Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Embrace Tradition

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton

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This is one I probably should sit on the way I usually do with reviews, as I probably wouldn’t be as rapturous in description if I sat down and examined all the holes in this book (and it has plenty). But man, that ending. Those of you who have read my posts and commented before know my thing with endings: I usually hate them because they’re so predictable and inevitably disappointing. And the ones that shock usually do so gratuitously. I appreciate an ending where […]

“Historians, I think, should be keepers of truth. We must tell things as they are – honestly, and without subversion. That is the greatest good one can do.”

City of Stairs (The Divine Cities, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett

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Rating four stars (4.5, really) on the side of caution with full knowledge that I could come back here very soon and bump this up to five stars. How many five-star reviews is too many to give out in one month? Anyway, this book was great! This is only the second series I’ve read by Robert Jackson Bennett, but I feel like it might have bumped him up to my favorite authors list. I five-starred both published books in his latest series, so I had […]

Why has it taken me this long to read this masterpiece?

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

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The country is on the brink of anarchy. Technically, there are still local, state, and federal governments but they aren’t able to handle many if any of the nation’s problems. Unemployment, homelessness, illness, drug abuse are all rampant. Because of these woes, individuals frequently turn to drugs and/or violence to try and solve their problems. But for 18 year old Lauren, her family, and her cul-de-sac, they turn to each other. They have walled off their road and turn to each other for protection and […]

“Are you in a cult?”

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

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Well, I might be! Really, I’m inundated with cultish language- much like most of you are as well! The above question, posited by our own CBR gurus and shared across social media, was attached to an excellent review by faintingviolet. Her review kindled a blaze with other CBR readers- myself included! Our Goodreads walls are packed with update-after-update barrages of people frantically ripping through this read! I am very much looking forward to the Cultish flood headed our way. Now- back to the question. Am I […]

Existential Wisdom in a Small Package

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

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I finished this book just before the new year, then immediately reread it and finished it again yesterday. I needed the time to process and absorb it. It has some of what I think would be considered postmodern elements, and I needed the re-read to help me separate the fiction from the philosophy of how to view the world. Richard (the narrator, not the author) meets Donald Shimoda while barnstorming: flying from farm town to farm town and taking locals for airplane rides. Donald used […]

If you have background these graphic novels rock

Suki, Alone (Avatar: The Last Airbender) by Faith Erin Hicks

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thing (Original Graphic Novel) by Nadia Shammas

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Recently I picked up two graphic novels that were fun, but not necessarily making me hoot and holler. Oh, there were a few chuckles, but overall, just enjoyment. I started with Suki, Alone (Avatar: The Last Airbender) by the awesome Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman. If you know the series that features the Kyoshi Warrior, Suki, then you know that she was imprisoned for some time and this graphic novel explores that time as it was not explored in the show. As a story […]



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