Chicago – Page 3 – Cannonball Read 17

“The impossible we do immediately. The unimaginable takes a little while.”

Cold Days (Dresden Files #14) by Jim Butcher

April 2, 2022 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

In one word: Busy I finished reading this over a month ago and am now clawing my way through a backlog of tardy reviews on this snowy Midwestern APRIL day. Snowy. APRIL. DAY. In what we are calling Spring I guess? Ruuuuude. But I digress. When I dig into the recesses of my mind about this book, not much is surfacing, which isn’t a great sign. This book was reminiscent of an SNL Stefon skit. Bear with me here. For the unfamiliar, Stefon is an […]

“And truth was, no one was safe anywhere. Everybody dies, baby. That’s a fact.”

Gangster Nation by Tod Goldberg

June 20, 2021 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

This read was a long time coming! I purchased Gangster Nation when it came out in 2017 and Tod was going on tour promoting it. First things first, I’m referring to him by his first name not because we are in any way actual friends, but because I FEEL like we are because I am a longtime listener of his podcast, Literary Disco, wherein he and two of his friends from an MFA program read and review books. Also, one of those friends is Rider […]

“Polka. Will Never. Die!”

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

June 19, 2021 by cheerbrarian 1 Comment

All right. Look. I don’t know how to talk about this book without it getting spoilery as heck, so if you are thinking you might read this book, then just skip this here review if you don’t want plot moments spoiled, things that made me gasp and giggle. Because I have got to talk about it. First things first, this review is going to be an ode to Butters, who essentially in this novel is elevated to the status of a relucant Watson to Dresden’s […]

When Langston Found Langston

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

March 30, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome is an interesting look at the late 1940s, Chicago, growing up and literature that was way too short. I would have enjoyed more of the history of the time and seen a bigger connection to the two people called Langston. Still, I enjoyed what I read but, like I said, there needed to be more: more of the history of the times (Why were the black families moving north? Why were the soldiers were coming back? Even the fact that […]

You don’t have to love people the way you learned to love at first.

Love at First by Kate Clayborn

January 25, 2021 by Emmalita Leave a Comment

There are certain things you can count on in a Kate Clayborn book: her lovers will start off at cross purposes, the rapport and banter will be engaging, the pining and self reflection will plug right into your feelings, and the characters will (mostly) act like adults. Love at First has all of this. It’s a comfortable, enjoyable read. There is no shame in enjoying this book. It lacks the emotional urgency and tension of the Chance of a Lifetime series. I still think about those books. […]

Insert Always Sunny Duster Comments Here

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

January 4, 2021 by andtheIToldYouSos 4 Comments

Have you ever been approached by a grim-looking man, carrying a naked sword with a blade about ten miles long in his hand, in the middle of the night beneath the stars on the shores of Lake Michigan? Until very recently my answer was a “definitely not”. Now, thanks to crystalclear for sending this book my way during the 2020 Book Exchange, my answer has changed: YES! By proxy, at least. I have been acquainted with the big swordy fella and many other weirds that […]

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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