scootsa1000 – Page 14 – Cannonball Read 17

“I wish his darkness lived outside of him, because you have to know it’s there to see it. Like all real monsters, he hides in plain sight.”

Sadie by Courtney Summers

February 14, 2019 by scootsa1000 3 Comments

A few weeks ago, I had a chance to go and see Cannonball favorite Karen McManus talking about her new book, Two Can Keep a Secret, along with another YA author I hadn’t previously heard of, Megan Miranda. I asked them a few questions during the panel, including wondering what they — as writers of suspenseful YA fiction — liked to read, and were currently reading. They both, without hesitation, told me to read Sadie by Courtney Summers, right away. So, I did. I knew […]

Harry Dresden and the Dark Hallow: Yes, there are wizards, but this ain’t Hogwarts

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

February 13, 2019 by scootsa1000 1 Comment

I’m still slowly making my way through these Harry Dresden books, all read to me by the fantastic James Marsters. And, as many cannonballers before me have stated, I’m enjoying each book slightly more than the one that came before it. I’m now fully invested into Harry’s world, and I can’t wait to start the next one. In this one, Harry and Butters (the polka enthusiast-medical examiner), are on the run from a group of necromancers who have descended upon Chicago, all looking for something […]

“Having a trash chute was one of my favorite things about my building. It made me feel important, like I was participating in the world. My trash mixed with the trash of others. The things I touched touched things other people had touched. I was contributing, I was connecting.”

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

February 13, 2019 by scootsa1000 3 Comments

My Year of Rest and Relaxation was on a bunch of “Best of” lists at the end of 2018, and there was something about the cover that drew me to it. And now that I’ve finished it, while I’m glad I read it to see what the fuss was all about, I honestly have no idea if I liked it or hated it. I think both. But mostly hated it. We have an unnamed narrator living in Manhattan in 1999-2000. She’s in her 20s, has […]

I did not expect this.

Blended by Sharon Draper

January 28, 2019 by scootsa1000 2 Comments

Last week, my boss gave me this book and asked me if I would prepare a presentation on it for some workshops we have coming up. It looked cute: pink and white stripes on the cover and a girl spilling her ice cream. Sounded fine to me! And the book was indeed fine. Blended tells the story of Isabella, a sixth grader with divorced parents. She struggles to adapt to the back-and-forth custody arrangement that her parents have, and doesn’t feel like she can call […]

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it takes a huge amount of fake blood to keep a Halloween theme park running.”

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M McManus

January 24, 2019 by scootsa1000 5 Comments

I could not have been more excited about the release of Two Can Keep a Secret. Karen McManus** — who has been such an amazing supporter of the Cannonball Read — currently has TWO books on the NYTimes bestsellers list, which is phenomenal. So many of us read — and loved — her debut novel, One of Us is Lyinglast year, and its been great to see that book is still attracting new readers and new fans. TCKAS is a mystery about missing girls in a […]

Best read with a pint of IPA and a Rolling Stones record on the turntable.

In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin

January 22, 2019 by scootsa1000 1 Comment

I’ll start this review by saying I am a massive fan of Ian Rankin, especially his John Rebus series of books. So basically, he could write up Rebus’ shopping list, and I’d probably give it a 5 Star review. Just so you know. There have been at least 20 books about John Rebus and his adventures in the Edinburgh police department. And this was the first one that wasn’t really about John Rebus that much. Yes, he was in it, and yes, he played a […]

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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