I completely ADORED My Lady Jane a few years ago. It was so refreshing and funny and unique, with such a great audio narrator. I had high hopes for this next book in the series and HALLELUJAH it delivered. It's not quite as shockingly quirky as My Lady Jane (nobody's fiance regularly turns into a … [Read more]
Recent Reviews
CBR Diversions: Holiday Season –Time To Give BOOKS
Disturbing parallels to modern-day society
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye
I liked this one well enough, but I can't say it wasn't a little bit of a disappointment after liking Faye's other books so much. The pacing was very uneven here and I wonder if cutting some of the material (the book is about 400 pages) would have helped. There's a great book in here somewhere, … [Read more]
He might fear God, but he still loves boobs.
Jane Doe: A Novel by Victoria Helen Stone
I follow a lot of authors on twitter. Every once in a while a bunch of writers will start talking about one book. A couple of months ago, that book was Jane Doe. Authors, all women but from several genres, were reveling in Jane's darkness and her passion for revenge. Jane has diagnosed herself as … [Read more]
“There are new monsters now”
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
This novel sneaks up on you. You're lulled into comfort with descriptions of old video rental places, suburban living rooms, and the polite peace of the Midwest before being startled awake by sudden glances of violence and fear. These shocks originate from movies. Movies within movies. Were they … [Read more]
Buttermilk Onions Cheese Life Lessons
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat, Wendy McNaughton
The lovely and amazing narfna was my CBR10 Book Exchange gifter last year. She shopped from my wish list and bought Salt Fat Acid Heat. I love cooking and cookbooks. I have worked as a chef professionally, but all my training has been at home and ad hoc in bakeries and small food shops. Samin … [Read more]
an exercise in lying to liars
Transcription by Kate Atkinson
What began as a slow and cold (le Carré-esque) waiting game grew into a white hot flash of deceit, anxiety, and dangerous thrills. I cannot claim to know the full horrors and trials of World War II- nor can I draw a true comparison between that dark time and the present, but the world of this book … [Read more]
CBR15 Book Bingo Reading Challenge Begins
Welcome to the 2020 Book Bingo Reading Challenge, we are delighted to bring it back for a third year! Select five squares across, down, diagonally, or 5-up (four corners + center square), and get an entry into a drawing for some cool prizes. Complete the entire card – a blackout! – and get 15 … [Read more]
Test B G W designs author
Dandelion Wine by Joan Lindsay
“Shipmates, have ye shipped in that ship?” Queequeg and I had just left the Pequod, and were sauntering away from the water, for the moment each occupied with his own thoughts, when the above words were put to us by a stranger, who, pausing before us, levelled his massive forefinger at the vessel … [Read more]
This is a book with CBR14 points
Fill out the field by Field Fielding
this is a post … [Read more]
How Sweet It Is! The Official Start of CBR16
This is the official start of 2024’s Cannonball Read 16. You may begin posting reviews to count towards your CBR16 total now. Veteran Cannonballers, please make sure that you have set your CBR16 goal in your profile. If you’re new to our site, please register here. Any questions, comments, … [Read more]