Sophia – Page 46 – Cannonball Read 17

“They did what human beings looking for freedom, throughout history, have often done. They left.”

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

February 17, 2021 by Sophia 3 Comments

My boyfriend read The Warmth of Other Suns (2010) by Isabel Wilkerson and suggested that I read it. I trust his judgment, but it didn’t hurt that it was named the best book of the year by a ton of publications. It also just sounded interesting. The Warmth of Other Suns is a non-fiction book about The Great Migration that occurred from 1915-1970. Coming into this novel, I was vaguely aware that a large number of Black Americans had moved up North after slavery ended, but that was […]

A little biology, a little history

The Body by Bill Bryson

February 15, 2021 by Sophia 3 Comments

I know Bill Bryson from listening to his audiobook, A Walk in the Woods, over ten years ago. I remember enjoying it, so when I was looking for another good audio book for my commute and saw that The Body: A Guide for Occupants (2019) was available, I checked it out. I found it consistently interesting and sometimes illuminating. It is a broad book that covers anything and everything related to health and life. This book is divided into sections and chapters discussing: skin, the head, the heart, […]

But what happens next?

After Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

February 12, 2021 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I slid After Hello (2017) by Mhairi McFarlane into my reading pile as a little break. It’s a short novella and a follow-up to another McFarlane romance novel, You Had Me at Hello. Rachel and Ben didn’t have much time together at the end of the first book when they finally got together. After Hello allows them a slightly longer happily ever after. However, it’s hard to have a novel with no obstacles to overcome, so Rachel and Ben do face some challenges in this second story. Rachel and Ben […]

“I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves.”

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

January 21, 2021 by Sophia 2 Comments

I began Dunmore’s books with Bringing Down the Duke (2019) when NPR recommended it last year. I was very happy with it and quickly moved on to A Rogue of One’s Own (2020) this year. The time, place, and characters are familiar from Bringing Down the Duke, where four women worked together for women’s rights and the passage of the Married Women’s Property Act. This time, Lucie is our protagonist. She’s very dedicated to the cause and has been estranged from her family for over ten years. Fortunately, she has a […]

because President Obama told me to

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

January 12, 2021 by Sophia 6 Comments

I’m a fan of President Obama, so when he recommends books to read, I am quick to jump on the bandwagon. His recommendations so far have been well written and thought provoking, and Long Bright River (2020) by Liz Moore is no exception. Mickey is a Philadelphia police officer working the streets in the Kensington neighborhood. The area has seen better days, but now its factories are closed and it is overrun with opioid addiction. Mickey is intimately familiar with the opioid crisis as it has killed […]

“Do nothing, and nothing happens. Life is about decisions.”

You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

January 9, 2021 by Sophia Leave a Comment

My old friend from school introduced me to Mhairi McFarlane’s books. McFarlane writes contemporary romance novels that don’t fit the typical romance formula. It usually takes longer for the characters to get together, and there is more emphasis on friends and family. I started with her latest novel, If I Never Met You (2020) before quickly jumping into Don’t You Forget About Me (2019). I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books, so it didn’t take long before I picked up another one by McFarlane. You Had Me At Hello (2014) is […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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