Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About Chris

CBR11 participant

Hi, it's me. Really, I hate these bio things. I like to read.

Chris's Reviews:

Looking for something to read after Cap. Marvel?

Women Warriors: An Unexpected History by Pamela D. Toler

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Disclaimer: I won a copy via a giveaway on Librarything. My brother reads quite a bit of John Keegan. I’m not entirely sure if he has read every book Keegan wrote, but it must be close. Every so often I think I should read Keegan, but then I read something and go, “yeah, he might be a brilliant dude, but he sounds like a bit of a dick”. Years ago, it was his comments during the case Irving brought against Deborah Lipstadt and Penguin books. […]

The Hairy Ears Return

On the Bright Side: The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old by Hendrik Groen

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Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher. The second installment of the later life of Hendrik Groen finds everyone’s favorite Dutch hairy-eared Dutch pensioner returning to his diary after taking some time off. He is now 85. The Old But Not Dead club is still going strong, even after the closing events of the first book. In fact, a new member Leonie, fits right in. She even makes Evert blush. The residents of the home are still a bit of odd bunch. There is […]

Let’s burn London!

Boudicca by Neal Romanek

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A graphic novel retelling of the story of Boudicca you ask. Sign me up, I say. Neal Romanek and crew do an excellent job of bringing the story to life. First, the artwork is stunning. I mean, look at the cover. The lack of coloring in the novel works. The use of black and white only makes the already powerful story even more powerful. There is wonderful detailing in some of the characters, and the scenes where nudity is involved are not those “let’s make […]

Wuthering Heights – the song that is

The Lamp of the Wicked by Phil Rickman

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In this installment of Merrily Watkins, Rickman makes use of the real-life murders committed by Fred and Rosemary West. The couple raped and murdered several young women. There is a two-part mini-series called Appropriate Adult that details the case against the couple. There are several books about them as well. Part of what Rickman is addressing is the always questioning of more – were all the bodies found. (If you are an American, a recent example would be the Grim Sleeper). But to say this […]

Je t’aime

A Year in Paris by John Baxter

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Non-fiction book for Feb 2019 My Book Box. If anyone writes more beautifully about Paris than John Baxter, I’ve yet to read them. This book is supposedly about Paris throughout the year. It loosely follows this (there are some jumps in season, time, and place) as well as a brief history of the Revolution’s desire to change the calenderer. It is best to think of this book as part memoir of seasons of his life in Paris, as well as seasons of Paris. Each chapter […]

In a dark, dark time

The Last Hours by Minette Walters

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Walters’ historical novel is a stunning look at how people reacted when the Black Death came to town. Or came to country and tried to come to town, but you burned down the bridge and kept away anyone who looked sick. There is historic precedent for a similar story – see the village of Eyam in Derbyshire. In terms of the fear of people living at the time, Walters does a very good job. The change in society – the rebellion of the serfs – […]



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