Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Travels with George

Posted on November 5, 2021 by smellincoffee

Travels with George: In Search of Washington and his Legacy© 2021 Nathaniel Philbrick400 pages Travels with George couldn’t help but be interesting, what with its premise of the author following George Washington’s footsteps in an reenactment of his tour of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

When Harry Became Sally

Posted on November 4, 2021 by smellincoffee

When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Movement© 2018 Ryan Anderson251 pages In the summer of 2015, a former non-issue affecting an extreme minority became, seemingly overnight, a mainstream talking point. All manner of individuals suddenly began announcing they … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews, Society and Culture | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

For all the Tea in China

Posted on October 28, 2021 by smellincoffee

For all the Tea in China: How England Stole the World’s Favorite Drink and Made History© 2010 Sarah Rose272 pages A love of tea is one of the great English stereotypes, at least in the United States, so I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The War that Made the Roman Empire

Posted on October 26, 2021 by smellincoffee

The War that Made the Roman Empire: Anthony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium© 2022 Bary Strauss368 pages Rome, at the death of Julius Caesar, was no stranger to internal war.  A functioning, healthy republic had long vanished,  torn in pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Natchez Burning

Posted on October 18, 2021 by smellincoffee

Natchez Burning© 2015 Greg Iles816 pages When the choice is your father or the truth,  who could choose the truth?  Penn Cage has always idolized his father Tom.  A dedicated physician from the 1950s-on,  the senior Cage developed a reputation as a devoted and impartial … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Enterprise War

Posted on October 17, 2021 by smellincoffee

The Enterprise War© 2019 John Jackson Miller366 pages “Giving up our values in the name of security is to lose the battle in advance. I’m curious. Did you sideline the Enterprise because you knew I’d never stop reminding you of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

We submariners two

Posted on October 16, 2021 by smellincoffee

A few months ago I encountered the Danny Jabo submarine series, written by a nuclear subs veteran. As I’m still in recovery from surgery this week, I’ve been finishing the series! First up, Zulu Five Oscar. Zulu opens with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Books books books

Posted on October 14, 2021 by smellincoffee

Between the nonfunctional hospital wifi and the only decent television programs being overtaken by baseball, most of my entertainment last week was good ol’ fashioned books. Midnight at Chernobyl popped onto my radar after I watched the excellent HBO series … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

STish: The Dark Veil

Posted on October 3, 2021 by smellincoffee

Star Trek Picard: The Dark Veil© 2021 James Swallow336 pages When the USS Titan arrives at the Jazari homeworld to return one of their last serving members in Starfleet, they find something of a surprise waiting for them. The planet … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment