Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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I was in a terrible confusion. Sometimes I thought, but this is your life. Stop fighting it.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so; for that moment I really loved Giovanni, who had never seemed more beautiful than he was that afternoon. And, watching his face, I realized that it meant much to me that I could make his face so bright. I saw that I might be willing to give a great deal not to lose that power. And I felt myself flow toward him, as […]

Come for the setup. Stay for the yearning.

Eight Weeks in Paris by S.R. Lane

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Note: It’s a lot of yearning. In writing this review, I tried to categorize the main characters’ relationship as enemies-to-friends-to-lovers or grumpy/sunshine, but neither one fits. I expected a sweet and charming romance set among the landmarks of Paris, but I got a very serious, surprisingly deep take on celebrity, fame, and integrity. Nicholas Madden is the brooding, short-fused, paparazzi-hating serious actor. After campaigning for and being cast as Frederick, the main character in The Throne, a queer romance period piece set in Belle Époque […]

Dance Dance Dance….

Emma & Capucine, Volume 1 by Jérôme Hamon and Lena Sayaphoum

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While I enjoyed reading the two parts that are inclined in  Emma & Capucine, Volume 1 by Jérôme Hamon and Lena Sayaphoum, I was not able to be WOWed by it. There is nothing new to the events or thoughts happening. However, it is still a nice coming of age story Part One. We deal with growing apart from an older sibling, dealing with a dream not happening, finding new dreams, parents learning to support rather than push for themselves, and jealousy. There are at […]

L’état C’est Lost

The Black Tower by Louis Bayard

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I greatly enjoyed Louis Bayard’s The Pale Blue Eye and was excited to pick this one up as well given how effectively he wrote his other historical mystery. And though I liked it a hair less, it did not disappoint. There has always been a curiosity amongst conspiracy theorists wondering what if some historical figures survived death. Hitler in the bunker. The princes in the Tower. And Louis-Charles, the dauphin of France and rightful heir to the throne of his father, Louis XVI. Sadly for him, he […]

Ultimately Comforting and Hopeful

All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny

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This is the 16th Inspector Gamache mystery, and I’m honestly impressed with how consistent these books are. There’s been a couple that I didn’t care for much or had trouble getting into, but on the whole these books always work for me. All the Devils are Here was no different–in fact, I think it was one of my favorites thus far. Armand Gamache, his wife Reine-Marie, and his godfather Stephen are in Paris visiting Armand and Reine-Marie’s children and their families–including Jean-Guy Beauvoir, Armand’s former second in […]

Zut Alors

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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Chronic fuck-up Jess has once again chronically fucked something up, so she decides to do the only sensible thing she can: hightail it to the French capital, where her brother resides. Her brother has assured her she’s always welcome in that way people have when they don’t mean it, but though Jess isn’t expecting a particularly warm welcome, she’s surprised that her brother is nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, she lets herself into his fancy apartment, hoping he’ll come home soon. He doesn’t, and soon […]



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