Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

is it too late to change your ways?

L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon

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I’ve got high expectations for novels set in Southern California. If very little besides, say, the beaches and Hollywood register for the writer in question, maybe also some smog and traffic, I judge that hard. If you can’t say “I’d take the 101 to the 10 to the 405 for you” and understand that as an expression of love, write about somewhere else, please. So one thing I liked very immediately about Maria Amparo Escandon’s L.A. Weather was the real sense of place. This isn’t just LA, […]

the frogman cometh

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

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You know how sometimes, when you are doing housework to distract yourself from your crumbling marriage, a 6’11” Frogman named Larry escapes from a scientific institute and comes to your house for good food and better sex? No? Well, I suppose it isn’t an every day situation for all, but it’s certainly Dorothy’s new normal! “but Cait, isn’t this just The Shape of Water?” NOPE! It predates TSOW, having been first published in 1982, and not all aquatic lovers are created equally! While it is impossible to […]

once again: great book, TERRIBLE cover

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

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The cover is even WORSE this time- not only do we have another DIY looking illustration,  but the featured pull quote from The Australian‘s John Freeman is ABYSMAL: “Imagine if Jane Austen got angry and you’ll have some idea of how explosive these works are.” Fuck right off, guy. Emphasis on GUY. Just because Austen characters aren’t slapping and cussing each other out does not mean that they aren’t also filled with the contained rage of being a woman trapped in position- a woman who will do […]

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alex Feeney

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alex Feeney

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One of my favorite kinds of novels – toxic couple tries to fix their marriage with an ill-advised trip. Adam and Amelia are on an anniversary vacation that Amelia won in a raffle. It’s in an old chapel that was previously turned into a home. It’s on the shores of a Scottish loch. The nearby town is deserted.It’s snowing. And they are trapped. Also, Adam has face-blindness, which just complicates things. Things are already tense with the couple, and the mysterious experiences at the chapel […]

I may have to re-read “The Other Woman”

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

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This is my “Pandemic” book for CBR13Bingo. Also, I give it 3.5 stars. What is it about guys named Adam in domestic thrillers? This is the second book in a row that I’ve reviewed featuring a man named Adam in a troubled couple at the center of a narrative. This couple is very different, however.  Emily and Adam are dating, and their relationship has moved fairly quickly. Before they’ve even been dating for a year, they are engaged and planning a wedding. Emily is beautiful […]

Too Good to Be True: Who’s to blame?

Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering

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Skye has found love. She never thought it would be possible, especially with her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her knocking patterns and need to kiss clocks prevents her from living a “normal” life. But Burke sees her for who she is, OCD and all, and he accepts her.  They haven’t known each other for long, and they got engaged after a couple of months. They are planning to be married within a year of meeting, and Skye could not be happier.  However, in chapters which alternate […]



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