Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

It Follows

My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over!, Vol. 1 by Tetsu Tsutsui and Koyubi Sugawara

Hauntress by Minetarō Mochizuki

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My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over!, Vol. 1 by Tetsu Tsutsui and Koyubi Sugawara – 3.5 stars Sakiko is a die-hard fan of the upcoming idol girl group Spring Shine, so of course when the new girl at school introduces herself to the class, she immediately recognizes her as her very favorite singer Chiro-chan. This is a cute, breezy read about a young fangirl working very hard to balance her adoration of singer Chihiro with her wish to be friends on a personal level. […]

In Search of the Green Fairy

The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Dangerous Spirit by Evan Rail

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Among all liquors, absinthe, a high-proof anised-flavored spirit known for its green hue, has a special mystique for its alleged mind-altering properities, its association with the art and literature of the 19th century, and a nearly century-long ban in many countries in Europe and America. However, one unscrupulous enthusiast took advantage of its cult following to swindle collectors out of thousands of dollars. Last spring, in a small bar in Seattle, I was regaled by the story of how absinthe came to be banned. A […]

Imagine a World

Imagine a World by Rob Gonsalves

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This is another super lazy one for me, but this time because the book is primarily a picture book. Rob Gonsalves came into my awareness through a BlueSky post, I think. He draws beautiful pictures where the scene transitions throughout the picture. I’m including my favorite work from the book below as an example. It’s my favorite because the stanza on this page talks about how small steps can lead us to great things, and you can see that in earnest with a picture like […]

Columbian Mythology and Family Trauma

The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía by Alexandra Alessandri

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Valentina, her brother Julian, and her father are hiking the Columbian jungle to track down a vampire. Well, that’s what her father’s doing. Valentina is along for the ride, trying not to be embarrassed about her father and brother’s belief in Columbian folk creatures, and taking the opportunity to practice her drawing. But during the trip, Valentina has a visceral premonition: “The earth is not happy.” She urges her family to leave, but they are caught in a violent earthquake. The kids and their dad […]

The Echo Machine

The Echo Machine by David Pakman

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I’m a fan of David Pakman’s politics. I’m not always a fan of his style because I think he has so much content he tries to produce that he winds up leaning into clickbait, which is both a necessary strategy in the modern internet landscape and, in my opinion, irresponsible. That didn’t stop me from reading The Echo Machine because I think the bulk of his content is excellent and makes good, clear criticism of modern conservatism while advocating for social democracy. More of that, please. […]

The Time When the Book Grew On Me

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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I initially didn’t care for Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. The premise was intriguing: two teenagers are told by a service called Death-Cast that they will die in the next twenty four hours. It is 2017 and Death-Cast is now an inevitable part of people’s lives. Everyone is given a call when the time comes and told the end is nigh. It wasn’t the main characters that bothered me, really. Mateo and Rufus […]



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