Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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From the US. Living in the UK. Used to review under the name Lollygagger. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: ASKReviews' Quick Questions interview - as Lollygagger.)

ASKReviews's Reviews:

Mighty Island

How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island by Egill Bjarnason

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Best for: Anyone with some interest in world history, or Icelandic history. In a nutshell: Author Bjarnason provides a condensed (and at times humorous) history of Iceland. Worth quoting: “…claim, respectively, that Icelander live for up to 150 to 300 years — because of the pure climate, or course. Which I’d say is fair reasoning: the human body is organic, and we all know that vegetables and other organic things last longer in the fridge.” “Few countries are as vulnerable to global warming as Iceland. […]

The Good With the Bad

Making a Scene by Constance Wu

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Best for: Fans of Constance Wu. People interested in learning about the impact of different aspects of Hollywood on actors. In a nutshell: Actress Wu shares stories from her life, mostly focusing on her non-famous time. Worth quoting: N/A (Audiobook) Why I chose it: I only know Wu from her starring role in Crazy Rich Asians, but this sounded interesting. Review: This is a book I find hard to review. I want to commend Wu for how open and honest she is, and how she […]

Not For Me, But Maybe Helpful for Others

The Anxiety Sisters’ Survival Guide: How You Can Become More Hopeful, Connected and Happy by Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Saracheck

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Best for: People with pretty serious anxiety In a nutshell: The authors, who I gather have created a support community for people with anxiety, offer their take on a variety of aspects of anxiety, including causes, treatments, management, and medications. Worth quoting: “What can happen is very different from what probably will happen.” Why I chose it: I am a catastrophizing worrier, and I’d rather not be? Or at least, not be to the point that it doesn’t, like, interfere with my life. Which it […]

Satisfying But Not Ridiculous

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie by Bella Mackie

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Best for: People who like a real good revenge story, but also something a little different. In a nutshell: Bella Mackie is picking off her family, one by one. The twist? Most of them don’t even know she’s related to them. Worth quoting: “Tell me if the person I’ve fallen in love with seems like a monster. List the ways. Do a deep dive into it, make graphs. I want all the information.” “The only thing worse than someone who enthusiastically devours all pop culture […]

Deeper Than Expected (And That’s Not a Dig at the Author)

Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver

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Best for: Fans of well-written and insightful autobiographies of public figures. In a nutshell: Actress and author Driver shares the details of a few stories that provide the reader with real insight into her life. Worth quoting: I listened so didn’t take down any particular phrases, but there were definitely multiple times I had a strong positive reaction to something she shared. Why I chose it: On one level, I’m a bit of a fan in that I think she is fantastic in Grosse Pointe […]

Thought-Provoking and Meditative

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell

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Best for: Those who are interested in being more intentional with their time and attention. In a nutshell: Artist and author Odell explores ways to be more intentional with our time, and how that relates to community and environment. Worth quoting: “That tiny, glowing world of metrics cannot compare to this one, which speaks to me instead in breezes, light and shadow, and the unruly, indescribably detail of the real.” “The impulse to say goodbye to it all, permanently, doesn’t just neglect our responsibility to […]



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