wicherwill – Page 18 – Cannonball Read 17

SMBC but in book form + with SPACE

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith

October 17, 2024 by wicherwill Leave a Comment

If you’re a fan of the Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC) webcomic, you’ll definitely enjoy this and don’t really need to read this review. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith strike the perfect balance of humor and science, creating an entertaining blend that hits the sweet spot for lifelong nerds (hello!) who love learning for the sake of it. There’s a type of reader who thrives on the intersection of humor and knowledge—the kind of person who wants to learn everything but laments the fact there’s no […]

a re-read before the fourth book was coming out later in the year

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

October 17, 2024 by wicherwill Leave a Comment

these books are like Tamora Pierce, but for adults (i.e., starring adults, with adult scenes–as an adult who still reads Tamora Pierce novels and considers the Circle of Magic series one of her favorites). It’s something of the vibe that T. Kingfisher has going on throughout her books–knights and magic, of course, but also a homey sort of rhythm. There’s real Magic, of course, impressive and with big swords and horses and stuff, but there’s also small magics that are expressed in everyday actions. Everything moves […]

let’s see if I get the slang right

Starling House by Alix. E Harrow

October 17, 2024 by wicherwill 1 Comment

This left me feeling pretty “mid,” as the kids say. I’ve realized that Alix E. Harrow might just be an author whose style doesn’t fully click with me when it comes to novels. I had a similar reaction to The Ten Thousand Doors of January—it’s just something about the vibe and pacing that doesn’t quite land. That said, I did enjoy her Fractured Fables series (A Spindle Splintered and A Mirror Mended), so maybe it’s the format that works better for me. I was excited going into this because I’m […]

dystopian utopian escapism

The Future by Naomi Alderman

January 17, 2024 by wicherwill Leave a Comment

I will give this book a pass because it does get better towards the end, but to explain would ruin the reason for which the book gets good! More relevantly I don’t think it’s as good as The Power, but it’s definitely an engaging book. Despite only having read one book by David Eggers (The Circle) I do get a similar vibe from Alderman’s work. The genre is scifi, set in a near future that seems rather reasonable but with a few tweaks that are exaggerations […]

as they say in hockey…let’s do that hockey

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

January 17, 2024 by wicherwill 2 Comments

I think this was a recommendation from the NYT, which goes to show that they can get things right every so often (guacamole with peas, a friend reminded me earlier today) (also, see, like, 100% of their coverage of trans kids and pearl clutching both sides discourse). I know nothing of hockey! Well, that’s not entirely true I did play for a hot second (cold second) as I have played all sports known to mankind in my parents’ quest to find me a physical team […]

perhaps this will be the year of expanded worlds both IRL and fictional (yes, I mean maybe I’ll finally get around to the Cosmere)

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

January 1, 2024 by wicherwill 9 Comments

Was just speaking to my friend (and soon to be author!!!) about Sanderson–I’ve given her a copy of The Final Empire, knowing that I myself took ages (and two reads) to actually read it. Despite the fact that I’m a casual Cosmere reader at best (as in, I’ve only read the Mistborn books + the various secret projects #1-3), there was so much I could say to recommend him to her. Do you want an author who’s learned and grown over time, becoming more progressive and […]

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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