Welcome to January 2021!
What a year the last two weeks have been.
Four years ago I wrote a post in which seasoned Cannonballers gave advice to new Cannonballers. I hope it helped a few people, and it’s all still good stuff. This year we thought we would start off with a chance for new folks and veterans to introduce yourselves, tell us what you are looking forward to reading, and ask any questions about Cannonball Read that come to mind. In that vein, there will be a live Zoom Check-in with Ms. Was on Saturday, January 23 at 3 pm Eastern time (GMT-5). Keep an eye out for your invitation. Don’t forget to fill out the survey and give us your two cents on how CBR12 went for you, we’ll leave it open till tomorrow.
Getting the Ball Rolling: About Me
I’m Emmalita. I have participated since Cannonball Read 5. In the past couple of years I have assisted Mswas in administrative tasks, so you might get an email from me asking you to do something. I also run the annual Book Bingo Reading Challenge (put that on your calendar for July through October).
My most anticipated reads for 2021 are P. Djeli Clark’s A Master of Djinn, Kit Rocha’s The Devil You Know, finally reading Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series, and catching up on the Dresden Files. I read a lot of romance and I’m always looking to expand the horizons for who gets a happily ever after.
You can find me on Twitter, in the Goodreads Cannonball Readers group, and in the Facebook Cannonball Read Book Chat group.
Now About You
Please introduce yourself and ask Cannonball Read questions in the comments. And if you know the answer to a question, please feel free to respond.
(If you have a question or comment for MsWas that you prefer not to post publicly, please reach out via our contact form.)
Hi! katie71483, here. I think I started with CBR 6?
I mostly review bad romance novels that I can’t seem to quit, the occasional thriller, and write blasphemous takes on The Bible.
I am also one half of the writing duo PattyKates.
I love to find gifs to use for my less serious reviews. They often provide the perfect visual exclamation point.
Your gif game is A+.
Your reviews always light up my day, though 😁
Hey! I’m Scootsa1000 and I’ve been kicking around this site since CBR3, and I pitch in and help run our Instagram page.
Last year was the first year I didn’t complete my goal of a full cannonball but I hope to be back up to speed this year.
I really miss listening to my audible books on my commute to the office, I was obsessed with listening to James Marsters narrate the Harry Dresden series as I drove along the Potomac River at sunrise every day,
This year my goal is to get through as many books in my TBR pile as possible, but it’s so hard when I am constantly adding to it because of all of your reviews!
Right now I’m reading The Cousins by Karen McManus.
Spoiler Alert: it’s as addictive as all of her previous books.
Welcome to all of our new cannonballers — I really look forward to reading your reviews!
I have really missed audiobooks. I’m trying to get back to them this year.
ah! James Marsters does Dresden?! That settles how I’m continuing with that series!
Yes, the audiobooks are so good. I always do the audio first and then do the hard copy on re-read because Marsters’ voice is Harry in my head now.
sounds like a plan!
Ahhh I really want to read The Cousins, but it hasn’t come to my library yet. McManus is so much fun!
Hello friends!
I’m faintingviolet and have been batting around the CBR corners since CBR4… ten (gasp) years ago. The past several years (starting with CBR7 dear godtopus) I’ve been heading up our book clubs and end of year book exchanges (which I took over from the enormously thoughtful Jen K).
I like to read all kinds of things, and get super defensive about genre reading, particularly Romance. I enjoy a parenthetical phrase and always want to know why you decided to read something – how did that book end up in front of you? My curiosity demands satisfaction! Ahem.
According to Goodreads I already have 47 books on my CBR13 shelf. There’s a bunch of Romance books I’m looking forward to (new Olivia Dade, Casey McQuiston, Charish Reid, Helen Hoang, Lucy Parker, and Cat Sebastian) as well as picking back up with Murderbot and Becky Chambers Wayfarers series (new book next month!). I’ll also be continuing my Inspector Gamache journey with books 15 and 16 and joining the crowd reading Ace by Angela Chen.
Oh yes! Ace is one of the books I’m currently listening to.
Very interesting so far 🙂
Honestly, I could take up a whole page with the books I’m looking forward to. I had forgotten we get new Lucy Parker and Olivia Dade this year. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Charish Reid’s new book.
can’t wait for the new Becky Chambers!
I’m definitely going to try and read Ace this year!
We are booksiblings, you just listed out all the Romance novels I have waiting on hold at the library (had to co-opt a library card just to capture them all). Looking forward to hearing what you have to think!
Hi, all!
