Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Mark Twain and the Swiss Family Robinson

Posted on May 22, 2019 by smellincoffee

May’s theme for the classics was “Adventure”, as I paired Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain with The Swiss Family Robinson.     Twain’s former is  a collection more than a monograph, as he presents together his recollections of growing up … Continue reading →

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Freedom™

Posted on May 21, 2019 by smellincoffee

Freedom™©  2010 Daniel Suarez416 pages The global economy is crashing, nearing its end, but few are willing to recognize it. The sinking markets, soaring inflation and unemployment, and civil chaos are regarded by those in power as merely another hiccup, … Continue reading →

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

John Grisham: Favorites and Unfavorites

Posted on May 17, 2019 by smellincoffee

John Grisham was the first novelist whose entire bibliography I ever finished, though these days I must limit that to “adult” biblography, given his kid lawyer series.     Given that there are so many, I thought it would  be fun … Continue reading →

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One Word Kill

Posted on May 10, 2019 by smellincoffee

©  Mark Lawrence 2019 260 pages Nick’s young life was shattered when he got the diagnosis: cancer.  Leukemia, specifically.  The odds weren’t good that he’d live five years to see the 1990s.  But whatever was happening to him, inside, something … Continue reading →

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Scarlet

Posted on May 8, 2019 by smellincoffee

Scarlet © 2007 Stephen Lawhead 443 pages Young William Scatlock has been reduced to a landless vagrant, courtesy of  malevolent Norman lords and their toadies.  It seems as good an occasion as any to trek west and join forces with … Continue reading →

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

Two books on deer

Posted on May 2, 2019 by smellincoffee

 Two friends of mine have deer who visit their yard on a regular basis. The does happily tolerate my friends’ presence in the yard, as they’re picking up sticks or watering the flowers. If, however, my friends have guests, and … Continue reading →

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English broadside

Posted on May 1, 2019 by smellincoffee

Well…this has been the saddest Read of England, and the saddest reading month, since my college days.  At least the few I read were all fairly good! Read of England isn’t quite over, as I’ll be working on a few … Continue reading →

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

War of the Wolf

Posted on April 30, 2019 by smellincoffee

War of the Wolfpub. 2018 Bernard Cornwell333 pages Uhtred of Bebbanburg is called a priest-killer, a chief of devils. And yet when a distressed and scarred monk came to his gates and begged that he send help to Mercia, beset … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

American Gun

Posted on April 12, 2019 by smellincoffee

 American Gun© 2013 Chris Kyle336 pages Think of English history, and longbows, tall ships, and shieldwalls may come to mind; think of France, and perhaps the image is knights charging across an open field. But American history, from the colonies … Continue reading →

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The Time Traveler’s Guide to Restoration Britain

Posted on April 10, 2019 by smellincoffee

Having previously guided readers through the Medieval and Elizabethan eras, Ian Mortimer now welcomes intrepid travelers to the Age of Restoration. The tyrant Oliver Cromwell is dead, and with him went his grim police-state ‘republic’ and the armed doctrine of … Continue reading →

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