Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

James Ellroy meets the War on Terror in the search for Honor and Soul

Pukhtu Primo by DOA

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In the fast-paced depiction of the war in Afghanistan at the end of 2000s, French author DOA depicts the search for the Afghan soul, the “Pukthu” – the code of honor and justice, that his characters pursue in vain. Retired warlords, rogue mercenaries, lost soldiers and tired journalists look for meaning and truth in a chaotic world that does not make sense anymore. Though well researched and entertaining, the book’s characters feel somehow a bit unoriginal. A sense of deja-vue echoes through the narrative of […]

“There is more than one kind of freedom. . . . Freedom to and freedom from.”

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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I’ve had The Handmaid’s Tale on my shelf for many months now, but I’ve been avoiding starting it. I wanted to read it, but I felt like I had to be in a certain (untroubled) emotional state to face it, and that’s been a tall order these past couple of years. I recently braced myself and got down to business. Of course I already knew the premise: In the near-future, after the U.S. government has been overthrown and replaced by a patriarchal, Cristhian theonomy, women […]

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure.”

All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

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A friend from my book club is constantly recommending science-fiction novels that I strongly dislike. It’s not that I hate science fiction, but it’s not my go-to genre, and she has honestly picked some very bad books. So when she recommended All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries (2017) by Martha Wells, I began it with more than a little trepidation. All Systems Red is a novella about a “Secunit,” basically a robot with some organic parts that is built and rented out to be used for security. The […]

A Warm, Queer Hug

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England

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This book is nothing less than a warm hug! It was exactly what I needed to bring some light and joy to my day, and I don’t know if I can express how much it means that it exists. Kaylee is in Orlando for GreatCon, a fan convention for Sherlock show The Great Game, and a chance for them to try out they/them pronouns and work on figuring out if they like girls. Teagan is there for a pageant that would give her a scholarship […]

An Absolute Page-Turner of a Mystery

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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After several rave reviews and a feverish few weeks waiting for my copy from the library, it turns out everyone was right. Thursday Murder Club is fantastic! Set in the picturesque fictional village of Coopers Chase near Kent in the Southeast of England. Coopers Chase is the home of an upscale retirement community which is, of course, packed with eccentric characters. The cast includes Joyce (a retired nurse), Ibrahim (a psychiatrist in a former life), Ron (a union organizer) and Elizabeth (a woman whose past is […]

Meet your next Cute Romance read for teens

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson,

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When you see the title of the novel, The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson, that says it all. This novel is a young adult Meet-Cute romance without any surprises story. It you like young adult romance, and meet-cute movies, read this book. If you do not, well you do not have to read this book. Yet, you might miss something and learn maybe you do like reading books like this. Or at least, Richardson’s novel. I will say I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed […]



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