Cannonball

A young military photographer named Zach encounters mysterious events at a palace in Iraq during his deployment in the early 2000s. His discovery of underground water pipes and ancient scrolls pulls him into a complex web of events that bridge his past and present. The narrative connects Zach's history as a high school swimmer and diver under his veteran father's coaching to his current role as an Army photographer. His path intersects with Umo, an enigmatic immigrant whose appearance at a crucial moment in Iraq defies explanation. The story moves between Southern California and Iraq, combining elements of military operations, archaeological findings, and personal history. The discovery of scrolls containing apparent economic teachings attributed to Jesus sets off a chain of events that follow Zach back to civilian life. The novel explores themes of truth, perception, and faith against the backdrop of modern warfare and ancient religious texts. It questions the relationship between commerce and belief while examining how personal and global histories intersect.

Readers often find Cannonball complex and difficult to follow, with dense prose and non-linear storytelling that requires careful attention. Some readers report needing multiple attempts to complete the book. Appreciated elements: - Deep exploration of post-9/11 themes - Unique narrative voice and experimental structure - Rich character development of the protagonist - Detailed depictions of swimming and diving Common criticisms: - Hard to penetrate writing style - Convoluted plot threads - Long, meandering sentences - Unclear transitions between timelines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (36 ratings) Amazon: 3.2/5 (8 reviews) Several readers mention abandoning the book partway through. One Goodreads review notes: "The narrative demands total concentration - it's like trying to swim upstream." An Amazon reviewer writes: "McElroy's prose rewards patience, but many readers will find the effort exhausting."

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⚡ Joseph McElroy has written ten novels over his six-decade career, with "Cannonball" (2013) being his most recent major work 🏊 The novel's aquatic themes draw from McElroy's own background as a competitive swimmer in his youth 📜 The hidden scrolls in the novel parallel real archaeological discoveries in Iraq, where thousands of ancient texts were uncovered during the Iraq War 📸 The protagonist's role as a military photographer reflects the significant shift in war documentation during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was one of the most photographically documented conflicts in history 🏊‍♂️ The palace pool featured in the novel is likely inspired by the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Saddam Hussein's Al-Faw Palace, which became a recreational spot for U.S. troops