Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Abounding Grace

Posted on April 24, 2009 by smellincoffee

Abounding Grace: An Anthology of Wisdom© 2000 ed. M. Scott Peck384 pages Abounding Grace is a strangely titled book of quotations, compiled and commented on by M. Scott Peck, a psychologist who wrote a number of so-called “self-help” books. The … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of American Empire

Posted on April 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of American Empire: A Graphic Adaption© 2008 Howard Zinn273 pages Earlier in the week, I read A People’s History of American Empire, composed by Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, and Paul Buhle. The book is a graphic novel, … Continue reading →

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The Associate

Posted on April 22, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Associate© 2009 John Grisham373 pages I will admit to taking John Grisham for granted. Like old t-shirts and Star Trek, when I begin a Grisham novel I do so with the expectation that I will enjoy it. Grisham rarely … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (20/2)

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Persian Fire, Tom Holland Shattered Mirror, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Kingdoms of Gold, Kingdoms of Jade, Brian Fagan The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu, Henry Wei The Moscow Option, David Downing Although I read most of Persian Fire last … Continue reading →

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The Moscow Option

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Moscow Option© 2006 David Downing256 pagesWorking in a university setting means being surrounded by readers, and this occasionally gives rise to book recommendations. This week, I read a brief alternate history book from the library of my boss, who … Continue reading →

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The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu

Posted on April 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu : A New Translation and Commentary on the Tao Teh Ching © 1982 Henry Wei234 pages In the interests of cultural literacy, I’ve been trying to get a handle on major religions I have … Continue reading →

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Kingdoms of Gold, Kingdoms of Jade

Posted on April 18, 2009 by smellincoffee

Kingdoms of Gold, Kingdoms of Jade: the Americas Before Columbus© 1991 Brian M. Fagan240 pages, including 180 photographs set into the text I’ve had a fascination with the Aztecs for most of my life, since I first saw pictures in … Continue reading →

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Shattered Mirror

Posted on April 17, 2009 by smellincoffee

Shattered Mirror© 2001 Amelia Atwater-Rhodes227 pages Given the current Twilight mania, I am just a touch self-conscious about reading a vampire novel written for young adults. Back in high school I read Atwater-Rhodes’ In the Forests of the Night, and … Continue reading →

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Persian Fire

Posted on April 16, 2009 by smellincoffee

Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West© 2005 Tom Holland418 pages After reading Holland’s Rubicon, blogger ResoluteReader recommended that I read Persian Fire as well. I have an interest in the various Persian and Babylonian … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (13-4)

Posted on April 13, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Gang Leader for a Day, Sudhir Venkatesh Arms of Nemesis, Steven Saylor The Universe in a Single Atom, Tenzin Gyatso This week’s reading started off on a high note, with Sudhir Venkatesh’s Gang Leader for a Day, … Continue reading →

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