Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Once, twice, and then I gave up

Dune by Frank Herbert

Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

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I’ve watched the newest version of Dune a couple of times now and, so far, I’m enjoying it. I contemplated going back and finishing the book but, considering it has been years since I started reading it, it would make the most sense to start again from the beginning. If you have to talk yourself into reading something just to convince yourself “but this time, it will be worth it,” then maybe this book isn’t for you. Along with Dune, I’ve listed a few other […]

“Do you have sadness in your heart for the world that can never be & sensible shoes? You’ve got weltschmerz.” *

Roxy by Neal Shusterman, Jarrod Shusterman

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I don’t think I’ve ever positively reviewed a book I haven’t finished, but this here’s going to be the first. Because I’m the kind of person who can’t rewatch the Scott’s Tots episode of The Office, and who cringes just thinking about that one scene in On His Way to the Wedding (by Julia Quinn: Spoiler for a Bridgerton book ahead) when Gregory professes his love in front of all of London, and … it does not go well.  I just sometimes get to a point […]

Absolutely do not read this book

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

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BINGO – The Wilds [TW: sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, abuse of a minor, gun violence, language (which I’ve included in white text below)] There’s been some discussion recently on Cannonball Read about how far into a book does one go before giving up. My procedure is to give a a book at least 1/3 of its total page count before giving up entirely. My 11th grade English teacher, Mrs. Julie Cogburn (one of the best I ever had), shared this procedure with us. […]

“Oh my God. My fantasy crush is a gynecologist. My gynecologist.”

Wrong by Jana Aston

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That’s it: that title is the whole book.  Um.  I just… this book.  I don’t even know? Hot guy comes into a girl’s work for coffee all the time. She gets a crush on him.  Then she goes to the gynecologist, and guess what? or more Guess who? “I can reschedule you with another clinic doctor if you’re not comfortable, Sophie.” I’m not comfortable but I blurt out, “I’m fine!” Admitting I’m uncomfortable would be even more uncomfortable. See: That’s pretty relatable, because how do […]

Didn’t work for me, but I think that’s my problem.

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

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I needed a break from The Wheel of Time. I know Olivia Dade has been getting a lot of reviews over the last year, so I thought I’d give this one a shot. I told my wife about the book, and she downloaded it from Audible. I’ve had a few semi-successful forays into the world of romantic novels, and I haven’t really found them to my liking. Some I’ve really liked, others have left me reeling with indifference. I think, generally, I tend to fall […]

Too Close to Past Trauma to be Enjoyable

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

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Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake was not the book for me. I have decided to stop torturing myself and given up mid pudding week. I don’t quite know how to review this book. It was an intensely unpleasant experience for me, but different readers will enjoy it. Though it is very well written and has moments of laugh out loud humor, I struggled with Rosaline and her relationship with Alain. First, she tells him a lie that the reader and Rosaline know will be quickly […]



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