Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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A classic I don’t care to remember

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

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This is a part of my quest to read those books I feel like everyone had to read in high school, but somehow I didn’t. My goal? To know what people are talking about when they reference this book, and to hopefully understand the source material for some pop culture references. Well, now that I’ve finished the book, I realize I overestimated the pop-cultural currency this book contained. I don’t feel like there were moments where I said, “THAT’S where that came from!” And I […]

“A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

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Let me just start by saying that I am not out here trying to take down one of the most celebrated female authors of all time. I also think its worthwhile to note that this was my first time reading a Jane Austin novel all the way through, after having consumed hundreds of romance novels that may not have existed without her. I would however also note that I’ve also read Georgette Heyer, whose I loved, despite the same being true of her (except being […]

I don’t know if you’ve heard of this Jane Austen person, but she’s pretty good. She’s going places.

Persuasion by Jane Austin

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At the risk of sounding melodramatic, there is a feeling that I love, but don’t get to experience that often. It’s a kind of melancholic beauty, piercing in its intensity, with a haunted mien and nebulous structure that can be hard to pin down. It is the beauty of autumn rain, dark chocolate, and sad songs. The beauty of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, and Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars. The beauty of Joy Williams singing “Don’t Let Me Down”. The beauty of unrequited love, and […]

Imitation can be Fun, But it’s Rarely Art

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Jane Austin has a number of imitators but rarely do any of those imitators come close to capturing what truly makes her works stand the test of time. I’m sorry to say that Shades of Milk and Honey doesn’t capture that magic either. This isn’t to say that it’s a bad book, it’s an enjoyable read, but I don’t think it’s a great book either. Rather it’s an imitation of a masterpiece, fine to look at but nothing memorable. Kowal does attempt to imbue something […]



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