Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

The Marriage Plot – Jeffrey Eugenides (2011)

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

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I know a lot of people either didn’t like this or felt it was underwhelming. I also think the more years we move away from Middlesex, the more we won’t talk about it (a book I love, but imagine won’t hold up years down the line). In this novel, we find ourselves at Brown in 1982 on the eve of graduation. Madeleine is hungover, expecting her parents, and regretting “something” she did last night, even if it wasn’t technically sex. At breakfast she and her […]

Everything You Want to Know About Jeopardy Except Who the Next Host Will Be

Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! by Claire McNear

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As you might be aware, Jeopardy! is in a bit of a crisis at the moment, as the months-long quest to replace the iconic Alex Trebek resulted in the disastrous elevation of Mike Richards, only for Richards to resign after one day taping episodes. That resignation was at least partially a result of the reporting done by Claire McNear, a writer for the Ringer who has made America’s Favorite Quiz Show her bailiwick. McNear did the legwork of listening to dozens of podcast episodes hosted […]

I really liked reading “Lord of the Flies”

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

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I’m not sure what I expected when I started reading this novel, but I was actually very surprised by my reading experience. Pleasantly so.  Lord of the Flies is such a cultural touchstone, and I thought I knew what I was in for: wild boys, a conch shell, something about Piggy and Ralph, etc. But I was amazed at how much more nuanced and interesting this book is than I anticipated. I think we all know the story to some extent. Several young boys survive […]

“So, I mean, it’s awesome that, uh, you’re a city? Congratulations! I want to be accepting of this new stage in your identity formation.”

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

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I want to try something new with my reviews. Yeah, I could start again with OH WOW. HOW DID I GET SO BEHIND. AGAIN. But snooze, amiright? Instead, I want to use the system that my local library book club does. We always go around the room and give a rating (check, already part of Cannonball and Goodreads) and then sum up our feelings on the book in one word. I’m going to let you know now, I’m a bit of a cheat and I […]

This is about the woman and the house that had never been—until one day, they were undeniably there.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

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When Orquidea Divina dies, she leaves behind questions, mysteries and a fractured, resentful family. She leaves behind magic, silence, solitude, debts and an enemy. The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the […]

Thoughtful Dark Romance

Crow (Boston Underworld Book 1) by A. Zavarelli

Reaper (Boston Underworld Book 2) by A. Zavarelli

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Like so many of my reading choices lately, I began the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli after seeing the first Book, Crow, recommended on SmutTok. So, please forgive me, but I’m going to start this review with a bit of a detour:  If y’all aren’t on TikTok and following those hashtags, I really recommend your at least considering giving it a try. I now follow a combination of romance authors, book sellers, and readers with similar interests. They often provide interesting insights about their […]



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