I’m postcardsandbooks. I participated in CBR9 and CBR10, lurked about in CBR11 and then completely forgot about it… This year I discovered a new passion for reading and decided to give it another try. I enjoy this because writing reviews forces me to be more intentional about my reading. It requires a level of accountability and reflection on what I read that wouldn’t happen otherwise.
I feel like I’m just getting back into my reading, so I’ve been reading all kinds of different things and genres. I feel like it’s time for me to discover what I like, so I tend to join multiple book clubs and buddy reads for things I’d never pick up on my own. I also have the habit of reading 5 or 6 books at a time.
I am not really looking forward to any book in particular this year. I’m pretty much a mood reader outside of buddy reads, so if something looks good, chances are I will immediately pick it up. 🙂
I saw your first review and thought, “yay! She’s back!”
Aw, thanks!! 🙂
I honestly didn’t think anyone remembered me, it’d been so long!
I can remember everything except what I meant to do when I walked into the room, or what someone said to me 5 minutes ago.
I like what you said about being more intentional about your reading. I was thinking the same thing. As I have ramped up my reading in the last few years, I’ve learned that the more you read the more you realize that not every book is going to change your life, but it may show you something or remind you of something else. I am hoping reviewing will capture and track some of that for me.
It’s so true, though. It’s amazing how well I remember most of the books I review, and how I could barely tell you anything about a handful of books I read last year. I missed something forcing me to review my books.
Hello! I’m tiny_bookbot. I read tons but am garbage about writing reviews, alas. I like to read a lot of things, though due to work (teaching literature), I tend to focus on literary fiction and poetry. But I also like SF&F, and I’ve been dabbling in golden age crime fiction (Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy Sayers).
I don’t know that I have a lot of goals; I don’t usually have trouble tearing through lots of books, though I’m trying to keep my lists diverse. I’d like to get through some of the books I did not include in the postcolonial fiction class I’m teaching this semester, and I am really looking forward to Kazuo Ishiguro’s new novel in March. Maybe this will also be the summer I get around to reading George Eliot’s Middlemarch.
Right now I am reading Sarah Maria Griffin’s Found and Spare Parts, and just finished Y.S. Lee’s A Spy in the House. My next read might be Emma Donoghue’s The Pull of the Stars or Sarah Davis-Goff’s The Last Ones Left Alive (on a real Irish fiction streak–I also read Tana French’s The Searcher over the holidays).
Ngaio Marsh and Tana French are forever on my tbr. I really need to sit down and read them. Which Ngaio Marsh would you recommend as a starting place?
oooh! if you want more Irish fiction, definitely check out The Butchers’ Blessing!
Hi! I’m Lynn, aka The Mama, and I’ve been around off and on for several years. (I’m old; I can’t remember.) One of my resolutions this year is to actually post some reviews (my last one was March of 2020), and to be a bit more active and be brave and comment on reviews. (And also to not overthink my reviews because it’s not a term paper; it’s supposed to be fun.) (And maybe manage to do Bingo.) I have a review pending of the latest Janet Evanovich book almost ready to go.
I love a good trashy romance novel, I like funny and irreverent “chick lit” (I hate that term), I sometimes read serious literature but reading is more of an escape for me rather than a time to learn), and I spent 2020 rereading the J.D. Robb “In Death” series because it’s a bit like the book equivalent of putting on “Law & Order: SVU” while you clean your house and, frankly, that was all I could handle in 2020. I love to read a good cookbook and dream about the meals my children will refuse to eat. I’m a sucker for a good YA book, and I love to read little kid’s books. It’s my favorite thing to do with the younger nieces and nephews.
The Hubs is a big reader, too, but he’s mainly non-fiction (seriously, one of his top five favorite books is called “Rust”), but I can’t make fun of him because reading is what brought us together, and it’s nice to have someone sit on the couch and read silently with you.
My mother was a retired librarian, and my dad was a music teacher, so I grew up with books and papers and sheet music all over the house, so just being around books makes me feel happy.
My book boyfriends are, in no particular order, Ranger, Jaime Fraser (only if not played by Sam Heughan), Frank Randall (only if played by Tobias Menzies), and Roarke. (Oh man. Roarke. Swoon.)
I can’t keep up with Goodreads, by TBR list consists of whatever books are lying around and in reach and/or available at the library, and my current read is “Sex with Presidents”, which includes a chapter entitled “Lyndon Johnson and Half the People in the World”. It’s…something.
Oh, wow. I’ve never heard of Sex with Presidents (the book). I am really getting into the idea that good enough is perfect and done is better than perfect.
Sex with Presidents is on my list too- it’s by the same author of (the FANTASTIC) Royal Art of Poison
I reread the In Death series last year, too! And I 💯 agree with your assessment of Roarke.
