Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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A slightly imperfect suit

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

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You always know when a comparison is accurate when it’s not entirely flattering. I identify strongly with Frank Lloyd Wright – obviously I am no architect, but I surround myself with artists and love the marriage of form and function. I also have an issue with balancing this with the cost of such luxuries. “I don’t buy junk. When I buy something, it’s got to be perfection or I don’t want it. You won’t find me coming home with five cheap suits, one for each […]

CBRBingo – The Collection. Stark, Interesting, Confusing (so, T.C. Boyle)

The Relive Box and Other Stories by T.C. Boyle

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CBR Bingo – The Collection   Short stories have recently become one of my favorite genres to tackle. There is something delightful about being able to, in one short sitting, devour a whole tale, a microcosm of a world and characters as a quick bite. Certainly this taps into my need for achievement, checking something off the never-ending to do list: progress is charted quickly and swiftly. Also, I have a bit of a reverence for short story authors, for how they are able to […]

Well, I’m glad I read this once

The Harder They Come by T.C. Boyle

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Like all of Boyle’s books, this is beautifully written, but the craft of the writing is the ONLY place you’ll find beauty in this book.  This CBR has been my year for depressing books, and the only reason this didn’t feel AS bleak is that my heart’s been ripped out too recently by some of my other selections for this to make a dent.  But no one in this book comes out unscathed. It also helps (hurts?) that none of the characters here are particularly […]

The Anti-British Bake Off of Short Story Collections: sombering and heavy.

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I have been a fan of T.C. Boyle for the past few years. I first read “Tortilla Curtain” in 2011, and followed that up a few years later with “Drop City.” Boyle has a distinctive voice, cutting and dour, but also reflective. His examination of topics through, and he tackles tough subjects and places characters into situations of existential crisis with almost a relish. His books cover hard topics and hardened people, often in hopeless situations, but his writing forgives him for taking you down […]

Go North, Young Hippie

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I read Tortilla Curtain previously and thought it was a solid novel, so was excited to pick up another book by Boyle, and one that was recommended from my favorite podcast, Literary Disco. If I had to describe Boyle’s writing in one word it would be “unrelenting.”  His style can feel like a bit of a slog, but he is a compelling storyteller who shines a light on sub-groups that I don’t often read about, so for me it has felt like I learned a lot […]



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