Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Biking and Brotherhood

Posted on January 4, 2025 by smellincoffee

Although my dad had stopped biking long before I came on the scene, there were enough photos of him and my uncles sitting on their engines to make me a sucker for shows like Sons of Anarchy and books like … Continue reading →

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Strange Weather in Tokyo

Posted on January 3, 2025 by smellincoffee

There’s no resisting that cover! Tsukiko is a young woman on the cusp of middle age, not far from sailing into her forties. One night at her local sake bar, she puts in a order for snacks and hears an … Continue reading →

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My Holiday in North Korea

Posted on January 2, 2025 by smellincoffee

The “hermit kingdom” of North Korea, which is essentially a cult masquerading as a country, is one of the creepiest and most inhumane places on Earth. Wendy Simmons chose to go there, though, and shares her frustrating, confusing, and soul-troubling … Continue reading →

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Science Survey ’24….finally….

Posted on December 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

As readers may know, every year since 2017 I have challenged myself to read across a spectrum of science topics to maintain a broad, general knowledge. Last year, I finished the survey early, in May, but this year science was … Continue reading →

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The Death of Mrs Westaway

Posted on December 30, 2024 by smellincoffee

Hal is a working girl in a bind. She had to take over her mother’s tarot shop after she lost her to a reckless driver, and while she can usually keep her head above the water weaving stories from the … Continue reading →

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An Unexpected Hero

Posted on December 28, 2024 by smellincoffee

It was a night like any other: Danny was on the stage at a dive bar, very nearly earning his keep but ruining it by digging at customers who got on his nerves. Then, one of them decided to teach … Continue reading →

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Frank and Red and Arthur and Maddy and —

Posted on December 20, 2024 by smellincoffee

This week I’ve read three books about lonely old men finding connection. I already posted a review for The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, but here are two more. They were both absolutely lovely, and featured friendships and connection across … Continue reading →

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The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

Posted on December 17, 2024 by smellincoffee

Frederick Fife is a warm-hearted old soul who’s something of the polar opposite of say, Ebeneezer Scrooge: he has the milk of human kindness in every vein and flowing out of his ears, but he’s penniless and soon to be … Continue reading →

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Animal Farm

Posted on December 16, 2024 by smellincoffee

Recently I realized that it had been as many as twenty years since I read Animal Farm, as I can remember reading it in early high school (1999, 2000 perhaps). A lot of water has flown under the bridge since … Continue reading →

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The Bookshop of Yesterdays

Posted on December 13, 2024 by smellincoffee

Miranda grew up in sunny California, but her interest in teaching history took her across the country. Now a phone call summons her back: her uncle Billy, who she’s not seen for sixteen years, has died. Returning home to see … Continue reading →

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