To find a partner who will read quietly with you on the couch is the dream.
Hello!!
Brand new here! My name is Chelz and was sent here by a friend years ago and just now made it. 😉
I have already posted 2 reviews this year, hoping if I set regular goals I will be able to make it a habit. I’ve never written reviews before, so advice and feedback is always welcome! I also am going to try to engage on posts, but I a little bit of an introvert, even on the internet, especially in groups as established as this!
I am an avid reader. I always have been, but I have been more fervent about it in recent years. I will read almost anything. If I had to name a genre I wouldn’t read I would have to say horror. It’s just not my jam. I have an odd affinity for books about JFK or the Kennedys in general, fiction or nonfiction. I also love vintage aircraft and would like to say I enjoyed WWII fiction before it became a trend, but that’s probably only half true. Usually I am reading 3-4 books at once:. Something soft and easy, something a little more robust that might take me a little longer, and a third on what ever topic I might be hyper focused on at the moment. A fourth usual joins if I’ve been to the library recently. 😆
My “to be read” pile for this year has yet to be determined, I’ve never been very good with that concept as I am a believer in “divine book delivery”. A book finds me when I need it. My goal is to read 100 books in 2021, which I believe I have only consciously done once and that was last year, my total coming in at 102. So fingers crossed for a repeat!
Welcome Chelz! Your inaugural reviews are great! I love how many of us read multiple books at once. I do like your theory of divine book delivery. No matter how much I plan I am at heart a chaos demon who mood reads.
Agreed! Your Ella Minnow Pea review was awesome!
Yay, welcome!! Best of luck on the reviewing (there is no judgement if you fall behind!) and with the reading goal!
Welcome Chelz! I’m with you in reading multiple books at once. I’ll be focused on one and then, “Squirrel!”
Hi, I’m narfna aka Ashley. I have been around since CBR4 now, which faintingviolet has so helpfully pointed out was ten years ago D:
I love reading genre books the most (fantasy, sci-fi, romance, mystery/crime, horror) but will read almost anything if you sell it hard enough to me. I also read a looooot of fanfic. Maybe I will review one this year.
The books I’m most looking forward to this year are: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Project, The Gilded Ones, Later (the new Stephen King Hard Case Crime novel), The Galaxy and the Ground Within, Second First Impressions, Arsenic and Adobo, the new Andy Weir (hope it’s better than his last one!), the next Murderbot, the new Emily Henry and Casey McQuiston, the final Terra Ignota book, the second book in Naomi Novik’s new fantasy series, and Lucy Parker is starting a new series, also! Both she and Alexis Hall are writing romances about people being on baking shows. Yes, please! T.J. Klune’s new book is also high up there. Oh, and the last Expanse book! There are so many more!
I’m also excited to finally join in on popular CBR and other beloved favorites like Gideon the Ninth, Katie Daniels, the Dune series, and to finally finish up the first Kushiel trilogy after I read the first one ages ago.
And I’m determined to stay on top of my reviews!
I’m currently reading Jasper Fforde’s new satire, The Constant Rabbit (it’s pretty weird, as expected) and the The Hate U Give prequel Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. I am struggling to review two pretty heavy books I just finished: Caste and How to Be an Antiracist.
Kate Daniels* not Katie!
Perhaps Katie because you were busy being annoyed that I dared mention how long we’ve been doing this? 🙂 I was talking to a coworker about how I don’t feel like I’m “old guard” around these parts and then I look at the cold hard numbers and have to rethink that.
But seriously, how did this happen and thank goodness we have each other. And newbies, I’m always so excited for new Cannonballers.
Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what happened. My fingers were like, wait, I know this one! (Minus the annoyance of course!)
I always have to give the caveat that the first Kate Daniels book is not great, but is worth reading for books 3 and 4 alone.
Oh, don’t worry, I am a patient reader! I fully intend on doing the whole thing.
baking show romances?! I am ON BOARD
If you find you like the “romance on baking shows” situation–I highly recommend the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Berdette. It’s got romance, mystery, and food. And they are quick reads. A friend of mine won an auction item to be one of the characters in one of the books, so he turned me on to them. 🙂
You had me at Key West and Food.
I got Gideon the Ninth for Christmas! I actually almost picked it up at a bookstore in early December but my sister was like, “Cough. Cough. You don’t want to buy that.”
Why the heck wouldn’t you want to buy it???
Oh, wait. I get it. Please ignore prior comment. Things go over my head sometimes.
can’t wait to see what you think of it!
I’m looking forward to your reviews of Heavy books.
