Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Most sapients confuse working hard with being miserable.”

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

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I was so confident that I would like Becky Chambers’ Wayferer series that when I snagged the first book the library, I grabbed the entire trilogy. Why waste time?? I was so excited to start book two and continue exploring the galaxy with Ashby, Rosemary and the rest of the crew of the Wayfarer. So it was a very rude awakening to discover that this second book has absolutely nothing to do with them. At first I was rather disappointed, but once I shook that […]

“All you can do, Rosemary – all any of us can do – is work to be something positive instead. That is a choice that every sapient must make every day of their life. The universe is what we make of it. It’s up to you to decide what part you will play.”

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

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I absolutely adored Becky Chambers’ “Monk & Robot” novella series and recommend it often to anyone who asks me for a book rec, in particular those who I think could use an emotional boost. It was a no brainer for me to pick up this Hugo Award winning series as I was sure I would like it, and I definitely did. In fact, I immediately bought it for a friend who I thought would like it and she read it in about 3 days. Four thumbs […]

“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

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This book was meant to be a palate cleanser for me as I needed to put down the heavy non-fiction book I was reading about mental health (While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence). Woof. I’ve begun interacting more in Threads and asked that community for a fun book, and someone mentioned that Kevin Kwan (he of Crazy Rich Asians) had a new one out and I was sold: over-the-top and silly was just what I […]

“That’s the problem with living in New York. You’ve got no New York to run away to.”

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

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In five-ish words: sophisticated, entertaining, New York, haunted I know a lot of people who say that Towles’ “Gentleman in Moscow” is their favorite book. I haven’t read it yet and have it on my TBR, somewhere middling in the middle. But then a co-host on my podcast recommended “Rules of Civility” for her “must read book” so this one rocketed straight to the top. I felt compelled to pick it up and I’m so glad I did! His writing is so clever and he […]

Sug y Saeson

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

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Mirror Lake is a picturesque place that lies on the border between Wales and England. Famed Welsh singer Rhys Lloyd – was there ever a more Welsh name? – has joined hands with investor Jonty to build a luxury development on the English side. Five tall, luxurious lodges rise up from the shore, irking the townspeople of Cwm Coed, which lies on the Welsh side. The development’s inhabitants are both implausibly wealthy as well as English; two good reasons to hate them. To try and […]

“He needed a Rosetta stone for translating Rabble into Aristocracy and Back again.”

How the Marquess was Won by Julie Anne Long

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Instalment six in the Pennyroyal Green series, and involving zero Everseas or Redmonds! Plot: Phoebe is a graduate of and teacher at Miss Endicott’s Academy for Recalcitrant Girls in Pennyroyal Green, though she longs for more. Her imagination stalls out at what more might be though, given her limited experience and her bone deep fear of ending up where she started as an orphan in Six Dials. So instead, she reads the broadsheets, and fills her life with vicarious adventures. This is how she recognizes […]



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