Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Any effective solution to eradicating American racism must involve Americans committed to anti-racist policies” – CBR12Bingo “How to”

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

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This book fits the “How to” square by teaching me how to be a better anti-racist.  It is not enough to be against racism, one must be actively anti-racist, which is different.  I am a white woman and in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, came to realize that I was woefully under educated about the problem of racism in America.  At the time all sorts of recommended reading lists came out and Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas […]

Doesn’t live up to the title’s promise

The Worst Street in London by Fiona Rule

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The Worst Street in London promises to delve into the history of Dorset Street, once a street full of fairly well-to-do weavers making the most of their flourishing trade, that sank into disrepute as the work dried up and the weavers moved away. Apparently becoming the most notorious street in the whole of the city and one haunted by thieves, pimps, prostitutes and murderers, on reading this it turned out it was mostly populated by the desperately poor who were busy being fleeced by unscrupulous […]

A Storied Life: The Autobiography of Book – No Money!

Book by John Agard

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Book was given to me from my mother and so fits the “No Money!” square of bingo.  This a really cute concept, it is the history of books presented as an autobiography of, Book.  Book narrates to you its history and development throughout the ages.  This slim volume is written for a younger audience but it also would make a cute gift for the bibliophile in your life (which is how I ended up with it).  Book is eager to share and proud of its […]

The Intersectional Autobiographical Approach to Understanding Racism

How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

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Bingo review 10: Book Club I work at a regional state university. Earlier this summer, we got an email containing a book club invitation that will begin a series of events designed to reflect each of the institution’s official values. Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist was chosen in association with “adaptability”, and probably also in association with the current focus on race and racism in the US. According to the accompanying flyer, this group will meet monthly throughout the fall semester digitally, […]

The Union Forever

Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson

The Golden Gizmo by Jim Thompson

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Reviewing two books here, one of which I have a lot to say about and do, the other I have little and do not… Battle Cry of Freedom 5/5 Unquestionably the ur-text on why the Civil War happened, McPherson examines all angles, the social, political and military. Not a stone is left unturned. Yet this book is remarkably readable. Very few parts of it dragged and the ones that did were the ones that I wasn’t particularly interested in in the first place. McPherson doesn’t set […]

Great gossip straight from Georgian England

The Scandalous Lady W by Hallie Rubenfold

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Being both in the grip of a current obsession for consuming everything I can about England in the 18th century and also being a huge gossip, The Scandalous Lady W seemed almost tailor made for me. I found this book after inhaling the first two seasons of the Harlots TV series and noticing it was written by Rubenhold – I’ve since bought just a few more from her based on how much I enjoyed this. The Scandalous Lady W deals with the headline making divorce […]



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