Tag Archives: memoir

I Am Spock

Posted on February 18, 2010 by smellincoffee

I Am Spock© 1995 Leonard Nimoy356 pages Leonard Nimoy’s autobiographical I Am Spock has been one of my favorite books for years. I purchased it perhaps over a decade ago: it’s a very battered paperback now, well-thumbed. I revisted it … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Storm of Steel

Posted on February 8, 2010 by smellincoffee

Storm of Steel © 1921 Ernst Jünger 319 pages Storm of Steel is the oddest war memoir I have ever read. I’ve read a few of them in hopes of understanding various motivations for young men marching off to war, … Continue reading →

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

The Motorcycle Diaries

Posted on January 28, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey© Ernesto Guevara (Ocean Press 2004)175 pages “Along the roads of our daydream we reached remote countries, navigated tropical seas and traveled all through Asia. And suddenly, slipping in as if part … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Under and Alone

Posted on January 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

Under and Alone: the True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang© 2005 William Queen288 pages This fall, I unexpectedly became a fan of  Sons of Anarchy, a criminal drama with a plot reminiscent … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

China Marine

Posted on December 29, 2009 by smellincoffee

China Marine: An Infantryman’s Life after World War 2© Eugene Sledge 2003192 pages Last week I read Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed, a memoir of his experiences in the Pacific War. The memoir ranks as one of the most … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Black Edelweiss

Posted on December 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience By a Soldier of the Waffen-SS© 2002 Johann Voss206 pages As the last coach slid by, it cleared the view of another train, a goods train as it appeared, slowly passing by … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

With the Old Breed

Posted on December 18, 2009 by smellincoffee

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa© 1981 Eugene B. Sledge326 pages The recruiting sergeant asked me lots of questions and filled out numerous official papers. When he asked, “Any scars, birthmarks, or other unusual features?” I described an inch-long … Continue reading →

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

Waiter Rant

Posted on September 12, 2009 by smellincoffee

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip — Confessions of a Cynical Waiter © 2008 “The Waiter” 302 pages While browsing humor site NotAlwaysRight, in which the malevolence and stupidity of the average consumer are celebrated through submitted quotations, I noticed … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Audacity of Hope

Posted on August 22, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream © 2006 Barack Obama 375 pages Knowing my interest in political speeches, a friend of mine asked me in 2005 if I’d ever heard of Barack Obama, who spoke at … Continue reading →

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

Walden

Posted on August 4, 2009 by smellincoffee

Walden © 1854 Henry David Thoreau I remember staring up at Walden on my high school library’s bookshelf, wondering if I should check it out. I knew it was famous: it was one of those books I’d heard of in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 3 Comments