History – Page 56 – Cannonball Read 17

Maybe read the synopsis before starting a new book

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco

February 13, 2025 by MamaOrca Leave a Comment

I bought The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco at a used book store years ago solely based on the author. I loved Foucault’s Pendulum and The Name of the Rose when I read them in college and the title sounded fun. Reader, it was not fun. (I also purchased another of his novels at the same time, The Prague Cemetery, and started it just before this book. I read one chapter, was horrified and switched to this book. One of five books […]

She’s an inspiration

Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez by Belen Medin

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have read about women who ran in skirts because it was more modest. People who ran barefooted. And athletes who honor their religion by wearing a hajib. And yes, these things are controversial, but also amazing and inspiring. And Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez is also inspiring. Ramirez is from an extremely impoverished area of Mexico. But due to the life her people lead, they are able to build up the strength and stamina required to […]

Grecia the toucan Can!

Building a Beak: How a Toucan's Rescue Inspired the World by Becca McMurdie

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

We can have artificial intelligence, limbs, and more for humans and we can even have a 3-D printed beak for a toucan. Don’t believe me? Then read all about it in Building a Beak: How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World by Becca McMurdie and illustrated by Diana Hernández due in June 2025. (I had the opportunity to read it via an online reader copy). Not to spoil things, but I will say that how a toucan got a life saving “nose job” is probably […]

I keep telling myself, “I do not like horror…..”

Hide: The Graphic Novel by Kiersten White and Scott Peterson.

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I keep telling myself, I do not like horror. Yet, I keep picking up horror related books, and did so with Hide: The Graphic Novel. It is adapted from the novel by Kiersten White, illustrated by Veronica Fish and Andy Fish, with the adaptation by Scott Peterson. Now it isn’t “gory horror” but yes, there is gore (it is about 14 people trying to survive the “game” and well, the stakes are pretty high). It is icky and there is blood. But you know, tastefully […]

The size of history

We Are American, Too by Kristen Mei Chase and Jieting Chen

The Memory Cake by Caroline L. Perry and Jen Bricking

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

History is all around us. And history can be as large as World War II or as small as being the second person of your race being born in a town. We Are American, Too tackles that second theme. Kristen Mei Chase and illustrator Jieting Chen follow a family on an important day of celebration. They are honoring their history, family, their people and even themselves. The originality of the book comes from how the story is told, instead of “just another immigrant story” which […]

She climbed and protected so we all could enjoy

Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda and Yuko Shimizu

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I am not a sports person. I am not an outdoors person. I am not a hiking person. And I am certainly not a mountain climbing person. I am a person who will read a book outside (but it’s a porch and there better be running water/bathroom and cool drinks nearby). And I am a person who will read a book about someone who is an outdoors, sporty, mountain climbing person. And Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita […]

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.

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