Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A funny thing happened after my dad died

Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus

by Leave a Comment

While I am giving Talking to My Father’s Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus a five, it is more of a 4.5 to 4.75 as I had a few issues with things. Such as I am not a direct fan of the illustrations; though I appreciate the time, effort and work that goes into them. I would like to see the final product to see if color is being used and have explained to me how our characters are a daddy penguin and […]

She got the picture

Imogen: The Life and Work of Imogen Cunningham by Elizabeth Partridge

by Leave a Comment

Imogen: The Life and Work of Imogen Cunningham was written by her granddaughter, Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. I read via an online reader copy and the book is due later in August 2025. That is a dull introduction but Imogen Cunningham’s life was anything but dull. She was a younger child who was beloved by her father, who does seem to maybe spoil her a little bit, but also believed in her. He made sure she had paints all for herself when […]

Slayers, sure, but we’re all cookie dough in progress

Slayers, Every One of Us by Kristin Russo, Jenny Owen Youngs

by Leave a Comment

I have listened to quite a few Joanna Robinson podcasts so I “knew” Kristin Russo from when she has appeared as a guest on them, and also had heard Joanna talk abut Jenny Owen Youngs, the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer and the songs Jenny made for the each episode (I’m in this weird category of people that enjoys Broadway musical theater but don’t actually enjoy live music I don’t know or find a new original song gimmick enticing so it was not a selling […]

“You see, she had absolutely nowhere else to go”

Elvis and Me (1985) by Priscilla Presley with Sandra Harmon

by 1 Comment

Content note for book and review: Grooming, addiction, domestic violence So I’ve recently got into writer/comedian/actress Chelsea Devantez‘s podcast Glamorous Trash, which does deep dives into celebrity memoir and generally unpacking celebrity myth making and narratives in a funny, thoughtful, sometimes poignant, and very incisive and sympathetic way. I listened to the episodes about the memoirs I’d read, and then ordered a bunch more that looked interesting to read before listening to their episodes. (Do other people approach podcasts like book series/binge-watching, whereby they listen […]

When was the last time your clothes made you smile?

Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams by Eric Darnell Pritchard and Shannon Wright

by Leave a Comment

Two things are happening to let us know that time moves on. First, we are starting to get 2026 calendars in (and already have the August 2025-June 2026 planners) at my work, and second, 2026 reader copies are becoming available so we are ready for next year (and here we’re not even halfway through 2025!). But one of those readers (that I found online) which is due mid-January 2026 was Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams by Eric Darnell Pritchard and […]

Friends since the 1940s

Are You a Friend of Dorothy?: The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped by Kyle Lukoff

by Leave a Comment

Are You a Friend of Dorothy?: The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped is by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Levi Hastings. I had hoped that it would be something different than the usual LGBTQ book, as I have read several and wanted more things. The fact that Lukoff is using the code phrase, “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” made it seem promising. And while they did not disappoint, as an adult reader, I’m still looking for more. […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo