Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

I was in a terrible confusion. Sometimes I thought, but this is your life. Stop fighting it.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so; for that moment I really loved Giovanni, who had never seemed more beautiful than he was that afternoon. And, watching his face, I realized that it meant much to me that I could make his face so bright. I saw that I might be willing to give a great deal not to lose that power. And I felt myself flow toward him, as […]

Softball with a side of Magical Girl?!

Grand Slam Romance Book 1 by Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhous

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I am so upset. I remember the first time I saw the cover of this book. Covered in bright pinks and yellows, it exuded such a queer vibe that I couldn’t look away if I tried. I thought it looked utterly delightful and, of course, I added it to my want-to-read list. I saw other people review it, and it probably crossed my path in bookstores and libraries alike. But I put it off and put it off, never actually making the decision to pick […]

Hippos of the Deep South

American Hippo by Sarah Gailey

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In a world where the American Hippo bill passed (look it up, it was real!) and the vast Mississippi became the home of deadly feral hippo, Winslow Houndstooth and a crew of rogues, murderers, and con artists have been contracted to take it back. This book consists of the novellas River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow and two additional short stories, which all take place in this alternate United States and follow Winslow and his motley crew of hippo riders. Firstly, I love hippos, I love the idea of […]

Leopard in a Woman’s Skin

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Carlota leads a sheltered life as the only daughter of Dr. Moreau, who creates human-animal hybrids on a remote estate in Mexico. But when the son of her father’s sponsor comes to visit, it sets into motion a chain of events which upends everything she knows about her father’s work, and about herself. I haven’t read The Island of Doctor Moreau, but luckily you don’t need to have to done so to enjoy this book – though I’m sure I probably missed an Easter egg or […]

“Reader, I married him. Because it should be me or no one.”

Murder Road by Simone St. James

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When newlyweds April and Eddie pick up a mortally wounded hitchhiker on a deserted road, the last thing they expect is to be suspected of the crime. But to prove their innocence they will have to solve a decades-old mystery. The book’s blurb leans a bit heavier on the mystery-thriller aspect than the horror-paranormal, so I’m glad that other readers’ reviews emphasized the latter, or else I might have been disappointed expecting a straightforward cold case mystery. There’s an eerie feeling which hangs over the […]

Unspeakable pain, unspeakable loneliness

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

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Decades ago, when I first heard the term “footbinding,” I thought it simply meant that the feet of Chinese girls were wrapped tightly to keep them small and delicate. Then when I learned that there was much more to it than that, I realized it was awful but didn’t give it much more thought. After reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which goes into detail about how girls as young as 5 or 6 were subjected to the practice, I’m truly horrified. If you […]



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