Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About cheerbrarian

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I am a born and bred southerner and transplant to the Midwest. I read because I NEED to (as a former English major, it's in the DNA) and because I'm possibly ignoring frigid temperatures. Until summer, and then I'll just be reading outside. I also enjoy cooking, witty banter, and cheese. All the cheese. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: ardaigle's Quick Questions interview.)

cheerbrarian's Reviews:

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”

1984 by George Orwell

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I don’t often reread books, the old adage of so little time, so many books ticking like a clock behind me. This is the book I have reread the most, at least 10 times at this point, and the book that I say is my favorite book of all time, depending on the audience. (My favorite book is really Lamb by Christopher Moore, but that is a fictional “what if” about the life of Jesus, that entire chunk that is missing in the Bible, and […]

“Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory—let the theory go.”

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

by 1 Comment

After I accidentally read the 4th book in the Poirot series first (which BLEW MY MIND, see review of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd). I decided to backtrack and begin at the beginnings. Not only is this the first book about Poirot, it is her VERY FIRST detective novel. The first novel does a great job of introducing us to Poirot in a way where he, and his companion Author Hastings, feel already familiar. Hastings is the Watson to Poirot’s Holmes, the foil who is […]

“In my experience, those who have the greatest respect for the rules also take the most enjoyment in breaking them.”

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

by 1 Comment

How appropros, to go from an Agatha Christie book to one that was so clearly inspired by her. The Guest List is a locked room mystery (or specifically, everyone is trapped on an island) and as I said in my last review, I had been on a big Agatha Christie kick, so this one seemed appropriate, as I had heard good things about Foley. And, exciting/suspicious/skeptical/fun news, in March 2025, Foley was tapped by Harper Collins to write the first NEW Miss Marple novel (!!!!??!!!!). […]

“It is completely unimportant. That is why it is so interesting.”

The Murder of Roger Akroyd by Agatha Christie

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Buckle up, buttercups. Ya girl has got 15 reviews a’coming. I am mildly annoyed I got this bogged down, but I’m remembering the words of my husband from a few years back when I would get anxious and frustrated about this scenario. “Ah. So you’re behind on your pretend homework?” Touche, sir. It’s important to me, and that’s fine, but I used to not read until I had written a review. Unnecessarily punative much?? Glad that I have been able to relax about it and […]

“We were teen girls. Look up the word “blasé” in Merriam-Webster’s and you’d find a picture of us, our eyes burning through your soul from the page.”

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

by 1 Comment

My Cannonball Read holiday gift exchange buddy got me this book (thank you!!!) and if they picked it because they have read it and liked it or just took a crack at my taste from my Goodreads, I’m pretty sure we would be good pals. I don’t remember (or know) who that was, so if you see this and it’s you, find me on the ‘gram at @cheerbrarian. It’s 1989 and the Danvers High Varsity field hockey team hasn’t historically been award winning, but this […]

“Normal is a terrible thing to aspire to,” Patrick had said. “Aim higher.”

The Guncle (The Guncle #1) by Steven Rowley

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This was the monthly library selection for my local library book club, I hadn’t heard of it, but was excited to read it because a LOT of our content this year has been HEAVY including women feet binding, mental illness, racism (actually THREE books where racism/discrimination was a central theme) and mortality. Now that I think about it, um, Schaumburg Library you doing okay? But I digress. I hung a lot of hopes on this book for some lightness and laughs and it delivered. It […]



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