They’re always my favourite book reviews to read and write (though I always tend to overshare) 🤷♀️
Oh, they are my least favorite by far to write, because I have trouble remembering details. I’m a big picture kind of person, and it can be hard to back up arguments for fraught books or subjects without details!
New Jasper Fforde! Must find, must find 😀
I just finished it and it was bizarre and well thought out, as all of his books are. Not my favorite, but worth reading!
Hey all:
This is Jenny S and I’ve been trying to Cannonball since CBR6. I think the only year I made it to 52 was in 2015 (because I was on sabbatical that spring!).
Last year was definitely my worst. My reading and reviewing started out well but Covid threw a massive wrench in things (as it did for everybody). I stopped writing and almost stopped reading. Instead, I moved an entire writing center and 2 composition classes online in one week at the end of March and feel like I haven’t stopped working since then. 🙂
These days, I’m struggling to get back to some sort of balance between work and life and part of that is getting back to things I love–reading, writing, swimming, and trying to learn guitar. [Sadly, my other passions–seeing live music and visiting local breweries are on hold.]
I am excited for the book I just ordered, The Breaker by Nick Petrie (a Milwaukee writer,) and for anything that Attica Locke wants to put out. (I read Heaven, My Home last fall and let’s just say, it speaks to the present moment in many ways.) I’m also looking forward to catching up with several mystery series and authors I’ve fallen behind on including Craig Johnson and Louise Penny.
Partly for work and partly for me, I’m also reading a lot of books on race and systemic racism including Hood Feminism by Nikki Kendall and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, etc. My goal this year is to write reviews for all the books I read and not just the ones I read for fun.
Finally, I have loved this group for giving me suggestions outside of my usual reading comfort zone and look forward to more suggestions in 2021.
Jenny
@docjen13 (Twitter)
Hood Feminism is so good. It made me wish I could time travel and go talk to my grandmothers and great grandmother about feminism and race. I haven’t reviewed it yet either.
Best of luck getting some work life balance back. I am hoping that someday my brain ill settle down enough that I can focus on just two or three things at a time, instead of this merry go round of 10 different crises plus the laundry.
ooof, I hear you on the music/breweries world. There’s nothing better than reading in a brewery, or pulling out a book at a festival while you wait for the next act!
I read a lot for research/work too and last year made the weird decision not to review those books, so like you, I’m going to review everything I read, not just the fun stuff!
Hey y’all! I’m Cait, aka andtheIToldYouSos. I started out here with a big fail in CBR11, accidentally tripled my goal for CBR12, and now I’m headed into CBR13 with a gnarly NetGalley queue that I really should prioritize, but organization is far from my strongest skill.
I kicked off this year with Murderbot, Dresden, and more genre too boot, but I am interested in a little bit of everything. I like to listen to narrative non-fic, read short stories in-between daytime tasks, and read whatever else I can get my hands on during the evening! I prefer reading to pretty much all other entertainment right now, as it is the only thing that I can control. I read it when I want to, picture it how I want to, and go at my own pace.
I am looking forward to more Murderbot, more Dresden, new Becky Chambers, new Sarah Moss, FRESHLY ANNOUNCED SALLY ROONEY! AHHH!, and dozens of other things. My scribd queue is getting out of control. I am also looking forward to what my husband has to say about his books this year- I talked him into joining (hooray!) but I won’t call him out….YET.
I help out over at the CBR Goodreads group too, and if you haven’t joined us yet, then COME ON OVER!
blergh, “too” typo. Guess I was too excited to join in!
Oh wow, I hadn’t thought about reading as the entertainment I can control, but I have been perplexed about why I can’t watch tv or movies these days.
I was feeling the same way, then BAM! Right before Christmas I had my “I control this” epiphany. It’s also why I prefer live theater to shows or movies: I get to pick my focus. Yes, there are teams of people obsessing over every detail behind the scenes (I was one of those people for a long time- most stressful job I’ve ever had), but at the end of the day the audience chooses what they see.
I read an interesting breakdown about why fanfic is popular amongst those of us who are nuerodiverse and its largely this idea of being able to control content, length, mood, etc. without as much of the waiting through worldbuilding. It made A LOT of sense to my fanfic reading run of the back half of 2020.
oh wow!!!! I didn’t think of that at all, but it makes so much sense! how cool!
My whole life is now explained to me.
Interesting! I would love to read that. I read a lot of fan fic, and there is so much out there! (I also feel no problem in abandoning it of I don’t like it)
Cait, there’s new Sally Rooney????
YES! Beautiful World, Where Are You will be out on September 7th! It was just announced on Tuesday : D
https://giphy.com/gifs/owl-surprised-EdRgVzb2X3iJW
(surprised owl required, I know it won’t load, but know I want it to)
AHH! love it!
