Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Land of the Rising Sun

Ancient Tales & Folklore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith

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Smith, a Victorian traveller to Japan, compiled into this book a number of folktales that he heard from the people around him while there. I have always been interested in mythology and folklore. My great-grandmother used to tell me stories from Hindu mythology when I was four or five (though unfortunately her versions are now lost to the sands of infantile amnesia), and throughout elementary school I branched out to Greek and Norse mythology as well. I’m not sure why I love fairytales and folklore […]

Two very different books, two very different reactions

On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony

Blood Music by Greg Bear

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On a Pale Horse (1983) by Piers Anthony – 4 stars Zane is poor. Jobless. He lives a pathetic existence, and has little to look forward to. A shop keeper attempts to sell him powerful gems that can give him everything he wants. A magical gem that can point him in the direction of a woman who will love him absolutely? Tempting, but Zane can’t afford it. How about one that will grant him wealth beyond imagining? Absurd – that would have to be far […]

Ah, the Art of Clumsily Remaking a Classic

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: High School is Hell (Vol. 1) by Jordie Bellaire

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once Bitten (Vol. 2) by Jordie Bellaire

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Hellmouth (Vol. 3) by Jordie Bellaire

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Ring of Fire (Vol. 4) by Jordie Bellaire

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        Okay, so let me explain what’s going on here real quick, because the comic doesn’t actually do a particularly good job of it: it’s adapting Buffy into the current modern day, rather than the modern day at the time that it aired.  So: pushing the story forward by about 20 years. And seeing what still works, what changes, and what snaps under the pressure.  It’s an interesting idea. It’s not so far of a time-displacement that it makes everything different (which […]

New York City is about to be invaded by a lot of honey badgers.

Born to be Badger by Shelly Laurenston

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Welcome to the 5th installment in Shelly Laurenston’s Honey Badger Chronicles, Born to be Badger. It has everything and everyone you loved from the first four books including the McKilligan sisters, Max’s teammates, violence, anti social behavior, inter species conflicts, and plot so bonkers it can’t be explained. This one also has a small child and puppies. Actually, the plot isn’t so bonkers it can’t be explained, but there is a lot of action as the plot unfolds. The plot is basically – someone is tying […]

Damen’s understanding of Laurent rearranged itself, in order that he might despise him more accurately.

Captive Prince: Book One of the Captive Prince Trilogy by C.S. Pacat

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“Is there anyone at this court who isn’t my enemy?” “Not if I can help it,” Laurent said.” ― C.S. Pacat, Captive Prince Prince Damianos is having a bad time. After the king dies, Damianos’s brother Kastor claims the throne and manages to get rid of Damianos. By declaring Damianos dead, Kastor is able to guarantee his ascension to the throne. Raised in the palace, Damianos is shielded from the grim realities of the way of life he and his kingdom enable: slavery. That is […]

Talking wordy to you

Maddie and Mabel by Kari Allen

The Magical Clay Doll : A Legend Retold in English and Chinese by Ning Sun

Maribel’s Year by Michelle Sterling

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Picture book round-up with a family and friendship theme attached to them! All titles are currently available but were read via an online reader copy. I like how the publisher copy of Maddie and Mabel by Kari Allen describes our young sisters, “two spunky sisters who navigate their relationship with humor and heart.” There is heart, some humor and a lot of spunk, but not everything is for everyone. The dynamic between the siblings is old fashioned, but is not dated. If you have a […]



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