Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Not so great Chad

Family Money by Chad Zunker

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This is one of those books where you’re like “that is not a normal human reaction” about fifteen times. Alex is the main character, and we start out learning about his perfect family. He loves his wife and would never lie to her. He spends the next 88% of the book blatantly lying to her. Situations arise where it would be easy and preferable to tell the truth. Alex lies. In the first few chapters, they’re on service trip in Mexico, and his father-in-law (his […]

“My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There’s never anywhere better to be.”

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles

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CBR14 Bingo: Snake (SPOILER: being a thoroughly disreputable sort, Kim also turns out to betray Will at least once during the story) Will Darling has inherited his late uncle’s bookshop and is grateful for the fact. After serving in World War I, most of his skills involve killing swiftly and efficiently, not really a commodity on the post-war job markets back in England. Now he just needs to get some idea of all the books actually in the shop and get on with being a […]

Now you know why it’s called His Dark Materials

The Golden Compass Graphic Novel by Stephane Melchior-Durand

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If you liked the novel, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, this graphic novel is a nice companion to “flesh out” parts. If you have not read the book, this might be a way to be introduced to it, but it will color your feelings about the pictureless novel. I did not picture the characters the way Clement Oubrerie has. It feels like it might be more authentic to what the author probably wanted, with the darker and bleak imagery. However, colors are used to […]

Like doing Wordle with a serial killer and if you lose someone dies! Fun for all ages!

The Cipher (Nina Guerrera #1) by Isabella Maldonado

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I think this might’ve been a Kindle First Reads book for me?  I legit have no idea how I get to read some of the books I do.  Like the process I mean.  How do I select them?  Why do I have such a backlog on my Kindle when I’m constantly reading?  Who knows? Anyway, I’ve never read anything by Isabella Maldonado before, but I would love to read more in the future!  This is the first book in the “Nina Guerrera” series.  She’s an […]

So Your protagonist is a Moron.

No Exit by Taylor Adams

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Writing a good protagonist is obviously a tricky business. You can have all the plot ideas you want, but if there’s nobody to carry them they won’t go anywhere. The problem is that people disagree about what makes a good protagonist. Take Holden Caulfield, for example. Is he the voice of a generation or just a whiny runt with first world problems? (It’s the latter). Unfortunately, as far as No Exit is concerned, your mileage may vary.  The premise of the novel is enticing if […]

I honestly would have enjoyed just reading about what it’s like to be an opera singer

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

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A group of international businesspeople, government leaders, and ambassadors gather together in the house of the vice president of an unspecified South American country to celebrate the birthday of one Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese businessman. The vice president and the businesspeople of the South American country are trying to impress Mr. Hosokawa and convince him to set up factories and invest in their county. Mr. Hosokawa is only there because he will get to hear Roxanne Coss, world renowned opera soprano, sing. Mr. Hosokawa is […]



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