Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Well, that’s Betty alright!

That’s Betty!: The Story of Betty White by Gregory Bonsignore

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The more I learn about Betty White, the more I am amazed at what she has done. I knew her as an actress and then an animal’s rights activist. I knew she was married. Over the years I would learn she was an icon and not just because she did a Snickers commercial. Then That’s Betty!: The Story of Betty White comes along and Gregory Bonsignore just kept the info coming. She was a producer before women were producers. Her television history started at the […]

Is it weird how much I was looking forward to reading this?

In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder by Jane Monckton Smith

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TW for the book: domestic violence, homicide, suicide, rape This book is without a doubt one of the most infuriating things I have ever read, and also my favorite read of the year so far. I have an amazing friend who works in victim support. She and I were lamenting how often women become victims of domestic violence, even when there is a sea of red flags, such as when 13 women report the same man to police for stalking. (My. Blood. Is. Boiling.) My […]

R-E-A-D Please!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford

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I had hoped to like R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford a bit more than I did. Perhaps my desire to like it “a lot” made it impossible for the result to live up to my expectations. Yet in the end, I enjoyed reading this glimpse into Franklin’s world. It just will probably not be on my top ten of favorite picture books I read this year list. This book is simple, but not simplistic. We see the life and […]

The Voices of the Ignored

The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg's Forgotten History, Immigrants, women, & African Americans in the Civil War's Defining Battle by Margaret S. Creighton

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Until I joined a reenactment group about 6 years ago, I’d never had any interest in the Civil War since its most popular focus is white men shooting each other. Now, this isn’t to say that the experiences of the white, male soldiers consumed by the jaws of war aren’t important, it just means I don’t particularly care what Gen. So-&-So did at noon on July 2nd, 1863. And unfortunately, at least at Gettysburg, ninety-nine percent of the focus is what white men did in […]

Soldiers in “Hello Kitty” panties are still soldiers.

Women In The Military: From Drill Sergeants to Fighter Pilots by Connie Goldsmith

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“Military life poses significant challenges to women in many ways. Yet most are proud of having served their country and feel their time in the military was an important part of their lives. And as women continue to break barriers by joining every area of the military—including combat units—military culture will shift from a male-dominated organization to an institution where women are fully accepted, treated as equals, and encouraged to excel.” This book highlights major topics about women in the military. It starts with the […]

She rather be watching TV

We Saw Scenery: the Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe by Merrill Markoe

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I had not heard of Merrill Markoe before I asked for a reader copy of, We Saw Scenery: the Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe. (Later I realized I must have heard her writing due to her resume.) I misplaced the copy I received (story of my life: I would lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on) but found it the other day (it was hiding under my desk…don’t ask why I was under my desk….) I will now investigate other works because what a […]



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