Hi all! I’m Aquillia/Taylor. I read like 90% fantasy and 10% mystery/thrillers when I need a palate cleanser. I started (had to check my profile) in CBR5, then did CBR6, then had a break for a few years and came back for CBR9 and have participated every year since then. I usually surpass my reading goals, but not necessarily my reviewing goals… 🙂
I have had a lot of jobs but they’ve all been at least somewhat related to reading/writing/books! I am currently a copyeditor on a Viking-Age archaeology project, I’ve been a university librarian, a high-school/middle-school English/history/Latin teacher, and I have a PhD in Roman history/coinage (thus the profile picture). And I write fantasy in my spare time. 🙂
This year, I have a lot of books on my TBR list, but the one I want to inject straight into my veins (if it comes out this year) is Alecto the Ninth. And the most optimistic part of me still holds out hope for The Winds of Winter…
I can not wait for Alecto!
is there a date for that one yet? Being able to read the first two back-to-back spoiled me
Ugh, I don’t think so. I’m not as used to reading series any more so the wait is killer. I think its due out in 2022-.-
2022?! agh! 2020 was at least three years long, and 2021 is already getting weird!
Ahhhhh nooo!! 2022?? That’s rough. I read Gideon in the spring, promptly put a pre-order on Harrow, read it the day it came out, then promptly reread both on audio. I was obsessed.
I have been listening to The History of English podcast for a few months and I am now fascinated by the Vikings. I would gladly take any suggested books or podcasts.
Unfortunately I have been editing a book project that won’t be out for a while, and a few academic articles that are in various stages of completion, but I haven’t read too widely in the subject otherwise. Are there any aspects you’re particularly interested in? I have edited dozens of bibliographies! 🙂
I can tell you my favorite punny title I’ve seen is “Dark Age Economics: A New Audit”… But I have no desire to read the book in question. 😛
I’ve been listening to the The History of English podcast too, mostly while trying to do yoga/pilates
A combination I don’t think the studios are going to pick up on when they re-open post-COVID
That’s their loss really. Kevin has a great voice for yoga and pilates.
Please George, the world seems like its been ending, can you give us a little cheer?
I don’t think I’ve heard you mention that you write fantasy: that’s very cool!
Not anywhere near published, but it’s fun! 🙂 (At least it’s sometimes fun… other times like banging my head against a wall).
And I hold out some hope that the cancellation of all cons and social things this year has meant that George has had a lot of good writing time in…
Hi! I’m Zinka (Jessica)! I joined CBR last year and read a lot but only reviewed 7 or so books. I asked for advice on the facebook group to do better this year and mostly found generous and lovely responses encouraging me to not give a crap about numbers and just enjoy myself and have fun, which is an attitude I’d like to embrace this year.
For fun I read a lot of fiction and fantasy and I like to keep my lists pretty diverse. For “work” as an artist who works around topics that relate to social justice issues, I read a lot of nonfiction, history, memoirs, and more and so I’m planning to incorporate that into my reviewing this year. I also haven’t ever tried to review an art book so I may throw some of those into the mix (though the serious part of my brain says I can’t because I’m not an art critic or historian, I’m an artist, but whatever).
One goal for this year is to reread all my Tom Robbins books and review them, as he’s always been a favorite author of mine but I’d like to see how his novels hold up over time and it’s been awhile.
So right now I’m rereading Tom Robbin’s “Skinny Legs and All”, Bell Hooks “About Love”, A research related book called “The Maternal Roots of the Gift Economy”, and “Ceremony” and listening to “Binti” and “Elevenbane” a really old fantasy book I used to love as a kid (I should really stop trying to read multiple books at once)
I would love to read any review you wanted to write about an art book. Elderberrywine wrote a review of a book about Goya that reminded me why I liked his art.
I’ve got 6 new ones to get through this year, so they are coming your way!
Yes please review your non-fiction if you feel it. I love when someone unpacks their lane for the rest of us (and I totally reviewed a Disaster Planning for Cultural Institutions book last year).
By the way, I *love* your scarf in your avatar.
I wish I still had this scarf but it was lost in my last move:(
I am VERY curious to see how your Robbins Re-Read goes! I am quite tempted to do the same thing…
So far so good. I’m loving Skinny Legs and All as much as I always did (though maybe slightly more aware of some of the possibly problematic stuff?)
Looking forward to the reviews for your Robbins rereads. I love his books; so sexy and unique. I’m not one to reread books (too many other books out there!) but Skinny Legs and All was a repeater for me.
Hello, I’m MsWas. I love big books, and I cannot lie. I’ve been with Cannonball Read since CBR2, and you can read more about me in my quick questions interview from a few years back.
