Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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“God cannot help when natural stupidity is driving the cart.”

The Alewives: A plague-era tale of murder, friendship, and fine ale (The Alewives of Colmar #1) by Elizabeth R. Andersen

October 18, 2025 by bjornsnipe Leave a Comment

Colmar, 1353 CE Gritta, Appel, and Efi managed to survive the massive death toll of the Black Death, only to realize that day-to-day problems don’t end just because of a major epidemic (#relatable). Children still need feeding, husbands will still drink away all the money, and people die from more than the plague. With limited options (I mean, a woman can’t even “entertain” the local menfolk without getting shade from the local monastery) and lots of obstacles, they band together to become alewives – brewing […]

Filed Under: History, Mystery Tagged With: 14th century, Alcohol, Elizabeth R. Andersen, France, murder, post-black death, sisters are doing it for themselves

bjornsnipe's CBR17 Review No:133 · Genres: History, Mystery · Tags: 14th century, Alcohol, Elizabeth R. Andersen, France, murder, post-black death, sisters are doing it for themselves ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

No Vive in Le France

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchman

February 11, 2024 by Jake Leave a Comment

Barbara Tuchman is most noted for The Guns of August, her excellent take on World War I. While that book deserves the flowers it gets, this one should probably garner more just based on its ambition and scope. Tuchman is trying to capture what western Europe — specifically France — was like in the 14th century. The entirety of the 14th century. From dirt poor peasants to games of thrones amongst kings, nobles and popes, Tuchman’s view is broad and finished. I can’t think of any […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: 14th century, A Distant Mirror, barbara tuchman, bubonic plague, France, Medieval Times, Religion, war

Jake's CBR16 Review No:16 · Genres: History · Tags: 14th century, A Distant Mirror, barbara tuchman, bubonic plague, France, Medieval Times, Religion, war ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Murder, mystery, fine ale, friendship, plague, dark humor. A very enjoyable book.

The Alewives: A Plague-Era Tale of Murder, Mystery, and Fine Ale by Elizabeth R. Andersen

November 16, 2023 by narfna 4 Comments

This was pretty much everything I wanted it to be. Honestly, I didn’t even read the synopsis before I ordered this, just because I love reading about alewives, but was even more delighted to learn it’s about female friendship and life post-Black Death in medieval Europe, and also solving murders. Worth pointing out in its own paragraph: this is an indie author and the book doesn’t have many ratings, so people who love slice of life history, the middle ages, cozy mysteries, and female friendship, come! […]

Filed Under: Mystery Tagged With: 14th century, alewives, cozy mystery, Elizabeth R. Andersen, Gritta's hoe, historical mystery, mystery, narfna, self published, The Alewives, The Alewives of Colmar, the plague

narfna's CBR15 Review No:125 · Genres: Mystery · Tags: 14th century, alewives, cozy mystery, Elizabeth R. Andersen, Gritta's hoe, historical mystery, mystery, narfna, self published, The Alewives, The Alewives of Colmar, the plague ·
Rating:
· 4 Comments


Recent Comments

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  • 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.
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  • 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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