Poetry – Page 113 – Cannonball Read 17

Go talk your weird love to the wind

Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narvaez Varela

December 2, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

When I first started to read Thirty Talks Weird Love my first thought was, “Well this is crap.” But I realized I was tired and told myself to go to bed. That is the main thing you need to know about Alessandra Narvaez Varela’s book: be rested. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and if you are the tiniest bit uncomfortable or not in a good headspace, do not try this book. The journey of finding and being perfection, and how we see ourselves are […]

The Girl Who is Spring

Feelings: A Story in Seasons by Manjit Thapp

December 2, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Feelings: A Story in Seasons is promoted as both a poetry book and as a graphic novel. However, it is more than that. It is also a picture book with its sensual and heavy illustrations. It is a book about emotions and the depression that changes them during the different seasons the author, Manjit Thapp, faces. This book is a poetic look at how depression is the season we are reading about. It is presented to us as a chapter, Summer, Fall, Winter, Monsoon, and […]

Hiding in plain sight.

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson

December 2, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis is a romanticized look at how two Jewish girls lived when millions did not. Told in alternating voices, the Narrator, and “Anna” herself or, Zhanna Arshanskaya we learn how Zhanna and her sister Frina, were hiding in plain sight. They performed for the Nazi command, allies of the Nazi and eventually, for themselves. But no matter how much they feared being found out, betrayed by supposed friends, or their hatred of the Nazis, they always felt […]

Thanksgiving Week Glut

The Odyssey by Homer; Emily Wilson

A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd

Scoop by Evelyn Waugh

Nine Princes of Amber by Roger Zelazny

To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer

Free Lance Pallbearers by Ishmael Reed

Dragons of Highlord Skies by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Revolutionary Characters by Gordon Wood

Glory by Vladimir Nabokov

Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas

South of the Border West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

Books of Blood by Clive Barker

Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut

Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

November 29, 2021 by vel veeter 2 Comments

The Odyssey – 5/5 Stars So my review is specific to the newer Emily Wilson translation, which I find particularly good and readable. She writes a long introduction that serves as a solid guide to the epic, to the writing, the historical context, and other important keys. This is long, but worthwhile, especially if you’re new to the story or it’s been a long time or you’re a little rough in your epic-reading. From there, there’s a very good translator’s note of some length explaining […]

A list of books are fun titles

Click V02 Camp by Kayla Miller

One Wish: Fatima Al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University by M.O. Yuksel

Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki

The Last Straw by Zoe Matthiessen

November 24, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

This list of books are fun titles that I am unable to write a full review of. Therefore, I am giving highlights of one graphic novel and three picture books. After you say, “a fun story of friends and summer camp” you have pretty much said it all about Click V02 Camp by Kayla Miller. I should add it is a graphic novel with the cover giving you pretty much all you need to know about the illustrations. They are colorful and funny. There is […]

One sweater and 26 alligators

Soomi’s Sweater by Susie Oh

Doris' Dear Delinquents by Emma Ward

November 10, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The two books that were silver winners of the 2020 Colors Award was Soomi’s Sweater and Doris’ Dear Delinquents. These two Clavis Publishing titles I enjoyed more than the winner. Even though I understand the win, I decided that I was looking for something lighter, that was more fun and yet, still has a strong story and “pop” to it. Soomi’s Sweater by Susie Oh I adore the illustrations! They are sweet, simple (not simplistic) and colorful. The blue/green and yellows pop off the page. […]

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.

Help Our Mission