Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A More Complete Version of Huck Finn

James by Percival Everett

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CBR17Bingo – “Black” for the mostly black cover James (2024) by Percival Everett has been everywhere. It won the Pulitzer Prize, and I’d seen reviews and mentions of it all over the place. Barack Obama recommended it as well. So, it was only a matter of time before I got around to reading it. As most people know by now, James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain from the point of view of Jim. I’m pretty sure I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn many, many […]

Have a Drink

Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico by Ted Genoways

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Read as part of CBR17 Bingo: border. The book takes place in Mexico, our border neighbor in the States, and talks at length about how shipping alcohol and federal politics impacted Mexico’s relationship with the US. This is one of those books where the writer is trying to tell one story but really wants to write another. Jose Cuervo as a person doesn’t seem that interesting. He’s from a famous family, has a fascinating story, did some incredible stuff and observed a lot more. But […]

Hot priests, holy tattoos, and machine guns

Covenant V01 by LySandra Vuong

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When I saw Covenant advertised I was not sure if I wanted to read it. One, it was a graphic novel and I’ll read almost anything when it comes to those. But two, it was a fantasy and I’m so-so when it comes to that. Three, it was about religion and I am not usually in the mood for that (unless I am). And four, it was LGBTQ, and for the longest time I was not in the mood for a LGBTQ and religion book. […]

“I was fifteen when I decided to go to America and make a name for myself,” Allen Say

The Inker's Shadow by Allen Say

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When I learned that Drawing from Memory by Allen Say had a sequel called The Inker’s Shadow I went into “Find This Book” Mode. And interlibrary loan did not let me down. Now, this book is a lot like the first, but deals with his years in the states. It moves a bit faster, covers more ground and years and fills in the information that shows how he was shaped into the author and illustrator that he would become. It is not just a great […]

What army base is off limits on Passover? (Fort Leavenworth) but seriously, this is a serious (but fun) story

The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua

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When I am not sure how to start a review I look up punisher descriptions and/or other peoples reviews. Part of the publisher’s description has this mentioning how it is about freedom for the Jewish people-and their pets, and that is a good way to start my review for The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua. The characters in the story are visiting family for the holiday. The children are either having their first one or are old hats. But when they decide that freedom […]

When your duet partner chirps

Beatrice and the Nightingale by Patricia Newman and Isabelle Follath

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You ever read a book that was not Best Book Ever, but there was something about it that really hit you, that really made you feel, you really enjoyed, you got into, that gave you something? Beatrice and the Nightingale by Patricia Newman and Isabelle Follath was that book for me. I read it via an online reader copy, it will come out in mid February 2026 and I might get a finished copy. The idea is simple: a young girl from a musical family […]



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