Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

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Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not impact my rating or review. I struggled a lot to finish this one. I almost DNFed it a few times because I honestly just felt like I was just reading random sentences with no real logic behind the plots of this book. And then the last 20 percent of the book was one character telling another character (slowly) about something that happened that readers had known about since the first part of the […]

I’d Rather Be an Other Bird

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

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“There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don’t sing. Maybe they don’t fly. Maybe they don’t fit in. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be an other bird rather than just the same old thing.” On Sweet Mallow Island, off the coast of Charleston, there’s a small condominium called The Dellawisp, named for the ubiquitous turquoise birds that call the courtyard their home. There are only four residents of The Dellawisp – Charlotte, a henna artist running from […]

Exactly What I Wanted It To Be

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

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I’m not going to kid you, I have no objectivity when it comes to Sarah Addison Allen. Her Southern-set books depicting strong women with a little bit of magic prevailing over all that ails them are exactly my cup of peppermint tea. Other Birds is her first book in years, and to say I’ve been eagerly awaiting it is to grossly understate the case. Following Zoey as she moves to Mallow Island, South Carolina, the story is magical, romantic, whimsical and absolutely charming.  You know, […]

“Stories aren’t fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.”

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

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I’ve loved Sarah Addison Allen’s books since the 2007 Garden Spells (the first of the Waverly family books) and have eagerly been waiting for this one since her last book out was in 2015 (the second Waverly family book). I often recommend her to someone looking for something light and charming, as she typically weaves together magical realism with small-town charm, great for a bit of escapism or some relaxation. This book has a very different tone and while I think it’s a good book, […]

Welcome back, Sarah Addison Allen

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

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Its been a long time between books for Sarah Addison Allen, and it is a pure delight to have her back with a new novel for my sister and I to devour. I’m going to be light on plot, because I don’t want to spoil any of the pleasure of reading it for anybody.  Zoey is moving back to Mallow Island, where she spent time in an apartment block, the Dellawisp, as a child. All SAA books are wildly whimsical, and this is no exception.  […]

Garden Spells

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

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Updated review: September 12, 2022 I really enjoyed this re-read. I didn’t love the second book in the series as much, but this first one still gives me all the feels. Allen does such a great job of depicting the two sisters and I loved all of the people who lived in Bascom and the “gifts” so many had.  Original review: Funny, I love this book, but honestly don’t remember the last time I read it. After finishing “Garden Spells” I went and read book […]



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