Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Not My Favorite

Her Body & Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

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BINGO: Myths: The first short story is a clever retelling of urban legends. Best for: People who like a bit of sex with their short stories. In a nutshell: A collection of essays exploring womanhood. Worth quoting: ‘ “Do you hate my body, Mom?” she says. Her voice splinters in pain, as if she were about to cry. “You hated yours, clearly, but mine looks just like yours used to, so—“ ‘ Why I chose it: Recommended at my Book Spa appointment. Review: Some of […]

I thought I didn’t care, but then I couldn’t stop crying

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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I don’t think I have ever read a book that was quite this hyped to me. I am actually looking forward to going back through the past reviews of this book here to see what cannonballers think of this book, because you guys always surprise me in a good way when I’m feeling conflicted – I never feel alone. Anyway, this book is the current darling of booktube, bookstagram and booktok even though it’s already 10 years old by now, which I think is quite […]

I came into this thinking Brandon Sanderson was a master. I underestimated him – the Wheel of Time: Book 12 (review part VIII)

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

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I’m entering a new era in this series, and want to start this review with some thoughts unencumbered by the knowledge of how thinks change. This is the point at which The Wheel of Time turns to the better, according to everyone I’ve ever talked to who has finished it. Following the death of Robert Jordan in 2007, his widow and editor, Harriet McDougal, selected Brandon Sanderson to finish this series based partly on his novel Elantris and partly on a eulogy written by Sanderson […]

Memoir of a One-Man Guy

Liner Notes by Loudon Wainwright III

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If you’ve ever listened to Loudon Wainwright III’s songs, it won’t surprise you that this memoir is unflinchingly honest about his failings as a husband, father, and person. He’s made a career out of mining the ups and downs of his life for material for his songs. He’s written songs about cheating on his wives and not being there for his children, drinking too much, and his complicated relationship with his own parents. It’s a warts and all approach to life that has its merits, […]

What is the distinction between magic and technology?

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennet

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BINGO – CITYSCAPE Sancia a thief and a damn good one. She gets hired in the city-state of Tevanne to do the jobs that no one else will be able to get done because Sancia isn’t just any average thief. Sancia is able to put her skin onto any other thing and know it. If she’s touching a wall, she knows where all the footholds are; if she’s touching the floor, she knows what and who are currently on the floor; if she’s touching water, […]

A beautiful but heartbreaking read

Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor

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CW: everything (seriously, anything awful you can think of, it’s probably in this book) Bingo: Flora Without a doubt Hurricane Season is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I cannot recommend it enough, but have to warn that it is an exceptionally painful book to read. Inspired by a true story (which Melchor initially wanted to explore in a non-fiction book, but decided against due to the danger she’d expose herself to in trying to research it), Hurricane Season unspools the story of […]



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