Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A Gentle, Heartwarming Story of Magic and Humanity

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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TJ Klune manages to weave the mundane and fantastical together in this heartwarming novel. Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY), which registers and tracks magical children (and later adults with the Department in Charge of Magical Adults – DICOMA). He visits orphanages of magical children to make sure they are being well-run, and when he’s not out on field assignments, he’s one of hundreds of drudges toiling away at desks in DICOMY. He has no life to […]

The Lovely Bones Redux

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz

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The paths of two strangers, Alice and Ruby, cross when Ruby discovers Alice’s body by the Hudson River and gets sucked into the mystery of her life and death. I am an avid consumer of true crime content, especially podcasts, though what I enjoy them about them I am not quite sure I know. The shocking and sometimes absurd human drama? The reassuring fear that some people watch horror movies for? The emergence of heroes and the satisfaction of the perpetrators ultimately being put away? […]

Titanium Noir

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

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I was lured in by another beautiful cover on the library shelf. A reference to William Gibson mixed with Raymond Chandler on the back, and I obviously had to bring this one home. Now that I’ve finished, I can say I’m glad that bright green caught my eye, but I’m not sure I’ll be actively searching out more Nick Harkaway. I’ve said before I love a gritty detective novel with a twist, and that’s just what this is. This is set in a future with […]

Her only short story

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

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Recitatif is Toni Morrison’s only short story. Published in 1983, the version I read was republished in 2022 and featured an introduction by Zadie Smith (the introduction was longer than the short story). I often regret reading introductions before I read the main story because I usually prefer to have my own thoughts and impressions when reading something new. On the other hand, I probably notice and take more in when I’ve been primed by an introduction. Anyway, Zadie Smith’s introduction was very smart and thoughtful. […]

Gamer girl

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park

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I’ve felt a little overwhelmed with life, work, hobbies, and chores. Why is there always so much to do? So, the only way I’ve been even halfway keeping up with my reading goals is by listening to audiobooks on my commute. I can’t listen to any book that is too complicated or literary because I find those too difficult to pay attention to while I’m driving. Thus, I end up listening to a lot of romances, memoirs, comedy memoirs, and simple non-fiction. My latest audiobook […]

Crowley and Aziraphale Are the Best Part of Good Omens

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

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The demon Crowley (initially Crawly, the snake who tempted Eve) and the angel Aziraphale have known each other since the creation of the universe. They’ve developed a friendship, even though outwardly they would seem to have, and perhaps should have, different views on life. However, they have come to enjoy the life they live on earth, and they aren’t looking forward to the Antichrist coming of age (age 11) and bringing about Armageddon. Most of the novel is set in the few days leading up […]



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