I like chelz.hawk’s idea of divine book interventions, I’ll go with that for what I’ll read this year. Mostly I look forward to reading all of your reviews, and I get my book ideas from there and my mother, the retired librarian.
If you don’t know, the reason we can boggle about how many years we’ve been Cannonballing is because MsWas keeps it all going. Lots of people help, but she keeps it going and growing.
Big thanks to Ms Was, and Big Thanks to Emmalita too for getting this diversion rolling!
I’m ElCicco (Ellen) and I’ve been involved since CBR4 (another 10 year veteran). I’m looking forward to reading a bunch of Terry Pratchett, the second volume of Emil Ferris’ graphic novel “My Favorite Thing is Monsters” and everything by P. Djeli Clark, who I only heard about yesterday, and now Emmalita has mentioned him as well! I’m also looking forward to Bingo, which is always a fun challenge.
bingo pushed my boundaries, and I loved it
Same!
Oh yay! I can’t wait to read your P. Djeli Clark reviews.
And I yours! I’m a sucker for a book featuring Djinn. I’m not sure why but I haven’t been disappointed yet and Clark’s books sound really cool.
Yes! I pre-ordered the second part of My Favorite Thing is Monsters and I can’t wait to read it.
I pre-ordered too! I’ve been getting very impatient for it so I hope it really comes out in September
I love Bingo! Always encourages me to actually review.
I will also be reviewing some Pratchett this year! Still slowly making my way through the books. The Moist Von Lipwig ones were my fav last year.
The Death books are ok. They don’t measure up to Good Omens or Hogfather so far, but they are keeping me engaged. And I need silly right now.
I read Mort (liked it a lot) and Hogfather (actually wasn’t thrilled) but not any of the other Death ones so far. Soul Music is on my shortlist to read next, but ideally I’d like to listen to that one with my husband because he’s more likely to get the music references…
Hey y’all! I’m Teresa aka teresaelectro. Another ten year Cannonball Read person here. I started with CBR4 when I lived in London. I miss all that I had to read back when I took public transport. I volunteer with the Instagram and Cannon Book Club.
I love reading paranormal romance and urban fantasy series. Still making my way through Kim Harrison’s The Hollows, Dresden Files, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, and Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels / Hidden Legacy books.
My Goodreads has 3k books on my to-read shelf! When I’m not reading romance and fantasy, I do read all sorts of genres. This year my goal is to complete a full cannonball, so I’m trying to keep to a shortlist.
Some books I’m looking forward to are:
Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby
Trouble The Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Spellbound by Alle Therin
Into the Woods by Tana French (finally reading her!)
Grave War by Kalayna Price
The City We Became by NK Jemisin
Tana French!!!
YES TANA FRENCH!
That’s an excellent list.
The City We Became, The Secret Life of Addie LaRue, and Deadly Education were some of my favorite reads last year!!!
Hello, I’m Caitcat, and I’ve been around since CBR II. I used to go by just Caitlin, but decided to change my name to my old online chat nickname. I like to read a lot of YA books, but also some fantasy and romance.
Honestly, I’ve been in a bit of a rut for a while and I’d like to enjoy reading again like I used to. This year I want to read some of the many books I have collected, though “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is probably number one. I’m also very excited for Jenny Lawson’s “Broken” and Rainbow Rowell’s new Simon Snow book, “Any Way the Wind Blows.”
I read The House in the Cerulean Sea at the end of last year and it was just the best. I didn’t review out of sheer laziness but it deserves alllll the stars. I’m actually surprised it’s not more popular around here!
not book related, but CHEERS TO SPELLING CAITLIN THE RIGHT WAY!
The House in the Cerulean Sea is so warm and fuzzy.
Hi! I’m Ellesfena and I’ve been around since CBR8. I mainly read nonfiction, fantasy, and mysteries. Right now I’m really looking forward to reading The Fever by Sonia Shah (I work in sickle cell so I’m really excited to read a book about malaria), Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman, and Queen Victoria’s Matchmaking (thank you to my CBR book exchange fairy!).
I’m doing something different with my reviews this year. I’ve left a LOT of series unfinished over the years, and my goal this year is to read and review at least one more book from each of those series. I’m currently on book 2 of the Outlander series.
I definitely use CBR to jump around series! Sometimes I get stuck in one and don’t diversify my reading haha.
I do that too, but I’m way more likely to do the opposite and let Book 2 languish on my TBR forever! I counted 30-ish series that I’ve started and not finished over the past ten years or so…hoping to give most of them one more chance this year!
The Fever looks really, really good, actually!
