Sophia – Page 2 – Cannonball Read 17

A fun, original contemporary romance

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

October 7, 2020 by Sophia Leave a Comment

CBR12 Bingo: “I wish…” I first saw Evvie Drake Starts Over (2020) by Linda Holmes on the shelf at the library. I was intrigued. I’m a fan of good romance novels and this looked like one I’d enjoy. I’m also using this book for the Cannonball Bingo “I wish” category. Romance novels are wish fulfillment in writing. And I think it’d be nice to live in an idyllic Maine town and fall in love with a professional athlete. I did enjoy this novel. Evvie was a fun […]

“This disease has magnified all our mistakes.”

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

March 21, 2020 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I first saw The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai on NPR’s Best Books of 2018 List. I was convinced that it was worth reading by the glowing reviews and the many awards–it was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and National Book Award finalist. However, I wasn’t sure this was a book I would enjoy reading. The cover and the title don’t give much away. The blurb just said it was about 1980’s Chicago during the AIDS epidemic and the art scene in Paris in 2015. None of those topics […]

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

March 19, 2020 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I never really watched Star Trek, but I know of George Takei because I see his posts a lot on Facebook. So, when I saw They Called Us Enemy by Takei on NPR’s Best Books of 2019, it caught my eye. Although George Takei is the big name on the cover and it is his story, it was also written by Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott. In addition, Harmony Becker did an excellent job with the art. I read graphic memoirs once in a while, and they’re fine, […]

Nothing beats pure talent

Range by David Epstein

March 16, 2020 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I found Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (2019) by David Epstein through a number of different internet sources. An email from Outside magazine had it on a list of 9 Self-Improvement Books Actually Worth Reading, and it was also on NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019. However, I’m not sure I would have gotten to it as soon as I did, if I hadn’t seen that it was available on audiobook at my library. I haven’t had much time for reading lately, so listening to books is a way […]

Jane Austen and murder

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

December 27, 2019 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I discovered Lucy Parker’s romance novels through Cannonball reviews. They have all been set in the West End theater district in London. I loved the relationships, the stories, and the inside look at the actors’ work and lives, so Parker has become a must-read for me. I was pretty slow in realizing that Parker had a new book, The Austen Playbook (2019). It was published way back in April, which is why it took me until December to read it. Unfortunately, I think these last two books […]

She misses believing in God.

Florida by Lauren Groff

December 25, 2019 by Sophia Leave a Comment

Florida (2018) by Lauren Groff was strongly recommended to me by my boyfriend. He was surprised I hadn’t heard of it, and I probably should have. It was a National Book Award Finalist and on NPR’s Best Books of 2018 List. I read the first part of the first story on his iPad and was interested enough to read the rest of the book. Short stories are not my go-to. Most of the time I have a hard time connecting to the characters before the next story begins […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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