Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Stick around and see what’s behind door number three

Emily Saw a Door by Mel Rosenberg

Robin and the Stick by E. B. Goodale

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Recently two books (one due mid April 2026, the other late February/early April 2026; both read via an online reader) I read did not “grab me” in the way I had hoped. They were nice, but I was not the audience for them. I figure that probably a toddler to about six or so would be a good reach. They would be good bedtime stories or just relaxing stories. Both have interesting concepts and deal with self-confidence and imagination. Both have their own distinct style […]

Am I breathing underwater?

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

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This is one of those novels I kept going back and forth on whether I wanted to read it – beautiful cover, epistolary novel, mystery – all of these sounded like elements I’d be into. On the other hand, reviews were generally positive but overly so and I didn’t know anyone personally that had read it that I could use as a gage. But I finally decided to dive in (pun intended), and this could have been a pass. It’s not horrible, there are some […]

unless my math is wrong, Cannonballing on the oldest book in my TBR pile

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

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hot take probably one of the oldest books in my TBR pile, but now that I’ve finished it I can see why the payoff is worth the initial slog — I hope I get around to writing further thoughts, because definitely have lots of feels… As my next written will be my 52nd proper review posted on Cannonball Read (this year feels more chaotic than most), I figured I’ll stick with my most recent read as I have the most to say about it. This […]

a delightful re-read that led to a re-rating

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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Re-read March 15 2025: I really enjoyed this quite a bit more on the second go-around, which might be a lesson on how I read things a bit…speedily, and therefore don’t always fully grasp what it is I’m reading? Or I do, but in my rush to read for the next plot I’m not always luxuriating? Or maybe it’s just that now I appreciate all the parts to come–all the little jokes and references that do actually pay off. And, more relevantly, the little nuances […]

As the worlds turn

Mad Ship: The Liveship Traders Trilogy book 2 by Robin Hobb

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Book 2 of this trilogy was an absolute stunner, as my conceptions of certain characters and situations were challenged and changed. Hobb continues to weave multiple complex story lines together and fleshes out her characters in such a way that I am conflicted about whom to root for or even what I am rooting for now. The Liveship Traders Trilogy is about a colonial empire facing rebellion, about a rebellion amongst Old Trader families who do not necessarily agree with each other, about enslaved and […]

The Rose Field by Philip Pullman

The Rose Field by Philip Pullman

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This was a painful read. I don’t even think I can articulate how bad this was. There was too much going on and just outright stupidity in a few places. I really wish we had the Lyra we came to know in His Dark Materials. Heck, even the first book in the Book of Dust trilogy was good, but then it went off the rails with book #2 and now this. Also the ending was a let-down. Don’t get me started on someone being straight up murderous through […]



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