Tag Archives: Asia

The Spice Route

Posted on September 1, 2015 by smellincoffee

The Spice Route© 2005 John Keay308 pages Spock was right. Having a thing is often not as pleasant as wanting a thing. It is not logical, but it is often true. Such was the case with the spice trade, which so … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Great Cities in History

Posted on July 23, 2015 by smellincoffee

The Great Cities in History© 2009 ed. John Julius Norwich302 pages             The Great Cities in History takes readers on a literary world tour, traveling through space and time to visit the greatest political bodies in history.  Civilization is nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Space Between Us

Posted on July 23, 2015 by smellincoffee

The Space Between Us© 2007 Thrity Umrigar321 pages “A hard land, yes, full of mountains, but toughness has its own beauty.” p. 200 The Space Between Us is a modern Indian tragedy, told through the plight of two women who guide … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

I Am Malala

Posted on February 17, 2015 by smellincoffee

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World© 2014 Malala Yousafzai240 pages      In 2012, Islamic fundamentalists shot a girl in the face for refusing to be cowed by their forceful attempt to impose … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Map of Betrayal

Posted on January 26, 2015 by smellincoffee

A Map of Betrayal© 2014 Ha Jin304 pages When  Lillian Shang touched down in mainland China, her official purpose was to teach. Unofficially, however, she was there to learn — to uncover the truth of her father’s life by tracking down … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Splendid Exchange

Posted on May 6, 2014 by smellincoffee

A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World© 2009 David Bernstein496 pages            History oft moves with the caravans and trade fleets, and its journeys along the routes  of the past and present are given a storied account … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Our Oriental Heritage

Posted on September 3, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage © 1935 Will Durant 1048 pages “Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation.”  (Opening sentence.) Our Oriental Heritage is the introductory volume of a greater work, an eleven-book set covering prehistory to the last days of Napoleon. Judging … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment