Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Introducing that 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic: RUMI (Ruuumi…Ruuumi…Rummi…) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rumi–Poet of Joy and Love by Rashin Kheiriyeh

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The way to my heart is a good grilled cheese (or pb&j) and a glass of milk. But the other thing that gets me going is swag from book people. Especially if it is a book itself. Recently I was asked to take a survey about a publisher and its books. I thought why not? And the fact there was a thank you book to boot? Double why not!  And that thank you book was Rumi–Poet of Joy and Love by Rashin Kheiriyeh (concept by […]

Family celebration

A Turkish Rosh Hashanah by Etan Basseri

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I was reading A Turkish Rosh Hashanah (via an online reader copy though it has recently been released) by Etan Basseri and thought about The Light Keeper by Levin, Baslaw and Priestley. It is not because they have a similar theme, setting (one is set in Russian, one in Turkey), or even that the main characters are all Jewish, but it just had that feel of something familiar and yet, also different. It was sweet, interesting and a bit educational without being textbook-like. They both […]

Lady pirate called out of retirement for, “One last job”.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

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I was introduced to Shannon Chakraborty writing under the name S.A. Chakraborty through her book The City of Brass, first book in the Daevabad trilogy.  There was a lot I liked about it; excellent Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world building, an engaging story, and a great female main protagonist.  Yet, I disliked how pretty much the only female character was the main one. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi also has excellent Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world building.  This time it’s set on the Indian Ocean during the […]

Based on a true story

Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb

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Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb and illustrated by Fateme Mokhles is a read via an online reader copy, due in July 2024 book that really hit the spot. It is diverse and the theme of being different with a positive attitude from the start gives it a fresh take.  Rostam is a newly immigrated child. His mother and he are starting fresh, while his father is still in Iran, and is to join them as soon as he can. In the meantime, the […]

Man makes our art story

Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art by Hannah Salyer

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Though currently available, I read via an online reader copy. And I have rounded up my rating to a 4 from a 3.5. This is because there was some repetition), or a few “bumps” while I was reading. Of course, each reader will take something different from it.  And as said, I read via online, so I am not sure the exact dimensions, but I am assuming it is a larger than usual picture book.  But regardless,  Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave […]

Meaningful conversations

Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire by Jehad Abusalim

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Full disclosure, I did not finish Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire edited by Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing and Mike Merryman-Lotze. I did read a few of the essays in full, a few I skimmed and one was mostly read. There are around five or so poems, but they did not “pop” for me.  There are a handful of  photographs and each essay covers events, detailed facts and much more. It is a technical read a lot of the time. While the publisher’s description […]



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