Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


I guess I have a Cannonball – even though most of my reviews are of short stories.

The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Harrison Squared by Daryl Gregory

Apt Pupil by Stephen King

Morality by Stephen King

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Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle (3.5 stars) Pierre Boulle published two dozen novels in his lifetime – but he is most famous for the semi-autobiographical The Bridge over the River Kwai and this franchise creating science fiction story from 1963. We’re all familiar with the basic story, right? A group of scientists board a ship bound for Betelgeuse (the second brightest star in the constellation of Orion, after Rigel). Due to traveling near the speed of light, centuries pass on Earth. When they […]

Thrills and Chills

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

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This is one I was eager to get my hands on given the premise and the reviews. It didn’t disappoint, being one of the best books I read this year and, along with Long Bright River, one of the best new releases of 2020. This book is so many things but at the heart, it’s really a tale of suspense. A lot obviously depends on your perspective (I’m a cishet white guy) but Cole is excellent at blending the existential dread of the Black experience in […]

Slow build up to a crazy bananapants ending

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Mexican Gothic is the story of Noemí Taboada, a 22 year old socialite in 1950s Mexico City. Noemí’s life is filled with parties, shopping, concerts, and a rotating cast of beaus. Despite having a sharp mind, no one except her father looks past her beautiful face. Noemí’s cousin Catalina married an English man named Virgil Doyle and moved to his family’s estate in the mountains the previous year. Catalina has sent Noemí’s father a disturbing letter claiming her husband is trying to poison her and […]

Even better the second time

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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Rereading Gideon the Ninth was an interesting experience. The first time around, I was completely lost for the first half of the book, which caused me to become progressively more frustrated. Then I hit the middle and it was like a rollercoaster ride to the finish. The second half was such a marvel, I completely forgave the author for not explaining much in the first half. This time, since I wasn’t feeling confused and vaguely annoyed, I enjoyed the first half a great deal more. […]

cbr12bingo – Red!

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

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Every entry into Rivers of London starts with a splash; we are always diving head-first, sometimes literally, into rivers of blood. Every delightful cover, all done by Patrick Knowles, is a map with a big, red, bloody “X” marking the spot. Every cover is a map, every map is filled with teensy tiny detail, and every seemingly unrelated sketch or nursery rhyme lyric builds together into the marvelous mess that is London. I love his minute details; I feel like I’m looking at a Where’s Waldo illustration for […]

More like Thud and Fizzle Out

Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner

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On a dark and stormy night, Nicole “Nikki” Frank finds herself flying through the air in her expensive Landrover, then crashing into a ravine. Though she’s injured she manages to crawl through the mud onto the road, where she flags down a car for help. She insists her daughter Vero is in the car, but a search and rescue finds nothing – and then Nikki’s husband Thomas tells the detectives they do not have any children. Meanwhile detectives discover Nikki’s been hospitalised three times in […]



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