Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“God is a Troubadour!”

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz

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Well, here it is, the book that made me cry, the book I’ll be throwing at anyone who seems vaguely interested in historical fantasy books that introduce children to big ideas and big research in an accessible way. Watch your head! *throws* Yes, I’m here to tell you a Newbery-honor book is supremely good, follow me for more shocking revelations. The Inquisitor’s Tale follows three remarkable kids and their magical dog as they try to survive Medieval France. Peasant girl Jeanne has visions of the […]

The traditions endure, but the perspective evolves

For Small Creatures Such as We by Sasha Sagan

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CBR15Bingo: You are here You are here on this planet, in this life. How you are moved to celebrate and acknowledge the passing of time and all of the joy and pain that is part of it is up to you. Rituals are, among other things, tools that help us process change. There is so much change in this universe, so many entrances and exits, and ways to mark them…each one astonishing in its own way. ― Sasha Sagan, For Small Creatures Such as We: […]

Like a Warm Bath

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World by Haemin Sunim

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Best for: Anyone who feels a bit overwhelmed by life. Anyone who doesn’t, but still wants some suggestions for how to slow down and calm down. In a nutshell: Buddhist monk and professor Sunim offers reflections on ways to more deeply experience different aspects of life: rest, mindfulness, passion, relationships, love, life, the future, and spirituality. Worth quoting: “Unless we recognize the still point beneath the surface of our changing emotions, we will feel we are hostage to their whims.” “When you make a mistake, […]

Do you already have a vague idea of what self-care is? If yes, you can skip this book

The Witch's Book of Self-Care by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

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BINGO – SELF-CARE Arin Murphy-Hiscock endeavors to instruct in practical self-care through a witch’s lens. She begins with an introduction to what self-care is and isn’t and how the idea of self-care has been co-opted by some many people and industries to make a buck. She then breaks down modes of self-care into Mental and Emotional Self-Care, Physical Self-Care, Spiritual Self-Care, and Household Self-Care. She sprinkles spells, rituals, and recipes throughout as well as practical tips on how to incorporate self-care into one’s daily life. […]

A God Wink

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

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If you’re not into spirituality or woo-woo, you may want to skip this review. I talked a little bit about my spiritual journey in my review of Love Wins. During this time of shelter-in-place and global pandemic, I’ve been diving deeper into what I believe. This book helped to lock some pieces into place for me, and for that, I am immensely grateful. Before I get to the juicy part, I need to lay the foundation. Because I try to avoid decision fatigue at all costs, when […]

A Quick Read with Transformative Power

Love Wins by Rob Bell

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“A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better. It’s been clearly communicated to many that this belief is a central truth of the Christian faith and to reject it is, in essence, to reject Jesus. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’s message of love, […]



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