Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A Reflection on Grief & Culture

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

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I’ve read many books over the years that have made me cry, novels and memoirs both. Few books made me cry while also making me hungry from the incredible depictions of food that tied so closely to the emotional heart of the story. And yet Crying in H Mart had my nose running and stomach rumbling throughout. Written by Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, Crying in H Mart is a memoir about the cancer diagnosis, failed treatment, and subsequent death of her mother. It is […]

Reminded me of The Wire, season 4

Da vi var yngre (When we were younger)) by Oliver Lovrenski

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Nowhere Books Bingo: A book by a local author Ivor and his three friends Marco, Arjan and Jonas are a tight-knit gang, their own found family. According to Ivor, school used to be easy, until he and his friends lost interest and started making money and names for themselves on the streets. Ignoring the admonition from parents, teachers, social workers and others, they live hard and fast, not really caring who they have to hurt as long as they have each other. Their way of […]

Seriously, Who Does That?

Who Named the Knife: A Book of Murder and Memory by Linda Spalding

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cbr16bingo bananas The mid-1960s through 1970s were an extraordinary turbulent and bloody period in American history.  Fueled by civil rights protests and the Vietnam War, it was a whole period of what next.  Of course, since these were my high school and college years, it was, for most of us, just the way it was.  Starting in 8th grade with John Kennedy’s assassination, there was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, the Democratic convention of 1968 in Chicago, Kent State, and the resignation […]

“nisãohkisinãan (We are strong)”

The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist (A Picture Book) by Deidre Havrelock

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The highlights of Carol Powder’s life were fun to read about, however, the artwork was a bit “cartoonish” for my personal tastes. I do like the colors and the details are well done; giving you the story and complimenting the text, however, they just didn’t “do it” for me personally. I can see how they would be the favorite part of everything for other readers. Despite any issues I have, I recommend The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist (A […]

Dale Chihuly, the Man, the Myth, the Artist

A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly by Sharon Menyka

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The five for A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly is not because it is the best book ever (though it does come close) but how unique it is. The art of glassblowing is probably one of these least known arts (or in my unscientific opinion). And especially unknown to most kids.  Sharon Menyka delicately brings to life that of Dale Chihuly. He had tragedy in his life (the death of his older brother and father; a car accident that took […]

Based on an all too real true story

Crazy Like a Fox: Adventures in Schizophrenia by Christi Furnas

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TRIGGERS: thoughts/talk of suicide, attempted suicide, toxic relationships/friendship, alcohol/drug use, mental health.  Well Street Noise Books, you did it again with Christi Furnas and their Crazy Like a Fox: Adventures in Schizophrenia. This time, however, I both hated and loved a book from you. This is a surreal satire that is an all too realistic story of how one person (or Fox) goes down the rabbit hole of madness, but really it was just a bit twisted and would eventually start upwards again. Things are […]



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