You guys, this wasn’t the way that I intended to finish the Cannonball. I had it all planned out — I was going to review the shockingly less-than-amazing “My True Love Gave To Me,” a book of short stories all about Christmas by some beloved authors: Holly Black, Stephanie Perkins, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Gayle Forman, and Rainbow Fricking Rowell, among others. But other than the Perkins story, I really, really didn’t have much to say about it. It was decidedly and disappointingly “meh.” And […]
It’s got everything: twins, domestic terrorism, pie, and a Madame DeFarge puppet
I didn’t have much hope for this one. I mean, the big tagline on the cover is that it is written by the author of “The Jane Austen Book Club,” which of course I read, and I really despised. But the title kept drawing me back. And then the stellar reviews from my trusted Cannonballers. And the nomination for the Booker prize. I couldn’t say no to this one. This wonderful story is a tale about siblings and family. About science and psychology. About nature and nurture. […]
“Because ‘You’re perfect just the way you are,’ is what your guidance counselor says. And she’s an alcoholic.”
Last year, my book club read The Diviners by Libba Bray. I really enjoyed the fun, 1920′s vibe and the contrasting darkness of the horror in the story. I made a mental note to look for other books by Bray, and finally got around to picking one up. And Beauty Queens couldn’t be more different from The Diviners if it tried. This book made me laugh. A lot. Beauty Queens is the satiric story of a plane filled with teen beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a […]
And now I want a macaron.
I really, really wanted to finish up my 52 book reviews before Thanksgiving this year, so that I wouldn’t have my writing hanging over my head while trying to plan meals and presents and wrapping and cards. So I decided to pick a few easy-ish books for my last few entries this year. Hopefully, they’ll all turn out to be as fun as this one. Anna is a high school senior from Atlanta who suddenly finds herself at an American boarding school in Paris to […]