CannonballRead11 – Cannonball Read 17

Best Story about Lovers EVER!

Haunted Castles: The Complete Gothic Stories by Ray Russell

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

I hadn’t heard of Russell until I saw this Penguin edition somewhere. I love castles with ghosts in them, or at least I love reading about them and visiting them in the daylight. Not sure, if I would like to spend a night in one. So of course, I had to get it and eventually read it. The fact that Russell worked for Playboy does show in a few of the stories – one or two stories have a link with sex and violence. The […]

The book House of Tribes was better than House of Names

House of Names by Colm Toibin

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

I have always had a spot of obsession with the Matter of Troy. Michael Wood’s In Search of the Trojan War was the first adult program I was allowed to stay up and watch. So say connect something to Troy and I am there like white on rice (except I prefer brown rice unless I am making risotto. But brown rice with some butter yum!). So when I heard about this book I had to read it. And then it was like – really, this […]

To Dance or To Cook

Chef-A-Rella by Marie Agerton

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

I picked up the kindle version of this book when it was offered for free. It is a lovely book about a princess who wants to be a chef and not to dance ballet. All princesses learn ballet, but this princess would much rather make a curry or a crème brule. Her mother is a little more traditional so there is some conflict. The main family are a family of color, and the family is presented as a loving one for all members. The […]

Good book about a major news story

Miracle in the Cave by Liam Cochrane

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

Miracle in the Cave is about the Wild Boars and their rescue from Tham Luang. Cochrane covered the rescue for the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. The book gives a brief background of the boys and football coach – some of whom were stateless at the time. I don’t usually read such quickly or timely released books. This came as part of a My Book Box selection. Cochrane’s account is good for a couple reasons. The first is he that he brings to light lesser known aspects […]

A better read with more knowledge of Russian/Soviet Culture

Portraits without Frames by Lev Ozerov

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

The free verse poems do seem to do what the title of the book suggests – draw a portrait of the various artists, authors, poets, dancers and so on without using paint. I would have enjoyed it more if I knew who more of the artists were. I also wish there had been a bit more historical notes – considering how many of those dealt with in the book were killed on Night of the Murdered Poets maybe explaining that event say. However, in […]

SPOILERS!!!!! Over halfway and then DNF.

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

February 4, 2019 by Chris Leave a Comment

The plot idea behind this book is good. It’s really interesting, but as it is used in this book, it doesn’t quite work. Possible spoilers, though I will try to keep it non-spoilerish. The book opens with a couple on a first date, talking about how, since they are smart, they could get away with killing someone. Then we jump to years later where said couple -Will and Nat (short for Natalie) are married with a young son and the marriage might not be doing […]

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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