Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Wampeters, Foma, and Granfalloons

Posted on October 30, 2008 by smellincoffee

Wampeters, Foma, and Grandfollons (Opinions)© 1974 Kurt VonnegutBantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, NY I began this week with a collection of essays by and interviews with the late Kurt Vonnegut entitled Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons. The title confused my friendly community … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (29/10)

Posted on October 29, 2008 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: A Life of Her Own, Emilie Carles Striking the Balance, Harry Turtledove Life in a Medieval Castle, Frances and Joseph Gies Death Star, Michael Reaves and Steve Perry (Click titles for individual comments.) I began this week … Continue reading →

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Death Star

Posted on October 28, 2008 by smellincoffee

Death StarMichael Reaves, Steve Perry © 2007Random House, New York363 pages. “That’s no moon. That’s a space station.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi, A New HopeThe Death Star. It dominated the first Star Wars movie. Its destruction at Yavin, in the Star … Continue reading →

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Life in a Medieval Castle

Posted on October 26, 2008 by smellincoffee

Life in a Medieval Castle© Frances and Joseph Gies 1974Harper & Row, NY261 Pages A few years ago while wandering aimlessly in a bookstore — a good way to spend one’s time, I might add — I happened upon a … Continue reading →

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Worldwar: Striking the Balance

Posted on October 24, 2008 by smellincoffee

Worldwar: Striking the BalanceHarry Turtledove, © 1997Random House, NY547 pages. I concluded Harry Turtledove’s Worldwar series this week, reading Striking the Balance. To recap, in May 1942 Earth was invaded by a race of short lizard-y aliens who call themselves … Continue reading →

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A Life of Her Own

Posted on October 23, 2008 by smellincoffee

A Life of Her Own: the Transformation of a Countrywoman in Twentieth-Century France.Emilie Carles, © 1991Penguin Books — Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England This book came to me through one of my university courses. I picked it up on Tuesday intending to … Continue reading →

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This Week at the Library (22/10)

Posted on October 22, 2008 by smellincoffee

Books this Update: Upsetting the Balance, Harry Turtledove The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Roy Porter Nightfall, Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverburg Click book titles for in-depth comments on each. I continued this week in the Worldwar series by Harry Turtledove, … Continue reading →

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Nightfall

Posted on October 20, 2008 by smellincoffee

NightfallIsaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, © 1990Bantam Books, New York339 pages. If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God! … Continue reading →

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The Greatest Benefit to Mankind

Posted on October 19, 2008 by smellincoffee

(Click title to see the book cover.)The Greatest Benefit to MankindRoy Porter, © 1997W.W. Norton & Company: New York, London831 pages I’ve been reading The Greatest Benefit to Mankind for the past two weeks. Its full title is “The Greatest … Continue reading →

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Worldwar: Upsetting the Balance

Posted on October 18, 2008 by smellincoffee

Worldwar: Upsetting the BalanceHarry Turtledove © 1996Del Rey/Ballantine Books/Random House; New York530 p. I continued in the Worldwar series this week. The front cover is rather interesting, as it depicts Albert Einstein, General Ike Eisenhower, and former Italian dictator Benito … Continue reading →

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