Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

NPR is off to a great start

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

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I love finding new books to read, so I am always excited to look at the year-end reading lists that come out this time of year. I saw NPR’s list first, and that’s where I first saw Disorientation (2022) by Elaine Hsieh Chou (in my favorite section: “eye-opening reads”). The blurb reminded me of a romance novel that we’d read for book club–The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood–I guess because it was about a woman suffering through another PhD program. I’m very glad I picked it up, but it was nothing like The Love […]

I owe whoever recommended this a coke

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

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I think this was on one of the best of lists from Pajiba or Vulture.  Looks like I didn’t record the recommendation, which is a shame, because this was an exceptionally good call. Set in a richly detailed world, where debteras cleanse houses and people of manifestations, our protagonist is Andromeda, whose mentor has kicked her out before she could become officially licensed as a debtera.  Her only other option is to gain a wealthy patron, so she’s signed on as the 11th debtera to […]

I’d like a friend who takes me to Lake Como on a private jet.

Love Lessons by Sarina Bowen

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I saw that Sarina Bowen had a new Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance out. I’ve read them all so far, and I knew this one would be no exception. Love Lessons (2022) is Book 7 of this hockey series, and Bowen is quickly pairing up anyone and everyone involved with the team–although it’s most often the players. Like I’ve said in my other reviews, I’ve been a hockey fan, so reading about the inner workings of a professional team is good, escapist fun. Vera is a stylist who […]

“Some stories don’t have happy endings. Even love stories. Maybe especially love stories.”

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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I’ve had The Nightingale (2015) by Kristin Hannah hanging over my head for quite some time, but I never got around to it. Then my brother bought me The Great Alone–also by Kristin Hannah–one Christmas, which I eventually read, and loved. This only increased my anticipation for The Nightingale, so I had high expectations when I finally started reading it. There are a number of good things about this book. For a long book, it was a pretty quick read. I admire that Hannah focused this WWII story on […]

The Best Niece in Australia Loaned Me These

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

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Oh, these books are a pleasure.  Nothing gives me more joy than my niece, who has grown up watching me lend all my books to her mother, saying back to me “Wen, I think you’ll really like this book.” Sophie is an exceptional young lady, who turns out to be this universe’s version of a changeling.  She’s quickly extricated from the human world, which is well done for a book aimed at this age group – can’t drag it out too long. Turns out, there […]

Communication is key

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

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I needed another audiobook to listen to during my commute. I found The Last Thing He Told Me (2021) by Laura Dave because it was immediately available at my library. I picked it because it looked interesting, had good reviews, and was even chosen for Reese Witherspoon’s book club. I thought it was all right; the story sucked me in, and it was easy to follow. The characters were well done, but I was sometimes frustrated by their decisions in furtherance of the plot. In the end, […]



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