Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

America’s First Superhero

Zorro's Shadow by Stephen J. C. Andes

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This non-fiction examination of the Zorro character is pretty interesting. I felt the connection between a Mexican highwayman in early California, Joachim Murrieta, to the swordsman from pulp fiction and Disney was tenuous, but it was interesting reading. Starting with histories of the robber and an Irishman who was killed trying to liberate Mexico from the Spanish a hundred years before the Mexican revolution, Mr. Andes shows the effect of these two men as potential prototypes for Zorro. As the author drives from Mexico City […]

When a stranger on a plane gives you a book and a leftover tortilla chip falls out of it, you know you’ve made a friend

Zorro's Shadow by Stephen J.C. Andes

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I flew to see my dad for the 4th of July (hi, sabian30!), and wore my Ozma of Oz shirt on the plane. The woman who had the seat next to me complimented my shirt, yay! Always fun to meet a fellow reader. She had her headphones in during the flight, so I didn’t want to disturb her, but when she removed them when we landed I asked her how long she gave a bad book before giving up on it. The book I brought […]

“All tyranny is abominable.”

Zorro by Isabel Allende

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As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, The Family Channel’s “Zorro” was must-watch-tv. While “Batman: The Animated Series” would eventually take over as my favorite hero show when I became a hardened and cynical fourth grader, Zorro has always held a special place in my soul. Yes, my soul. Zorro is hero descended from Spanish and Native Americans, born to help. And, to help with panache. You can imagine the impact that would have on a little Hispanic boy. In a way, […]



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