Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Old Magic in Not Too Old Times Past

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

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The Left Handed Booksellers of London sounds like an interesting premise, and thankfully one that gets pulled off reasonably well. One thing I will say right off is that it’s a lot more interesting if you know a little bit about British or Celtic folklore; I also think the 1980s setting doesn’t get enough attention and that’s a totally missed opportunity. In a lot of ways the story is pretty standard: country child comes to the big city to pursue an education and find the […]

“Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild”

Every Gift a Curse (2023) by Caroline O'Donoghue

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“I can feel our bravery fall away as we journey into the wood. We are not built for this. We are not the folksy teenagers you see in adventure stories. There is no one who’s a dab hand at archery, or who can chart our journey by looking at the last few visible stars.” (371-372) Every Gift a Curse is the third and final in Irish author Caroline O’Donoghue’s YA ‘Gifts’ trilogy, following All Our Hidden Gifts (2021) and The Gifts That Bind Us (2022). […]

Exploring self and style

Alone in Space: A Collection by Tillie Walden

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CBR15Passport, Books Already OwnAlone in Space: A Collection is some of Tillie Walden’s earlier works. I am not sure if things were edited a lot after the original publications, but what we have here is some raw material. Not only are there several stories (some more fleshed out than others) but some of their comments on how their style changed over time. I am fairly certain that most of Walden’s characters are based on actual feelings, thoughts and things she was going through as they […]

All over the place seems to be the theme

World Record Holders by Guy Delisle

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CBR15Passport new author World Record Holders is an artistic story that can feel abstract. And that’s pretty much all I have to say about Guy Delisle’s story. But I cannot go all Forest Gump and end on that note, therefore, I will add a couple technical things to my review.  Helge Dascher and Rob Aspinall are the translators.  And Delisle is both author and illustrator. Now I will add some feelings, thoughts and so forth I had. The stories are not necessarily connected, but the […]

I think I’ll swear off fries thanks

Boris the Potato Child by Anne Simon

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CBR15Passport author new to me. The publisher description says almost all you need to know about Boris the Potato Child: “a bitter critique of our consumerist impulses and abuses.” Anne Simon created a book that can be violent, exploitative, perverted, and triggering. It is dark, ugly, and powerful. Regardless of if you love or hate, it is a story that can make you think. And Jenna Allen’s translation feels smooth. Outside of a few little quirks, you cannot tell this was not originally English. Of […]

Murder, Magic, Mystery, and Maud’s f*ck lessons

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

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Murder on a trans-oceanic voyage? Magic probably involved? Somewhat sheltered aristocratic girl and a an actress teaming up (in more ways than one)? Sounds like a fine Galentine’s read to me. I have to admit, I liked the first volume of this series, but didn’t totally love it. I almost liked this one better; strange as it sounds, it’s almost more realistic, in spite of the ghosts and magic that crop up off and on the entire time. I think the predetermined timeframe of there’s […]



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