Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Greek Gods, Deadly Trials, and a Reluctant Champion

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

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The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen My rating: 4 of 5 stars I had randomly come across this book in a book store display and was intrigued by the plot. Then I didn’t give it any more thought until I received it as my Secret Santa gift. When I was talking to the gift-giver about it they said, “It’s about a tournament with the Greek gods set in present-day San Francisco; I knew you’d be interested.” They definitely clocked my book interests! Lyra Keres […]

Between Borders and Boyhood

Solito by Javier Zamora

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I had first heard about this book at an English teachers convention I attended. The buzz was that it fit the non-fiction, author of color, YA niche that a lot of high school teachers are looking for to teach as a whole class novel. I hadn’t had a chance to read it until my book club recently chose it as one of our picks. The author, Javier Zamora, recounts his journey from El Salvador to the United States to be reunited with his parents who […]

A Fresh Take on Magic, Mystery, and Love

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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I’ve had my eye on this book for a while. A YA story with a school of magic, magicians, and vampires? I’m in. I had heard that the idea for the book started as Harry Potter fanfiction so I was curious to see how that turned out. Simon is the Chosen One who is being tutored by The Mage in order to be the best wizard the world of mages has ever seen (sound familiar?). His nemesis and roommate, Basilton “Baz” Grimm-Pitch is an undercover […]

Slightly out of place, in every way

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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I saw a recommendation for Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time, and I got it from the interlibrary loan in amongst some verrrrryyyy long books (Why does nobody edit Brandon Sanderson?!?). I couldn’t contemplate bringing a 5lb book on the plane, so grabbed Bradley’s novel thinking it was the right length for a 3 day work trip. What happened, in the end, was me having to caution myself to slow down so I would have enough book to last the whole trip – this funny, […]

Face your demon

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

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I recently finished Demon Copperhead—or more accurately, listened to it on audiobook—and it completely captured me. At over 30 hours long, it ticked my new criteria for audiobooks: a truly epic runtime that gives me a good return on my Audible credit. I tend to listen while I’m out running or commuting, and choosing a long, immersive story like this one keeps me motivated to keep getting out and doing things. It becomes part of the rhythm of life.   Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, inspired […]

Well, that escalated….

Havoc by Christopher Bollen

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… not quickly. But once it gets going, boy howdy. CW: animal death, sexual abuse Christopher Bollen’s Havoc is narrated by octogenarian widow Maggie Burkhardt, who has taken up more or less permanent residence in a once grand, now kind of rundown hotel in Luxor, Egypt at the height of the COVID pandemic. Maggie is the self-appointed grande dame of the Royal Karnak Palace Hotel: she knows all of the other guests and has ingratiated herself with the staff, especially the kindly concierge Ahmed, who allows Maggie […]



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