Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About Jake

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I love reading! (Learn more about this Cannonballer: Jake's Quick Questions interview.)

Jake's Reviews:

Doin’ No Harm

Lowdown Road by Scott Von Doviak

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Read as part of CBR15bingo: edibles. The plot centers around a large shipment of marijuana, which I guess is technically edible though you can use it in things that are actually edible. Admittedly, I’m reaching here but the suggestion on the OP did include “drugs.” Hixploitation (the author’s words, not mine) — like blaxploitation and other specified identity genres — hit a frenzied peak in the 70s. It was the era of the Film Brats and just as they influenced studio Hollywood, the Bs were […]

The Night Of

Prom Mom by Laura Lippman

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Read as part of CBR15bingo: adulthood. The book focuses on people who are moving on to adulthood in the present day after something terrible happened to them in their respective pasts.  Laura Lippman’s been on a roll in the last decade with these standalone novels. This is another winner and while it might not be on the level of Sunburn or Dream Girl, it’s still quite good. Lippman is very good at writing about people who are perpetually bound together in certain ways, often by tragedy. Here in […]

I See You

Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin

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Read as part of CBR15bingo: picture this. The main character in this book is a psychic who can picture things in her mind by touching certain objects or coming into contact with people or places.  I’m not generally predisposed to fiction based on psychics. At least, I don’t think I am. I don’t seek those books out. And yet, I’ve read and enjoyed three of them within the last year: Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen, Play the Fool by Lina Chern and now this one. I truly did […]

And One for the Air

One For Our Baby by John Sandrolini

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Read as part of CBR15Bingo: take flight. The main character in this book is a pilot and there are many scenes of him flying people in the air.  This is not a serious book so if you’re willing to go along with the flow (or the flight, haha), you might enjoy it like I did. If not, give it a hard pass. The first 50% or so of this read like a script from a lost 50s crime film starring Frank Sinatra. John Sandrolini has […]

Lights Go Down

Hairspray and Switchblades by V. Castro

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Read as part of CBR15Bingo: Bodies, bodies. The book features a commentary about bodies, especially with regards to shapeshifting.  Shapeshifting is a popular trope in horror. It has its origins in Greco-Roman mythology (thanks Wikipedia!) but there are versions of it in a lot of other cultures. In contemporary horror, I’ve seen in featured several times in Latinx novels. It’s centered in this one. Shapeshifting is also sometimes used to tell a broader story about transformation. Maya, the central character here, is a stripper, as well […]

Smell the Flowers

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

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Read as part of CBR15Bingo: dwelling. The story is titled Lavender House and is mostly set in the titular location.  I’m going to give this book four stars against my better judgment. It was not a four star read. Let me explain. For like 70-80% of these ratings, I take them seriously. I really do want people to know how I feel if they are considering whether or not to pick something up. Reading is awesome and we only have so much time in this life. This […]



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