Halbs – Page 37 – Cannonball Read 17

Literary Jazz

Jazz by Toni Morrison

February 23, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

This book was featured on my library’s Black History Month display shelf, and I grabbed it based purely on the author and title. Toni Morrison pops up early and often in How to Read Literature Like a Professor, so her work has been on my To Read list for some time. Also, I like jazz (Hank Mobley, Art Blakey, Wes Montgomery). It feels kind of silly to say that a book written by a Nobel Prize/Pulitzer Prize winner is “really good”. That’s what I thought, though, […]

A Fun Read for Beer Enthusiasts (aka Humanity)

The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution by Jonathan Hennessey, Mike Smith

February 8, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Do you enjoy beer? Do you have beer-appreciating friends with upcoming birthdays? I’ve got just the book for you! The Comic Book Story of Beer is a gorgeously and ornately illustrated history of the brewski. As the title implies, the 173 pages of this book covers everything from the misty origins of beer through prohibition, homogenization, and the recent fanning out of styles and breweries. It’s not too detailed to boring for the casual drinker, and it’s not so broad that beer nerds won’t learn anything […]

I know, it’s only rock n roll but I like it!

Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock by Steven Hyden

January 31, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

Twilight of the Gods is Steven Hyden’s power balled tribute to the genre of classic rock and what it’s meant in his life. In this entertaining and thoughtful read, with chapters structured as a track list with accompanying liner notes, Hyden meditates on why he loves classic rock, what it means to lose heroes, and on the future of rock. As you may be able to guess by the title and the cover, two of Hyden’s foundational bands are Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. He […]

A Dream On

Why We Dream: The Transformative Power of Our Nightly Journey by Alice Robb

January 23, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

I like dreams. Dreaming, attempting to interpret dreams, unconsciously developing weird short ideas, hearing about others’ dreams – all of it is fun. While I thinks dreams can teach us, and that our unconscious mind helps us sort through problems and memories, I also like the mystery of dreams. Why is Person X on my mind? What’s with all the snakes? Why am I always close to water? Is flying cool or terrifying? (It’s both.) In the past I’ve read some books on dream interpretation and […]

An insider’s look at video game development

Significant Zero: Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games by Walt Williams

January 15, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

This is a timely book about video game development. It’s also a meditation on the relationship of art, commerce, and morality in gaming. The writer, Walt Williams, is a veteran of the video game industry. He has been involved with several major franchises and games, such as Bioshock, Spec Ops: The Line, and Star Wars Battlefront. The acclaim and popularity of those titles gives Williams’ book a certain amount of credibility and weight, although he is quick to disclaim that he is “not a hero […]

High School Drama + Magic + Alabama + Hipsters

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

January 14, 2019 by Halbs 2 Comments

In my inaugural post of the year, I mentioned that part of my 2019 reading goal was to read more books by international and female writers in order to expand my horizons a bit. I’m also trying to jump out of my typical genres, to see what’s out there. Rachel Hawkins’ Rebel Belle was a fun diversion from what I normally read. It’s the perfect kind of book to listen to whilst road tripping – light, fun, and entertaining. Amy Rubinate’s narration style was a welcome passenger […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

About Halbs