture” here on blogger. As you may be able to guess, … Continue reading →

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An Honorable German

Posted on November 11, 2009 by smellincoffee

An Honorable German384 pages© 2009 Charles McCain I saw this book on special display at my university, and decided to read it given my interests in Germany and naval stories. (The latter is not an interest that has surfaced here, … Continue reading →

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Caesar’s Judgement

Posted on November 9, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Judgment of Caesar© 2005 Steven Saylor352 pages When we last left Rome under the rose,  the civil war between Caesar and Pompey began to slowly conclude as Pompey’s ranks dwindled and his history of victories was rendered meaningless by … Continue reading →

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Off the Books

Posted on November 8, 2009 by smellincoffee

Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor© 2006 Sudhir Venkatesh426 pages In the spring, I read Sudhir Venkatesh’s Gang Leader for a Day, an analysis of gang life in one of Chicago’s more prominent street gangs, which … Continue reading →

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