I’m excited for it. She wrote a book called Pandemic which I read last April (timely!) and it was fantastic. I have high hopes!
Hey, everyone, I’m Bonnie. I started reviewing in CBR5 but then took CBR11-12 off. I’m jumping back in again, and I missed it so much. My usual fare is literary fiction with a good dose of young adult and other random stuff that gets recommended here and there. I’m really excited about Kazuo Ishiguro’s new novel, Klara and the Sun, and I just got Concrete Rose, Angie Thomas’s new prequel.
I’m glad you’re back! So many books I’ve read over the years can be led directly back to your reviews.
I forgot about Klara and the Sun! That’ll jump to the top of the TBR pile! I think about Buried Giant almost every day
Hi, I’m Ursula Majorette, and I have signed up for three Cannonball Reads, but have never written a review. I am going to change that this year!
I want to reclaim reading- I have stopped doing it for the last year or so, and I miss it! I read fiction and non- fiction. Mostly romance, because sometimes I just want to know there are happy endings. I have been into fan fic these last couple of years, so there is a high likelihood I will review some of that!
I look forward to picking up new authors and books from everyone’s suggestions!
Yes! We will cheer you on if you need it while you are writing. Especially in the last few years, I have found that I need a happy ending. I can get into some really deep and heavy stuff as long as I know it’s going to be ok. Who do you like reading these days?
yes- we are here for you!
Thank you! I find that there is so much drama and sadness in the real world, I need something with happiness.
I have been reading Courtney Milan and Elizabeth Hoyt, and just picked up a Jasper fforde which I am looking forward to.
In terms of non-fiction, Bill Bryson is a favorite, and I have been reading lots of music history. I am a big music/concerts person, but reading about music is almost as good as listening, somehow! Weird!
Love Courtney Milan. I haven’t read any Elizabeth Hoyt yet. I haven’t been able to get myself to read historical romances by authors I haven’t already read. I don’t know why. Bill Bryson is great. though I haven’t read him for a while.
My parents took me to a lot of live music shows when I was a kid (the 1970’s were weird) and for some reason I never took that interest into adulthood. I really enjoy music history though.
Hello all, I’m Malin. I am, as far as I know, the Cannonballer who’s been doing it the longest, since even the co-founder of the Cannonball Read, Prisco, has taken a bunch of years off. I’ve been Cannonballing every year since CBRII and now it’s such an important part of my life that I couldn’t possibly stop. My favourite genres are romance, fantasy (especially paranormal) and YA. I’m also a big fan of historical mysteries, often set in the Victorian era, starring clever ladies and the handsome men that love them.
Some of the other Cannonballers have given me my own hashtag #blamemalin which is both flattering and a bit terrifying. I love recommending books to people and pretty much every time, I am terrified they’ll hate it.
My favourite authors writing at the moment are probably Courtney Milan, Rainbow Rowell and Ilona Andrews (whose new book I’m reading right now).
Books coming out in 2021 that I’m excited about:
Blood Heir – Ilona Andrews (reading right now)
The Devil Comes Courting – Courtney Milan
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within – Becky Chambers
An Unexpected Peril – Deanna Raybourn
The Bride Bet – Tessa Dare
Act Your Age, Eve Brown – Talia Hibbert
Fugitive Telmetry – Martha Wells (Murderbot!)
Mr. Impossible – Maggie Stiefvater
One Last Stop – Casey McQuiston
Any Way the Wind Blows – Rainbow Rowell (this is my most anticipated book of the year)
The Last Graduate – Naomi Novik
The Heart Principle – Helen Hoang
A Dance of Smoke and Steel – Milla Vane
The list of people you have introduced me to means you earned that hashtag in the best possible way. You and Mrs Julien inspired me to start Cannonballing, and y’all are definitely the reason I got through CBR6.
that is a might list, Malin!
#BlameMalin is our affectionate way of thanking you for all the books you bring to us, and the shame-free stance on reviewing romance that is part and parcel of this community (although I do love Mrs. Julien’s Shameful Tally running list).
🙂
#BlameMalin always, because you are fully responsible for a large portion of my 1,700-plus book TBR.
Yes, but you are equally responsible for a large portion of my nearly 1200-book TBR-list, yet you don’t have a #blamenarfna tag, now do you?
I kid. I feel deeply honoured about being an influencer in this tiny sphere on the internet, which is clearly also why I can never quit Cannonballing ever. All my other records have been broken (sob!), I clearly need to cling onto the one thing I have left (never taking a break, ever).
la la la no blaming narfna ever for anything la la la la
You should be honored! We trust your reviews because we know you have good taste!
