Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About Chris

CBR11 participant
CBR18 Participant

Hi, it's me. Really, I hate these bio things. I like to read.

Chris's Reviews:

Je t’aime

A Year in Paris by John Baxter

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Non-fiction book for Feb 2019 My Book Box. If anyone writes more beautifully about Paris than John Baxter, I’ve yet to read them. This book is supposedly about Paris throughout the year. It loosely follows this (there are some jumps in season, time, and place) as well as a brief history of the Revolution’s desire to change the calenderer. It is best to think of this book as part memoir of seasons of his life in Paris, as well as seasons of Paris. Each chapter […]

In a dark, dark time

The Last Hours by Minette Walters

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Walters’ historical novel is a stunning look at how people reacted when the Black Death came to town. Or came to country and tried to come to town, but you burned down the bridge and kept away anyone who looked sick. There is historic precedent for a similar story – see the village of Eyam in Derbyshire. In terms of the fear of people living at the time, Walters does a very good job. The change in society – the rebellion of the serfs – […]

I love Merrily and Jane

The Cure of Souls by Phil Rickman

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I have to give it to Phil Rickman – Merrily and her daughter Jane are so beautifully drawn and written. Merrily finds herself caught in a rather confusing web of lies, half truths, and secrets. The problem is her job is on the line. Luckily for her, she has the help of Sophie (I love Sophie). Rickman not only tackles religion, teen love (go Jane), adult love, Welsh pride, and the whole question of gypsy belief in one book. Not to mention the whole bit […]

Riveting Account of a famous battle

Northern Armageddon: The Battle of the Plains of Abraham and the Making of the American Revolution by D. Peter MacLeod

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This is an excellent book about the Battle of the Plains of Abraham – the battle that basically won Quebec for the British. Macleod’s descriptions of the Battle, in particular the Scots fighting, are particularly good. There’s this one old Scot who must have been descended from the Spartans because he keeps going and going while bits of him get blown off. He is also even handed. His treatment of both Montcalm and Wolfe does not lionize either men.   Montcalm does not come across […]

Love this series

The Poisoned Crown by Maurice Druon

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While I enjoyed Martin’s Game of Thrones books, I can’t say that I am huge fan.  Honesty, I don’t even watch the HBO series.  It’s too rapey for me. Yet, I like Martin.  In part because he champions other authors and makes sure that they, not him, get the credit.  But also because it is because of him that this series was re-released in America.  Martin says it partly inspired him. It is the epic soap opera of France.  It is the fall of a […]

The Report the Government Doesn’t Want you to Read

The Climate Report by U.S. Global Change Research Program

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This is the report that the current president of the US (aka Orange) doesn’t want you to read. Read it. Not only does it detail the effects of a changing climate, but the FAQ is basically a rebuttal to anyone who says the science doesn’t prove it. Apparently, the Orange is trying to recruit business people to say it is nothing but lies. Thankfully, it is written by people who know how to use words, do studies, research, and cite.  The FAQ section at the […]



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