Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Frank Sinatra: An American Legend

Posted on March 9, 2009 by smellincoffee

Frank Sinatra: An American Legend © Nancy Sinatra 1995 368 pages Those who know me well know my fondness for Frank Sinatra — not only his music, but his life. He was to me an inspiration when I was very … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (9/3)

Posted on March 9, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Lost on Planet China, J. Maarten Troost The Compleat Gentleman, Brad Miner Desire of the Everlasting Hills, Thomas Cahill Evolution for Everyone, David Sloan Wilson Pompeii, Robert Harris I began this week with a travelogue by J. … Continue reading →

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Pompeii

Posted on March 6, 2009 by smellincoffee

Pompeii: A Novel© 2003 , Robert Harris274 pages In May 2007 I read Fatherland, an mystery book set in an alternate history setting in which Nazi Germany prevailed in World War 2 and the S.S. Holocaust is largely unknown. Last … Continue reading →

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Evolution for Everyone

Posted on March 6, 2009 by smellincoffee

Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives© 2007 David Sloan Wilson390 pages It’s more difficult to look for science books on an online catalouge than any other, partially because I can’t access … Continue reading →

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Desire of the Everlasting Hills

Posted on March 4, 2009 by smellincoffee

Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus© 1999 Thomas Cahill I’ve never expected to read the words “his silly circumcised penis swelling for all to see” in connected with Jesus Christ, but I have now, after … Continue reading →

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The Compleat Gentleman

Posted on March 3, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Compleat* Gentleman: The Modern Man’s Guide to Chivalry© 2004 Brad Miner256 pages I have a friend in love with the idea of chivalry, and he often asks me to comment on the rise of chivalry given my tendency to … Continue reading →

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Lost on Planet China

Posted on March 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

Lost on Planet China: One Man’s Quest to Understand the Most Mysterious Country in the World© 2088 J. Maarten Troost382 pages While looking for a book on Chinese history, I encountered this travelogue and decided to give it a go. … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (2/3)

Posted on March 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: What the Buddha Taught, Walpola Rahula The Gifts of the Jews, Thomas Cahill 10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You, Oliver Thomas Imperium, Robert Harris The Roman Mind, M.L. Clarke This week’s reading was an interesting … Continue reading →

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The Roman Mind

Posted on March 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Roman Mind: Studies in the History of Thought from Cicero to Marcus Aurelius© 1956 M.L. Clarke168 pg. While Rome is known for its administrative prowess, author M.L. Clarke wants to remind us that they were thinkers, too: philosophers, borrowing … Continue reading →

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Imperium

Posted on February 27, 2009 by smellincoffee

Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome© Robert Harris 2006305 pages I would not have expected to find a novel set in ancient Rome, nor would I expect the author of a mystery novel set in a world where Nazi Germany … Continue reading →

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