Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Emerald Green is the junk food of books and I must learn to stop eating potato chips when I want a meal

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

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I never read any of the Twilight series, but I think my feelings about the Ruby Red/Precious Gemstones trilogy are pretty similar to many of friends’ feelings about Twilight. The books aren’t good but I can’t stop reading them. I’m glad the series is over so I can’t keep shame-reading them.  Emerald Green is the final chapter of the Ruby Red/Precious Gemstones trilogy. Accidental time-traveler Gwyneth Shepherd and her on-again off-again boyfriend/time traveler companion Gideon de Villiers have been tasked by the Guardians and the […]

Great introduction to author Brandon Sanderson

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

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Two years ago when I set out to attempt my first full cannonball, I asked friends and family on Facebook what their book suggestions were, Skyward was one of them.  Later someone recommended it to me as a good introduction to author Brandon Sanderson, as I hadn’t read anything by him.  Despite fantasy being my jam, he’s written so much of it that previously I’ve been flummoxed as to where to start.  Ironically, I’m not starting with one of his fantasy novels.  Skyward is science fiction, […]

Exhibit A of the Self-Fulfilling Title

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

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I could only praise this book is the way I would a bowl of Kraft dinner (or boxed mac and cheese for anyone that didn’t grow up with Canadians). If I really want cheesy noodles and Kraft is available, I’ll eat it. If the other options for a meal were meatloaf or fruitcake I would choose Kraft dinner, just like how I would definitely re-read The Okay Witch over other particular books. But here’s the deal: Do I actively crave or recommend Kraft dinner? NOPE. […]

“It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.”

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

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I am not that familiar with the Kelpies or other water horse folklore so I don’t know how much of this story is based on folklore or just the writers imagination but man eating water horses, I’m in!  The setting for the story is an island named Thisby and the book does a great job getting that small town feel, where some people can’t wait to get off of the island and others could not picture any other life.   The islands economy is made up […]

I keep writing titles for this post and they’re all crap, just read Pumpkinheads, you’ll thank me later

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell (author), Faith Erin Hicks (artist)

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Fall is my favorite season.  I love pretty much everything about it and going to a pumpkin patch is high on my list of must do activities.  When I heard Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks talking about Pumpkinheads at a comic convention, I knew that this book must be mine and it did not disappoint!  The pumpkin patch is just an endearing setting (albeit one I ardently wish I could visit and inspired by a real pumpkin patch Rowell visited growing up), what makes this […]

Sapphire Blue is like junk food – you’ll enjoy it but it won’t stick with you

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

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Sapphire Blue is the second book in the Precious Gems trilogy. After I finished Ruby Red, I wasn’t sure I would continue with the trilogy. But the ending made me curious and the next book was available at the library, so I checked it out. In Ruby Red, Gwyneth learns she has inherited the time travel gene, which everyone in her family had assumed her cousin Charlotte would inherit. Suddenly, Gwyneth is thrown into the world of time travel without any of the necessary preparation […]



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