Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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About KimMiE"

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I love reading nonfiction books, especially ones about nature, zoology, brain chemistry, and psychology. I also love the classics, especially Victorian lit. Mysteries are my go-to relaxing reads, and I read fantasy and sci fi when they come recommended. I'm definitely open to new genres! (Learn more about this Cannonballer: KimMiE”'s Quick Questions interview.)

KimMiE"'s Reviews:

This cat book needs more about cats

Cat Tales: A History by Jerry D. Moore

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I love this cover! It’s an illustration from Edward Topsill’s The History of Serpents, or, the Second Booke of Living Creatures, printed in 1608. If you could see it in person, you’d love it even more, because it has a metallic finish. A book with a cover like this will practically jump off the shelf into your hands. I love the 76 photos and illustrations throughout the book, which range from more historical illustrations to photos of mummified animals to a famous photo of P-22, […]

“Money, money, money!” Or, greedy Victorian bastards

Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

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I’ve had the idea in the back of my mind for a long time that I’d like to read every full-length Dickens novel, but I only just recently decided to get serious about it. For some reason, I decided that also should include re-reading ones that I don’t remember well. I vaguely remember enjoying Our Mutual Friend when I read it about 15 years ago, but I couldn’t remember the details. First takeaway: Even by Dickens’ standards, this novel feels a trifle padded. I generally […]

A mixed bag of people who maybe, sorta, could’ve been famous

Banvard's Folly by Paul Collins

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Paul Collins is one of my favorite writers of historical true-crime, as seen in his wonderful books Blood & Ivy and Duel with the Devil. When I learned about his first book, Banvard’s Folly, I knew I had to get my hands and eyes on it. The subtitle promises a fascinating collection: Thirteen Tales of Renowned Obscurity, Famous Anonymity, and Rotten Luck. The book jacket positions it as a story of antiheroes: people who “might have claimed their renown but who, whether from ill timing, […]

If our mother cells done so much for medicine, how come her family can’t afford to see no doctors?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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I’ll start with the bottom line: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in years. Author Rebecca Skloot not only explains the science in a compelling, accessible manner, she also explores the ethics of the medical research and devotes at least half the book to the people that were touched by Henrietta Lacks and her legacy. Five enthusiastic stars! It’s hard to say where this story “begins,” because it really depends on whether you are talking about […]

It’s hard to resist a book with a cat on the cover

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

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I’m probably late to the trend (I usually am), but I hadn’t noticed until fairly recently how many books written in Japan center around cats. Last year, I read the touching If Cats Disappeared from the World, and the surprisingly comforting Blanket Cats. The disappointing Before the Coffee Gets Cold did not include a cat, but it should have, and I think the publishers knew it needed one because they put a cat on the cover. Anyway, I’m continuing the trend in 2026 with a […]

Creating a language is no joke. Or, maybe it is, because I laughed a lot reading this book.

In the Land of Invented Languages by Arika Okrent

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CBR 17 BINGO: Diaspora. The author uses the Jewish diaspora to illustrate the remarkable resurgence of Hebrew as a spoken language. You could also argue that Esperanto speakers form a diaspora. When you think of “invented” languages, you might immediately think of Esperanto, the late-19th century experiment in creating a universal language to bring people closer together. Or you might think about Star Trek geeks going all-in on their hobby by learning Klingon. Or you might ponder J.R.R. Tolkien’s elvish languages, created decades before he […]



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