Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Communism

Posted on October 31, 2008 by smellincoffee

Communism Richard Pipes While wandering aimlessly through the stacks at my university library recently, my eyes fell upon Communism by Richard Pipes. I opened it up and it appeared to contain a history of the Russian Revolution. Since this is … Continue reading →

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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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