Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Midwestern soil reminds me a lot of New England

A Man with a Rake by Ted Kooser

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Though available, I read via an online reader copy of the poetry book A Man with a Rake by Ted Kooser. And due to the back of the book saying there are 18 poems inside (and the fact there did not seem to be a lot I read, though I did not count) I am assuming the physical book itself will look small. However, there is a lot packed inside. The symbols of water, rural life, family, death and so much more grace the pages. Straight forward […]

I don’t know, can you?

Mom, Can I Do My Laundry at Your House?: Poems from Your Adult Child by Olivia Roberts

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When I went to college, it was the first time I really did my own laundry. And for the most part, I did not do a bad job. At least nothing was too damaged anyway. Yet, I would bring my laundry home during our various breaks. Still having to do my own laundry, I was able to do it at my leisure and not be rushed or be nervous that something might go “missing” or worse, I actually realized someone had touched my stuff! Therefore, […]

When Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky got together and made Bob Odenkirk,

Zilot & Other Important Rhymes by Bob Odenkirk

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If Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky got together and made Bob Odenkirk, the result would be the poetry book, Zilot & Other Important Rhymes. And I got all that from the first three poems.I was thinking when I thought that, what kind of other madness can be next? Trust me, I still was not prepared even knowing what kind of madness those classic writers could make (because I was unfamiliar with Mr. Odenkirk’s particular humor). There are more rhymes, there were really gross shoelaces, there were […]

And Poetry for All

The Red Ear Blows Its Nose: Poems for Children and Others by Robert Schechter

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I enjoy poetry. But recently I have concluded that I need fun and lighter poetry. Yet, I want it to be adult aimed. The Red Ear Blows Its Nose: Poems for Children and Others fits all categories but being only adult geared. However, I do not think a child would mind sharing their poetry book, nor the adult either. These poems were the best of both worlds. Oh sure, maybe they could have been a smidgen more serious, but what was grabbing me was that […]

Before “I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog, too!”

What is the Story of the Wizard of Oz? by Kirsten Anderson

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What is the Story of the Wizard of Oz? In Kirsten Anderson’s book it starts at the end of the history (or the most recent piece of history) and works its way back to a boy who would write a beloved classic. We see the life and times of a man named Lyman Frank Baum (or more commonly known as L. Frank Baum) and how over a hundred-years one book (and eventually its sequels) is still in our sights. Each chapter does flow from the […]

Not like I expected

Virgin by Analicia Sotelo

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I have this as a rating of 3, but Virgin by Analicia Sotelo is more of a 3.5 rating. And not because this is a bad read, it is actually good. I enjoyed the straightforward text and imagery. However, sometimes she gets a bit “poetic” and too fanciful for my tastes. And while I like poetry, and “flowery” poetry has its place, I was not looking for it here. The mix of both straightforward and the flowery was not a hundred percent for me. Sotelo […]



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