Cannonball Read 16

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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The Tsar of Love and Techno AND ALSO HALF CANNONBALL!

The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra

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I loved A Constellation of Vital Phenomenon, so I was excited to see Anthony Marra had written another one.  I actually finished this book like two years ago but then forgot to write a review?  So I did a re-read to make my HALF CANNONBALL WOOOOO!  I haven’t met my Cannonball goal since 2015, so I am just gonna go have some champagne now thanks. *sips champagne* Anyway, this is a great book!  I love Marra’s writing style–he’s the kind of writer that makes me […]

Indonesia, Etc.

Indonesia, Etc. by Elisabeth Pisani

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Declaring independence in 1945, Indonesia said it would “work out the details of the transfer of power etc. as soon as possible.” With over 300 ethnic groups spread across over 13,500 islands, the world’s fourth most populous nation has been working on that “etc.” ever since. I bought this book in a charming London bookshop shortly after learning I would be moving to Timor-Leste.  There were no books about Timor, but there was this appealing book about Indonesia, written by Elizabeth Pisani, who also wrote […]

Gentlemen Bastards nos. 1 and 2

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

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I started The Lies of Locke Lamora for a book club that started in March 2020 and was quickly derailed by COVID.  I finally finished both it and the sequel…on December 30.  Take that, COVID! The Lies of Locke Lamora is a great read.  Meaty, full of grit and gallows humor, but also love and friendship and camaraderie. Excellent world-building,  really immersive descriptions of the town of Camorr and its very seedy underbelly. It’s hard to sum up but let’s try:  Father Chains, a monk […]

Exhalation

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

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I am a big Ted Chiang fan, and this collection did not disappoint.  I found it a bit more uneven than Stories of Your Life and Others, but the good ones are really good.  I don’t want to talk about each story, but I do want to talk about my three favorites! The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate: Time travel, historical Middle East setting, alchemy?  Sign me up.  This was a really heartfelt story that hit all the right notes for me.  I love how […]

Such a Fun Age

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

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I really enjoyed this book!  It is a page-turner, the characters are well-developed, and the conflict feels real and contemporary.  I also really like the title. Here’s the Goodreads summary: “In the midst of a family crisis one late evening, white blogger Alix Chamberlain calls her African American babysitter, Emira, asking her to take toddler Briar to the local market for distraction. There, the security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping Briar, and Alix’s efforts to right the situation turn out to be good intentions selfishly […]

We all find refuge any place we can.

Refuge by Dina Nayeri

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Refuge is, appropriately, about the places we seek refuge: partnerships, houses, families, communities, meals, spaces.  The narrative is mostly about Niloo, a young Iranian-American who emigrated to the U.S. with her mother and brother in the 80s.  Niloo’s father, a dentist with a proclivity for opium, remained in Iran.  Niloo is now a 30 year old living in Amsterdam and married to a French dude who by all accounts adores her, and her father is divorcing his third wife and apparently interested in rekindling some […]



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