Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Great Photos and Interesting History

Fragments of Glasgow by Rosalie Menon

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Best for: Those interested in Victorian architecture. Those who live in or want to learn more about Glasgow. In a nutshell: Author Menon explores the various 19th century architecture in Glasgow, splitting thorough text with gorgeous photos. Worth quoting: “… repurposing these historic buildings is an inherently sustainable option.” Why I chose it: We purchased moved to Glasgow last year and live in a tenement flat. I’ve become fascinated with the architecture in this city. Review: I love Victorian architecture. I love stone buildings that […]

American Dream or Vanity Project?

Liberty by Julian Voloj

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cbr16bingo Vintage (Of an age) and the statue is over 40 years old…so counts)  Liberty by Julian Voloj and illustrated by Jorg Hartmann is a solid, strong book about the Statue of Liberty. There are creative illustrations that bring to life not just the ins and outs of the statue, but the history and the feelings of the times. We see the country through the eyes of a well-to-do Frenchman, his contemporaries and how France and the US differ and are similar. What little I […]

Shaping the structures of the world

Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei by Julie Leung

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Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei by Julie Leung and illustrated by Yifan Wu is a WOW! book. Not because it is the best book ever (though it is in the top 25 for 2024 so far), but because it is different from what I have been reading and it is about someone that I had never heard of before, or if I had, not someone who had “clicked” as he was not a mainstream name (such as Frank Lloyd […]

Gird Your Loins. But It’s Worth It.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

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cbr15 bingo History So this was a 1000 page doorstopper, and apparently the first of a trilogy.  And you know what?  Bring it on. Set in England during those dicey years before the Plantagenet crew really took hold, it’s basically the story of the building of a cathedral.  But the thing about building a cathedral, especially in these early days?  It’s a community endeavor headed by Some Guy (Tom Builder to start with in this case) but it must be a feat of sustained passion […]

I Know What Styles I Like

How to Read London: A Crash Course in London Architecture by Chris Rogers

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Best for: People without a background in architecture who are interested in learning about the different styles they see around London. In a nutshell: Author Rogers provides two-page overviews of major architectural landmarks across the (primarily northern part of) London. Worth quoting: N/A Why I chose it: I was in a museum bookshop and had seen it before. Also, I find so much of London architecture interesting, but also a lot of it pretty depressing. What it left me feeling: Far-sighted (the font is super […]

This mite is mighty

Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden

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Roberto: The Insect Architect is what you expect from a book about a termite who wants to be an architect. There are puns about eating your wood and not building with it. There are bug-name puns of real-life architects and more. It is simple enough, but Nina Laden has created a long story that mostly is amusing (it is mostly a Love or Not book, with a few people in the Like category). Landen’s illustrations are what you see from the cover, only a few […]



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