Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Paradise Lost

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

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Even Though I Knew the End is a gorgeous, intense, tight rope 3 1/2 hour listen. Set in a slightly alternate, puritanical 1930s or 40s Chicago, C.L. Polk weaves together magic, gritty noir, Heaven, Hell, love, and grief. It’s both spare and lush with just enough detail to give the world texture and context. Women are second class citizens and being queer is dangerous. Helen Brandt sold her soul ten years ago and her payment is about to come due. She has worked as a […]

A good time, but not my favorite of Hibbert’s books.

That Kind of Guy (Ravenswood, #3) by Talia Hibbert

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The third act breakup in this one pooped the bed, but I really liked the rest of it. I wrote that ↑ back in July when I first finished the book, but now (on November 1st 😬) as I’m finally sitting down to write this review, I don’t have a very clear memory of the third act break-up, other than I didn’t buy it and it annoyed me. So, do with that what you will. I picked this book up out of order because of […]

I’m Dad

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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I really have nothing thoughtful to add to the Harrow the Ninth discourse. I tried to start it immediately after I finished Gideon, but it was difficult for my already over-stressed brain to focus on so I abandoned it. But I always intended to return. A couple of weeks ago a friend encouraged me to pick it up again saying, “there’s a scene that will blow your mind.” Adam was correct, there was a scene that blew my mind and I haven’t stopped thinking about […]

Very Sweet Book

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart

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Best for: People looking for a gentle, sweet, memoir with some nice little life lessons and a few chuckles. In a nutshell: Actress and comedian Hart shares stories and lessons of her life through the mechanism of talking to her younger self. Worth quoting: N/A (Audiobook) Why I chose it: Hart always struck me as a kind and fun woman. Plus, as a fellow very tall woman, I appreciate that she’s been able to make a career in film and television. Review: I first became […]

The Good With the Bad

Making a Scene by Constance Wu

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Best for: Fans of Constance Wu. People interested in learning about the impact of different aspects of Hollywood on actors. In a nutshell: Actress Wu shares stories from her life, mostly focusing on her non-famous time. Worth quoting: N/A (Audiobook) Why I chose it: I only know Wu from her starring role in Crazy Rich Asians, but this sounded interesting. Review: This is a book I find hard to review. I want to commend Wu for how open and honest she is, and how she […]

I Know Why Manholes Covers Are Circles

A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About) by Spike Carlsen

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My interest in neighborhood walks started when I was a teenager and I read Brenda Ueland’s If You Want to Write. In it, she writes about the value that regular walking does for creative folks. I took to walking based on that. As a young adult, the habit fell off a bit in favor of gym time and other (alcohol-based) pursuits. Once I got married and had kids in strollers, walking was back, baby! Strolls around the block became a great way to get out […]



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