Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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“Despite her past experiences with murders, she had not yet learned that the most inescapable force in the world is irony.”

The Rushworth Family Plot: A Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery (#4) by Claudia Gray

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To condemn the female of the species for frivolity while simultaneously limiting her to frivolity is patently unjust, and yet grievously common. Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney understand each other (and their own hearts) perfectly; it’s a pity their families do not. A series of misunderstandings, misplaced pride, and—indeed—prejudice, never mind that Fitzwilliam Darcy is a judgemental prig, has led their fathers to deem the pair unsuited to wed (but more like the other father unsuited as their child’s in-law. And Darcy is a judgemental […]

“Like the old Shadowhunter motto says, “Shadowhunters: That Evil Demon Stuff Is What We Are Here For.” But in Latin, probably.”

Secrets of Blackthorn Hall: An Illustrated Shadowhunter Novel by Cassandra Clare; ilustrated by Cassandra Jean

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When the Blackthorn great-aunt dies, to the surprise of everyone she leaves her house in England to Julian, with the proviso he has five years to fix it up before ownership reverts to the Clave. So off Julian and Emma go to merry old England, to deal with large spiders, piles of dust, gnome contractors, and the ghost that is apparently tethered to the house. Can they solve the mystery and free the ghost, or will they be buried around all the secrets that lurk […]

“The beginning of a novel is like a first date.”

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

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Nowhere Book Bingo 26: Adapted into movie or TV show (on Apple+ now) 19-year-old Margo Millet has an ill-advised affair with her English professor at college and gets pregnant. Against the advice of absolutely everyone, including her mother (a former Hooters waitress), she decides to keep it. Unfortunately, being pregnant and then a young single mother isn’t especially attractive on the job market, and before she knows it, two of her roommates have also moved out, because they just can’t handle the noise and the […]

MI-5 with monsters!

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

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Just last week I confessed that espionage is not my jam. This week I’m saying that espionage can be my jam if it contains vampires, flesh-absorbing monsters, and a kick-ass female protagonist. Shout out to MsWas for the recommendation. This book saved me when I was in a mini-slump! A woman becomes conscious (I’m specifically avoiding the term “waking up”) in a London park with no memory of who she is or how she got there, surrounded by dead bodies, all of whom are wearing […]

Sure, But Who’s Really the Animal?

Animal by Lisa Taddeo

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Animal, by Lisa Taddeo, is a story about Joan. Joan will tell you herself that she is depraved. She will also remind you that she is a survivor and that she’s been judged not only by what she’s done to others, but by the things that have happened to her. For years, Joan’s rage was dormant, but now, after yet another violent act by a man in her life, her rage is growing. Joan is “hot” and “sexy” but is most flattered when someone simply […]

Two brothers spiraling, pinwheeling in their grief

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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The first thing I noticed about Intermezzo is there are no quotation marks. So the reader is just plunged into an almost stream-of-consciousness-like trance that could work as either inner dialogue or actual dialogue. It was so bewildering to me in the beginning that I had to reread the first few pages to understand what was happening. After about 10 pages in, my brain got used to it, accepted it, and embraced that stylistic choice — allowing me to tumble headlong into the minds of […]



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