Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Consolation Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

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I have yet to find a stealth-signed Neil Gaiman book in an airport. Maybe it’s just the places I’ve been lately, like Omaha, Nebraska, or maybe just my luck and not finding the right one (the signed one), especially since there’s currently some massive Gaiman book displays in honor of the new season of American Gods and the forthcoming live-action Good Omens. At the bookshop in the Omaha airport, I made an impulse decision to console myself by getting a copy of Coraline. Coraline is […]

Like watching a documentary with your eyes closed

Harry Potter: A History of Magic by The British Library, JK Rowling

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I listened to the Natalie Dormer narrated audiobook of A History of Magic and it was both the perfect way to enjoy the expansive magical world as well as the most frustrating way. The British Library should really film this for an HBO or History Channel documentary series. Natalie Dormer was a fantastic narrator; her role was primarily as the host of the book who introduced sections read by contributors and interviewees. It was a fantastic way to delve into the wonderful world of Harry Potter again, […]

In search of a map — and an identity

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

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I’m going to review these two together, since I read them back to back. It’s hard to talk about the 2nd one too much without giving away spoilers, but I’ll do my best! “Even a man who’s spent his whole life at sea has reason to fear her when she’s angry. But not I. I sleep soundly. Listening to her music. The sea watches over me. She protects her own.” Alosa has been raised by the king of pirates — a fearsome man who rules […]

Fresh Fantasy

How Long Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin

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It took me a long time to get through this book, but not because I didn’t like it. I really loved many of the stories in this collection. Jemisin’s prose is tight, and fresh, and wonderful. She creates full-bodied characters in small spaces, and in many ways, the largest reason it took me almost a whole month to read was because I’d be so bereft at having to leave a  character or environment that I love, and I simply wasn’t ready to move on to […]

They’re not bad, they just are

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

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I recognized the cover and remembered an old roommate of mine had these books and I think I borrowed and read at least one? But as I finally cracked open the trilogy for myself nothing felt familiar so maybe I just saw the cover a lot. I read Bardugo other series, set in the same broad universe, and was very impressed with how she told a new and very different story. I also want to go re-read Six of Crows, which I remember being better. But it […]

Lyra is finally back

The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman

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Many, many years ago, my cousin recommended that I read The Golden Compass (1996) by Philip Pullman. As I began reading, I was skeptical. Every human has a little animal (called a daemon) that follows them around? I thought it was weird and wasn’t sure I would get into it. But as I continued reading, I became attached to the characters and immersed in the story. Now that it’s been well over a decade since I read The Golden Compass, I can remember very few details of the actual story, […]



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