Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Trust me when I say you need to read this book

Elena Knows: A Novel by Claudia Pineiro

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Cbr16bingo Liberate (bingo)  This is a short but very powerful story that deals with women, their bodies and bodily autonomy. This is the kind of book that is difficult to review because saying too much spoils it for the next reader. Elena Knows was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize. It was originally published in 2007, but the English translation by Frances Riddle came out in 2021. While set in Buenos Aires, the subject matter will resonate with readers the world over.  Elena is […]

“Sometimes when I speak, I feel like I’m writing dialogue for the character of myself. I’m impersonating a normal human when really I’m a confused freak.”

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

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In five words: Romance, Comedy, SNL, Pandemic, Self Doubt I mean, it’s right there in the title: Romantic Comedy is up front about what it proports to be, and Sittenfeld delivers exactly what it says on the cover. I saw this one on the shelf at my library and snatched it up as I was in the market for something light and fun for summer. It’s been a while since I read any of her novels (having enjoyed both Prep and American Wife) and this one […]

“This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure.” CBRBINGO – Rings

The Hobbit: Or, There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

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As I’ve written about The Hobbit before, and because other people definitely have as well, and much better than I have, this review will be mostly about the new audiobook productions of Tolkien’s works, which are narrated by Andy Serkis, of Gollum fame. So far I have only listened to this lovely production of The Hobbit, but I have the full trilogy and The Silmarillion also ready to go for whenever I am feeling like a re-read. And chances are, now that I know how […]

“He looked as he always did: slightly underfed, terminally scholastic, and two weeks overdue for a haircut.” CBRBINGO – Pride

Evocation (The Summoner's Circle, #1) by S.T. Gibson

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Urban fantasy but not? The center of the plot here is actually the developing relationship between its three main characters: David, Moira, and Rhys. Really, the demon possession is just background. But it’s good background! Here’s the set-up: David and Rhys used to date in college. David comes from a family steeped in magic and has been groomed since the age of five to become the head of the secret society his family started, and his dad was abusive. David is an alcoholic and it […]

“You just have to roll with the abuse, otherwise you’re a crazy bitch.”

I Have Some Questions For You: A Novel by Rebecca Makkai

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Cbr16bingo Scandal This is a brilliant, riveting novel that deals with predators, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, bullying, and complicity. It also has an interesting narrative point of view. The main character Bodie Kane tells the story but not to us; she is talking to someone specific and we learn at the end of the first chapter that it is Mr. Bloch. Who Mr. Bloch is and why Bodie addresses him will become more obvious as the story progresses. This is a fictional story that deals […]

Now She’s Just Somebody

A Woman I Know by Mary Haverstick

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Read as part of CBR16 Bingo: celestial. Admittedly, this is a stretch but my rationale is that Jerrie Cobb participated in a women’s flying program in which they SHOULD HAVE been the first American women in space but were denied because…well, because they were women. So the celestial tag is a nod to their hard work and dedication, despite the sexism they faced. I’ve read plenty of books on the Kennedy assassination, fiction and otherwise. This is a different take. It started out really well. […]



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