Hi. I’m leedock/Lee. I started way back with CBR3 when my son started kindergarten and I thought I would have the time. I managed to make a full cannonball but needed a 6 year break to recover from all that reviewing! Jumped back in for the CBR10 milestone and have been sticking around since with full cannonballs until CBR12. Loads of books I want to read but basically just want to start really reading again. Surprisingly, the one activity that I thought would be my pandemic go to was reading but, nope…too antsy to focus. Happy to report that my reading mojo is coming back since I FINALLY broke down and cracked open the Duke and I after YEEEAAARRRSSS of trusted Cannonballer raving. Sorry it took the desire to read them before watching the Netflix series to finally get me motivated. I swear to never disregard the greater wisdom of you all again! Also, looking forward to CBR Bingo. It’s my non-athletic competitive outlet and always broadens by reading material.
I’m not sure I would have been able to keep reading and reviewing if it weren’t for my NetGalley habit. I gritted my teeth and read some books because I felt obligated to get them reviewed by their publication date. I’m still not reading the way I was pre-pandemic. I hope life gets easier for us all soon.
I need to get going with Dune! Started last year due to CBR enthusiasm (AND anti-enthusiasm! I’m curious!), but left it on the shelf in December.
Hello all! Last year was my first year to participate in CBR. I was able to cannonball last year because reading and spending time focused on writing reviews forced me to escape the Covid hellscape we are still living in. CBR will likely serve a very similar tool this year as well.
This year, I’m looking forward to continue to push my boundaries and comfort zone of what I typically read (fantasy). I just finished the book House of Leaves, so if I can get through that book I can get through anything this year. I am very much looking forward to BINGO again this year, as well. I think that was my favorite part of CBR last year (though the end of year Zoom call is a close second).
I’m so sad I missed the end of year Zoom party! I showed up two or three hours late because I forgot about time zones, and MsWas emailed me later because Zoom notified her when I tried to get in. So, sad and embarrassed!
We’re having another Zoom a week from today at 1 pm Mountain Time!
Oh, awesome! I will be there! (Hopefully.)
Hi, hello, I am Dense (Chris), a long time semi-lurker. This is the year I commit to accomplishing a half-CB, actuating good habits in reading and writing, time management and education. I’ve been spending the last six months rekindling a lost love of reading and finding some success. CB will represent accomplishment and a sense of external accountability.
Currently nose-deep into The Goldfinch, thoroughly engrossed. And a solid reminder to learn how to savor faster. Keeping my reading options this year wide open. Until I can get back into a “devour” mode I’ll be subject largely to mood or other immediate concerns.
I have largely been a mass-media consumer, including major franchises, and a friend joked long ago I only read things that would be filmed. That was largely true. The benefit is that I have a wide, wide scope of lit that is new to me and I do intend to leave my comfort zone. On occasion.
Looking forward to joining in with you and thank you for sharing your experiences.
Yay! Welcome! There is nothing wrong with reading things that would be filmed. They’re all good books, Dense’s friend. If you want encouragement to write, or having any issues at all give us a shout here or in the Facebook group.
Welcome aboard!! So glad you joined this year. You can read pretty much anything for CBR, and we’ll all give you a hand with the rest. Personally The Goldfinch has been on my TBR list forever. Can’t wait to see if you think I should bump it up to the top.
I just finished The Goldfinch and am working on my review! Agree it’s engrossing. So much to unpack, though, I’m not sure where to start. Welcome!
I absolutely will, Emmalita, thank you
Hello, all. I’m KimMiE”. I participated in CBR 5-6, then took a break and have been back for CBR 9 through present. I promised myself this year I wouldn’t stress over reviews and I am already stressing over reviews. I have to review The Goldfinch, and I’m sitting here staring at this huge book with sticky notes sticking out all over it.
I try to mix up non-fiction and fiction. For fiction, I like mysteries, classics, modern literary fiction, Victorian lit, and sometimes fantasy & sci-fi, but pretty sparingly these days. For non-fiction, I like anything zoology/biology related, brain chemistry, psychology, and I love, love, love historical true crime (pretty much anything pre-1920s).
Idea for a future “Diversion” topic: Can we explain our user names? I have questions!
Idea for BINGO: Can we do a “middle of a series” square? I keep starting new series and then not following through!
LOVE that diversion idea- I am also very curious!
Your bingo suggestion is noted. Thanks.
One thing I do when a review is stressing me out is walk away from it and move on to a different review. The danger is that I never go back, but usually, I find a way to talk about the book after I’ve talked about a few other books. #NoStress2021
Also! Anyone who wants to write a diversion is welcome, so send me or MsWas a message and we can talk about it