Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

The Wedding Crasher

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

October 9, 2026 by G.D. Giant Leave a Comment

This is actually my second time reading The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I read it for the first time last summer, having never heard of it, but having found it in my local used bookstore. And I loved it. So when “E” of my book club, R.A.G.E, chose it for her selection, I jumped at the chance to re-read and discuss with friends. And, once again, I loved it. My taste in literature tends to run mostly towards fantasy and sci-fi, but I also […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: #triggerwarning, Alison Espach, cbr18bingo, cbr18bingo Left, contemporary, heartwarming, humor, Mental Health, rich white people, worth the hype

G.D. Giant's CBR18 Review No:26 · Genres: Fiction · Tags: #triggerwarning, Alison Espach, cbr18bingo, cbr18bingo Left, contemporary, heartwarming, humor, Mental Health, rich white people, worth the hype ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
Ripening: Why Women Need Fairy Tales Now; book cover is black with a decorative tree motif around the edges, and a bright red apple hanging over the title.

Fairy Tales as Free Therapy

Ripening: Why Women Need Fairytales Now by Sharon Blackie

September 28, 2026 by cosbrarian 1 Comment

Ripening: Why Women Need Fairy Tales Now by Sharon Blackie is probably the only type of self-help book I like. Dr. Blackie is a psychologist and folklorist who examines how women can apply fairy tales and folklore to the different parts of their lives. She likens a woman’s life cycle to that of a tree (which is very fairy-tale of her), and makes a very sound case for the use of fairy tales as bibliotherapy. Dr. Blackie believes we are all storytellers of a sort, […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Featured, Health, Non-Fiction Tagged With: Fairy Tales, Mental Health, Psychology, Self-help, Sharon Blackie

cosbrarian's CBR18 Review No:20 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Featured, Health, Non-Fiction · Tags: Fairy Tales, Mental Health, Psychology, Self-help, Sharon Blackie ·
· 1 Comment

A lesser-known story by Goodnight Moon author

The Dark Wood of the Golden Birds by Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In 1948, a year after she rewilded the landscape of literature with Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown watched the love of her life fade to black. Michael Strange, born Blanche Oelrichs, had cast an instant spell on Margaret–outspoken, sophisticated, and self-possessed . . . Both women were born in the wrong century, bent on bending it to their will; both were accidental radicals, just by living unselfconsciously . . . Margaret loved Michael with unassailable devotion, and Michael was dying. So she did the hardest […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Poetry Tagged With: animals, Bereavement, birds, classics, Death, folklore, grief, legends, Margaret Wise Brown, Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit, Maria Popova, Mental Health, myths, Ofra Amit, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:257 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Poetry · Tags: animals, Bereavement, birds, classics, Death, folklore, grief, legends, Margaret Wise Brown, Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit, Maria Popova, Mental Health, myths, Ofra Amit, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Maybe my favourite Jenny Holiday book so far

Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

August 7, 2026 by Malin Leave a Comment

4.5 stars CBR18 Bingo: Craft (this book dwells a lot on writing as a craft – both novels and screenplays) Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC. My opinions are my own. This book is on sale now. Blair Kellermoon (former rom-com star, now powerful producer) has adapted several novels as movies and TV series and runs a book club, and the books she picks usually get huge sales boosts and are again likely to be optioned for adaptation. Suffice it to say, […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: actors, Anxiety, ARC, Book Club Boyfriend, cbr18, cbr18bingo, contemporary fiction, Depression, friendship, Jenny Holiday, Malin, Mental Health, NetGalley, OCD, Writers

Malin's CBR18 Review No:47 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: actors, Anxiety, ARC, Book Club Boyfriend, cbr18, cbr18bingo, contemporary fiction, Depression, friendship, Jenny Holiday, Malin, Mental Health, NetGalley, OCD, Writers ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Botany, Bears and Beaver Ponds

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

March 4, 2026 by G.D. Giant 2 Comments

This is a lovely, sad, beautifully written book. I feel bad for everyone who rated it one star on Goodreads just because it wasn’t a faithful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Because if you read it for what it is, instead of what it isn’t, it’s really quite wonderful. Ivey touches on themes of motherhood, love, personal freedom, mental health and the natural world, all in a dark fairy tale setting. Single mom Birdie does the best that she can for her daughter, Emaleen, […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: Alaska, contemporary, dark fairy tale, Eowyn Ivey, magical realism, Mental Health, Motherhood, nature

G.D. Giant's CBR18 Review No:5 · Genres: Fiction · Tags: Alaska, contemporary, dark fairy tale, Eowyn Ivey, magical realism, Mental Health, Motherhood, nature ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments

Depression, But Make it Funny

Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel

February 25, 2026 by G.D. Giant Leave a Comment

Small Admissions, by Amy Peoppel, is a contemporary novel set in New York City and supposedly features a group of friends trying to help one of the group get back on her feet. I say “supposedly” because one friend, Chloe, makes the entire situation about herself. In fact, she’s the only character written in first-person, even though she is not the main character. Angela, the sister of the actual main character, tries to help, but mostly just nags and criticizes. And Vicki/Victoria is a completely […]

Filed Under: Comedy/Humor, Fiction Tagged With: Amy Poeppel, contemporary fiction, family and friendship, Mental Health, NYC

G.D. Giant's CBR18 Review No:4 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Fiction · Tags: Amy Poeppel, contemporary fiction, family and friendship, Mental Health, NYC ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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