Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Bushwick-ed

The Nightworkers by Brian Selfon

October 19, 2020 by Jake Leave a Comment

I was really impressed with large parts of first time writer Brian Selfon’s The Nightworkers. His characterization was of the highest quality. I found myself intrigued with most of the individual plot lines. His descriptions of Bushwick, a neighborhood I’m only somewhat familiar with, made it come to life. I always enjoy a good New York City crime tale set outside of Manhattan, if done right (thinking in this moment of William Boyle and Maggie Estep). And his use of dialogue, no doubt stemming from his days […]

Filed Under: Suspense Tagged With: Brian Selfon, Brooklyn, Bushwick, crime, New York City, The Nightworkers

Jake's CBR12 Review No:158 · Genres: Suspense · Tags: Brian Selfon, Brooklyn, Bushwick, crime, New York City, The Nightworkers ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Pretty young things solve supernatural murders in 1920s NYC (Complete bingo card!)

The Diviners by Libba Bray

October 11, 2020 by Malin Leave a Comment

#CBR12 Bingo: The Roaring 20s (could easily be used for Violet as well)   17-year-old Evangeline “Evie” O’Neill can sense people’s secrets if she holds a personal object belonging to them and concentrates hard on it. She becomes decidedly unpopular in her home town when she gets drunk at a party and reveals that one of the town’s golden boys knocked up a hotel maid and paid her to have the problem “dealt with”. He accuses her of slander and threatens to sue her family. Evie […]

Filed Under: Audiobooks, Fantasy, Fiction, History, Mystery Tagged With: 1920s, cbr12, cbr12bingo, historical fantasy, LGBTQIA, Libba Bray, Malin, New York City, supernatural, the diviners, the roaring 20s, violet

Malin's CBR12 Review No:73 · Genres: Audiobooks, Fantasy, Fiction, History, Mystery · Tags: 1920s, cbr12, cbr12bingo, historical fantasy, LGBTQIA, Libba Bray, Malin, New York City, supernatural, the diviners, the roaring 20s, violet ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Everything Sucks

Nothing Personal by Jason Starr

October 2, 2020 by Jake Leave a Comment

(Tw: Mention of rape) There was a time, maybe as recently as 3 years ago or so, that I really would have enjoyed Jason Starr’s work. Jim Thompson-esque crime fiction set in New York City featuring the worst human beings alive? Gimme some of that. I don’t know if getting older makes me soft or my tastes are more specific or what but Starr’s books, while well-written and thrilling, just don’t it for me. The male characters are ludicrously dumb and evil. The female characters […]

Filed Under: Suspense Tagged With: bad people, Jason Starr, New York City, Nothing Personal, thriller

Jake's CBR12 Review No:154 · Genres: Suspense · Tags: bad people, Jason Starr, New York City, Nothing Personal, thriller ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Thrills and Chills

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

September 16, 2020 by Jake 2 Comments

This is one I was eager to get my hands on given the premise and the reviews. It didn’t disappoint, being one of the best books I read this year and, along with Long Bright River, one of the best new releases of 2020. This book is so many things but at the heart, it’s really a tale of suspense. A lot obviously depends on your perspective (I’m a cishet white guy) but Cole is excellent at blending the existential dread of the Black experience in […]

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery, Suspense Tagged With: Alyssa Cole, Brooklyn, horror, mystery, New York City, Racism, thriller, When No One is Watching

Jake's CBR12 Review No:144 · Genres: Horror, Mystery, Suspense · Tags: Alyssa Cole, Brooklyn, horror, mystery, New York City, Racism, thriller, When No One is Watching ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments

Demonic Duo

Forever by Pete Hamill

Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt

September 14, 2020 by Jake 1 Comment

Knocked out two books this past weekend, one fiction, the other non-fiction, both somewhat relating to the supernatural. Forever 3 stars Considered by no less than Lawrence Block to be the great New York City novel, I knew I had to grit my teeth through Forever after failing twice before, especially considering the recent death of its author, Pete Hamill. And while I don’t like it nearly as much as Block, I’m glad I did. Hamill is a good writer; I’ve already added another of his books to […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Speculative Fiction Tagged With: Devil's Knot, forever, Mara Leveritt, New York City, Pete Hamill, true crime, West Memphis Three

Jake's CBR12 Review No:143 · Genres: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Speculative Fiction · Tags: Devil's Knot, forever, Mara Leveritt, New York City, Pete Hamill, true crime, West Memphis Three ·
· 1 Comment

cbr12bingo – Repeat (and TWO Bingos!)

Luster by Raven Leilani

September 13, 2020 by andtheIToldYouSos Leave a Comment

Raven Leilani has exploded into the scene like the chestburster in Alien. Fully-formed, unapologetic, covered in blood, and completely in control while annihilating the guts of a mediocre man. Luster has been racking up well-deserved accolades, and I truly cannot wait to see what she does next- although I am relieved that this is her debut, and there isn’t a back catalog waiting to destroy me hiding just out of view. Not only is her work fantastic, but it also allows me to knock two “bingos” (Money, […]

Filed Under: Audiobooks, Fiction Tagged With: adulthood, Ariel Blake, art, bingo, black voices, cbr12bingo, debut novel, failure, family, generational trauma, New York City, open marriage, Racism, Raven Leilani, repeat square, sex, UnCannon

andtheIToldYouSos's CBR12 Review No:100 · Genres: Audiobooks, Fiction · Tags: adulthood, Ariel Blake, art, bingo, black voices, cbr12bingo, debut novel, failure, family, generational trauma, New York City, open marriage, Racism, Raven Leilani, repeat square, sex, UnCannon ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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