Author Archives: Rick Robinson

About Rick Robinson

Enjoying life in Portland, OR

The Blog Has Moved!

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Rick Robinson

Effective February 21, I’ve decided to switch to a new name, new blog sorta thing. Go to Tip the Wink now. So the new blog is Tip the Wink. Just about everything will be the same over there except the blog address, … Continue reading →

Posted in At Home in Portland | Leave a comment

New Arrivals, Feb 18th, 2015

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I took 2 large boxes of books to the library used book store and donated them a few days ago. Some were already in a box labeled “donate” and others were just pulled from the shelves. Not much room was … Continue reading →

Posted in art and illustration, mystery, New Arrivals, Pulp, science fiction | 15 Comments

Current Reading, February 9 – 15, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I didn’t read as much this last week. I finished the short story collection Lights In the Deep by Brad Torgerson, which I’d been reading for the last few weeks, a story here and there. I rate as just okay. Torgerson has some … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Reading, mystery, short stories | 19 Comments

We’re Having Spring in February

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Rick Robinson

While a sizable swath of the country is laboring under record cold and snowfall, here in the Pacific Northwest we are having a very early Spring. At least it feels like Spring, with lots of sun and temperatures in the high … Continue reading →

Posted in At Home in Portland | 9 Comments

ffb: Behind That Curtain

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Rick Robinson

Behind That Curtain by Earl Derr Biggers, 1928, New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1928 hardcover. My copy: Avenel Books omnibus edition, 1988 This is the third of the five Charlie Chan novels Biggers wrote, and the third I’ve read, because, you see, I’m reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Forgotten Book, mystery | 10 Comments

The Romantic Piano Concerto Series

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Rick Robinson

The Romantic Piano Concerto Series, Hyperion Records, now at 64 volumes. See listing here. I love piano concertos, especially written in the “romantic period style”, and unless I want to hear a specific favorite by the big name composers, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music | Tagged | 6 Comments

Current Reading, February 2 – 8, 2015

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Rick Robinson

From the this last library came Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the book on which was based the current film of the same name. For any who haven’t already heard, it’s about Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, whose B-24 bomber went down in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, audiobook, Current Reading, mystery, short stories | 21 Comments

ffb: Cons, Grifts and Scams

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Rick Robinson

this is the 165th in my series on forgotten or seldom read books Cons, Scams And Grifts by Joe Gores, Mysterious Press (Warner), 2001, hardcover, mystery – DKA “It was Easter. From his exquisite one-story art deco building in the mid-9100 block of … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Forgotten Book, mystery | 12 Comments

Me and E-books

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Rick Robinson

Sometimes I embrace change and other times, not so much. The “not so much” particularly applies to electronic books. I really prefer ink-on-paper books, and that’s that. I love the feel, the heft, the look, the smell…okay, I’m getting all … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged | 34 Comments

Current Reading, January 26 – February 1, 2015

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I read Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan, the second in the Lady Trent series. While I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book, I’m looking forward to the third, which will be out in March. Also this week … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Reading, mystery, short stories | 23 Comments

ffb: A Six-Letter Word for Death

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Rick Robinson

this is the 164th in my series of forgotten or seldom read book posts A Six-Letter Word for Death by Patricia Moyes, Henry Holt (Owl), 1983, paperback, mystery, Chief Superintendent Henry Tibbett Every time I pick up and begin reading a book by … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Forgotten Book, mystery | Tagged , | 11 Comments

That Reading Feeling

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I read about 100 books a year, and that’s a lot of pages, even if some of the books are thin. My reading is mostly genre fiction; mystery novels and short stories, science fiction, fantasy, adventure, reprinted pulp stories from … Continue reading →

Posted in reading | 18 Comments

Current Reading, January 19 – 25, 2015

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I finished A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan. I liked it pretty much, so I got the second in the series, Tropic of Serpents from the library a few days ago. It was also good though I did skim … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Reading, fantasy, mystery, Pulp, science fiction, short stories | 20 Comments

ffb: Deathworld by Harry Harrison

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Rick Robinson

this is the 163rd in my series of forgotten or seldom read book posts Deathworld by Harry Harrison (Astounding Science Fiction, 1960, 1964, 1968 – see below), Conde Nast Publications, plus various hardcover and paperback publishers. E-book publication (2009-02-04). Deathworld Wildside Press. “Deathworld” … Continue reading →

Posted in e-book, Friday Forgotten Book, science fiction | 12 Comments

Walter Baumhofer by David Saunders

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Rick Robinson

Late 2014 was a banner time for books on artist/illustrators with two of the best ever. Last week I posted on the excellent The Art of Robert E. McGinnis [here] and now here’s yet another out-standing book, this time the subject is … Continue reading →

Posted in art and illustration | Tagged | 7 Comments

Current Reading, January 12 – 18, 2015

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Rick Robinson

So I can focus on reading books I have, I’ve put most of my library holds on “freeze”, so I keep my place in line while others move past until I’m ready to read the book. Richard I finished Enigma by … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Reading, fantasy, mystery | 19 Comments

ffb: Roman Blood

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Rick Robinson

this is the 162nd in my series of forgotten or seldom read book posts Roman Blood by Steven Saylor, Ballantine 1993, paperback, mystery – 1st Gordianus the Finder Perhaps not forgotten, but worthy of renewed attention, this is the first of the acclaimed … Continue reading →

Posted in Friday Forgotten Book, mystery | 12 Comments

The Art of Robert E. McGinnis by Robert McGinnis & Art Scott

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Rick Robinson

The Art of Robert E. McGinnis by Robert McGinnis (artwork) and Art Scott (text) Titan Books, November 2014 oversized (9.3 x 0.8 x 12.2 inches), 176 page hardcover. All artwork in color. Also, Limited Edition (1000 copies) in slipcase with signed … Continue reading →

Posted in art and illustration | 11 Comments

Current Reading, January 5 – 11, 2015

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Rick Robinson

I made a short list of books I want to read, most from the TBR, to get this year started. That will be in addition to whatever shows up from the library. I just did it to feel organized (we … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Reading, graphic novel, mystery | 19 Comments

ffb: Scarlet Riders

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Rick Robinson

this is the 161st in my series of forgotten or seldom read book posts Scarlet Riders edited by Don Hutchison, Mosiac Press, 1998 – trade paper, pulp stories of the Northwest Mounted “Fingers had burrowed down in the snow and found Constable Sandy … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Friday Forgotten Book, mystery | 22 Comments