Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About cheerbrarian

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I am a born and bred southerner and transplant to the Midwest. I read because I NEED to (as a former English major, it's in the DNA) and because I'm possibly ignoring frigid temperatures. Until summer, and then I'll just be reading outside. I also enjoy cooking, witty banter, and cheese. All the cheese. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: ardaigle's Quick Questions interview.)

cheerbrarian's Reviews:

“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.”

The Women by Kristin Hannah

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In five words: Vietnam War, Friendship, Dire, Uplifting The amount of people that have told me to read this book is high considering it just came out in February. What tipped me over the edge to get it ASAP was the recommendation from a person who generally hates historical fiction and said this was the best BOOK they had ever read. Full stop. That got my attention, so rather than wait for who knows how long for this literary hot potato, I ventured to an […]

“First your actions change, then your thoughts, then finally your feelings, in that specific order.”

Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas by Alexi Pappas

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In five words: Olympic, inspirational, poetic, raw, memoir This book came like a wrecking ball out of nowhere and hit me upside the head, in the best way possible. “Run like a bravey. Sleep like a baby. Dream like a crazy. Replace can’t with maybe.” I had never heard of Alexi Pappas but a run club friend, knowing I love to read, loaned me her copy of the memoir of this Olympic runner/poet/filmmaker. I took it to a Silent Book Club meet-up and read non-stop […]

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.”

All Systems Red (Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells

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In five(ish) words: Free will, space-faring, android, science fiction, charming. I see how “charming” might seem out of place for something called “The Murderbot Diaries” that revolves around our understanding of a security droid’s awakening to and wrestling with purpose, but here we are. This novella packs a lot of meaning and thought-provoking content (and even a little humor) into its pages. This book reads like a space episode of Doctor Who, the type where the Doctor and their companion is stuck on a space […]

“And what about a person’s life? How do you make a map of that? The borders people draw between themselves. The scars left along the ground of one’s heart.”

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

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In five words: secrets, Caribbean, sprawling, water, heritage This was a library book club pic that I had heard of (due to the Hulu adaptation) and found it to be intriguing and unique, if also a bit uneven. It’s a story of the gnarled knots and hidden corners of a family tree, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. After a Thanksgiving Day family blowout, the Bennett family was on rocky ground. Benny, upset at her parents reception to a big […]

“My truth is not the same as yours because we don’t experience life in the same way.”

The Maid by Nita Prose

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I’m taking a new writing prompt for a spin wherein at the start of my review, I will throw out five words to give a quick look into what the book is about. Helps my brain get a review going and maybe will tell you, dear reader, if this is a book for you. In five words: unexpected, mystery, nuerodivergent, grandmother, loneliness This book was lurking on one of the display shelves at my library, and I’m always down for a cozy mystery so nabbed […]

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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In five words: masterpiece, Stalin, dystopia, idealism, satire I have reread Orwell’s 1984 more times than I can admit. I think it (and he) is what started my lifelong love of dystopian fiction. Even though Animal Farm is much shorter, and I’m sure I read it in high school (only because it lives on my bookshelves in the “stuff from high school” area) I didn’t remember much about it. My kiddo came home with it from 9th grade and I grabbed my copy, ready to […]



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