Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

“Any effective solution to eradicating American racism must involve Americans committed to anti-racist policies” – CBR12Bingo “How to”

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

by Leave a Comment

This book fits the “How to” square by teaching me how to be a better anti-racist.  It is not enough to be against racism, one must be actively anti-racist, which is different.  I am a white woman and in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, came to realize that I was woefully under educated about the problem of racism in America.  At the time all sorts of recommended reading lists came out and Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas […]

A Storied Life: The Autobiography of Book – No Money!

Book by John Agard

by Leave a Comment

Book was given to me from my mother and so fits the “No Money!” square of bingo.  This a really cute concept, it is the history of books presented as an autobiography of, Book.  Book narrates to you its history and development throughout the ages.  This slim volume is written for a younger audience but it also would make a cute gift for the bibliophile in your life (which is how I ended up with it).  Book is eager to share and proud of its […]

Faking consumption to get husband’s attention: Debut

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

by Leave a Comment

To Have and to Hoax is the debut novel by Martha Waters and was a fun choice for that bingo square.  Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey, during her first season, found herself in a compromising position on a dark balcony with the handsome Lord James Audley.  Sparks flew between the two of them and when discovered by Violet’s mother, he instantly proposes. A love match is unusual in their society circles and for the first year everything seemed perfect.  Violet is an avid reader, […]

What if you could have your entire appearance altered by magic, over and over again? – UnCannon

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

by Leave a Comment

UnCannon: Dhonielle Clayton is a young (37 is younger than me so it counts!) black woman so she is pretty polar opposite of an old white man.  I had my eye on The Belles for a while now and when the Black Publishing Power Initiative came up, it seemed the perfect time to buy the book. Clayton created a world where beauty is the ultimate, ever changing goal, and access to beauty is controlled.  Cursed by the God of the Sky the people of Orleans are […]

Incredibly timely, CBRbookclub is two for two this year in books that are unexpectedly relevant

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

by Leave a Comment

The themes of gender identity and the LGBTQ+ spectrum were always going to be relevant for Pride month and An Unkindness of Ghosts was thoughtfully chosen for this book club.  However, current events have given an added layer of pertinence.  Earlier this year, the CBR Book Club had chosen Station Eleven and then we found ourselves in a pandemic.  This month we are seeing protesting to change a racist police system (and institutionalized racism) and An Unkindness of Ghosts has an outright rebellion against the […]

Loved the mystery and secret societies, current events made the excessive privilege stomach churning

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

by Leave a Comment

As much as I adore the Grishaverse, it was nice to see Bardugo flex her writer muscles in something new.  She certainly starts this book with a vivid sentence that seized me right away. By the time Alex managed to get the blood out of her good wool coat, it was too warm to wear it. Ninth House is gripping murder mystery, set in a version of our world where magic exists and is hoarded by the secret societies of Yale.  Perhaps you’ve heard of […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo