non fiction – Page 64 – Cannonball Read 17

A good starting point for Ripperologists

The Complete and Essential Jack the Ripper by Paul Begg and John Bennett

January 15, 2019 by Griever0211 1 Comment

The Complete and Essential Jack the Ripper by Paul Begg and John Bennett is split into three main parts; the first part deals with the victims, including those who are sometimes dismissed from Ripper canon; the second part deals with the different theories put forward over the years on the identity of Jack the Ripper; the third part deals with the “myth” of Jack – how popular culture has seized upon the eponymous murderer, sometimes in a less than tasteful manner. For me, this book […]

The whole experience of being hit by a bullet is very interesting.

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

January 13, 2019 by tillie Leave a Comment

Orwell is a man of strong convictions. He believes so passionately in the fight against fascism that in 1936 he travels to Barcelona to fight in the revolution. Homage to Catalonia is a detailed account of the politics surrounding the revolution, a fervent defense of the working class and a witness of war from the trenches. “All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.” I will be honest and say that the politics interested me […]

So Many Footnotes

Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens by Eddie Izzard

January 8, 2019 by tikkersweet 2 Comments

I have watched some of his stand-up specials and I did find them hilarious but never would have sought out a memoir of his life but this book was recommended to me and I am glad I read it. I listened to the audio book instead of the written book and I highly recommend that format. His narration is very genuine, charismatic and engaging. I don’t think I would have enjoyed this this book if I read the words on a page. Although there are very […]

An illuminating book about the grossness of human behavior.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

January 8, 2019 by narfna 4 Comments

I went into this expecting the corruption, murder, institutional racism, etc. against the Osage Indians to be very bad, and I still somehow managed to come out of this book mindboggled. This book should be taught in schools, and it is heinous that these terrible things happened, and just as heinous that so many people covered it up, and practically erased it from history. In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the US were the Osage. By sheer coincidence, after their tribe was […]

the last of God’s children in a godless world

New Jerusalem by Paul Ham

January 6, 2019 by RecurringExtra Leave a Comment

New Jerusalem is a non-fiction book covering the history of a militant and apocalyptic breakaway Christian sect in the early Reformation. The Melchiorites, named after their founding preacher, were early Anabaptists. A radical offshoot of Lutheranism, the Anabaptists were viewed as heretics by mainstream Catholics and suffered significant persecution. The Melchiorites sought sanctuary in the Lutheran-friendly city of a Munster. A small group of influential men put out a call for the poor to come to Munster for rebaptism as Melchiorites. More appealingly, they also promised […]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the bookshelf…

Jaws: Memories from Martha's Vineyard by Matt Taylor

January 5, 2019 by TheShitWizard Leave a Comment

As a lifelong Jaws fan, I’ve already read pretty extensively about the making of the film, as well as devouring any number of DVD extras and specials that I’ve ever come across. As such, it’s sometimes hard to come across new information, so I was immensely pleased to find this wrapped up for me underneath the Christmas tree. Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard is just that – a look at the production of Jaws through the eyes of the islanders of Martha’s Vineyard, whether they […]

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.

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