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:

Yes, Me. And You, Fellow White People

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad

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Best for: White people who haven’t been deeply in anti-racism work for years. In a nutshell: Author Layla F Saad offers a 28-day education and reflection on how to fight racism. Worth quoting: “This is not a personal growth book that is designed to make you feel good about yourself.” “It means that you do this work because you believe in something greater than your own self-gain.” Why I chose it: I’ve seen others reference it in a lot of places. Review: So, I’m not […]

Unexpected Wrap-Up to the Trilogy

Cage by Lilja Sigurðardóttir

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Best for: Those who like to follow through with a series. In a nutshell: With a time jump six years, we learn that some characters from the last two books have been punished, while others have become bolder. We also meet a couple new folks. Worth quoting: N/A Why I chose it: I bought the trilogy all at once, and for the most part I’m happy I did. Review: This was one of those books where, with about 40 pages to go, I thought ‘wait, […]

Solid Second in the Series

Trap by Lilja Sigurðardóttir

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Best for: Those who enjoy crime novels of the Icelandic variety. Those who appreciate when the main character is both a) not a man and b) not straight. In a nutshell: Sonja thinks she’s out but gets pulled back into the drug running world of Iceland, post financial crash. Worth quoting: N/A Why I chose it: Icelandic crime. Love it. Review: As I hoped, in this book we do get a bit more flesh on the bones of the characters. The style remains true to […]

Good Start to a Series

Snare by Lilja Sigurðardóttir

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Best for: Those who enjoy crime novels of the Icelandic variety. Those who appreciate when the main character is both a) not a man and b) not straight. In a nutshell: Sonja is divorced and lost custody of her son. To get by, she smuggles cocaine. (That’s right, the cocaine smuggling came after losing her son.) She has a relationship with Agla, who is being pursued for her role in the Iceland financial collapse. Sonja wants out, and she wants to regain custody of her […]

I Still Don’t Quite Get It

British Politics: A Very Short Introduction by Tony Wright

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Best for: People who understand how British government should work in theory but want to know how it works in practice. It’s like British government 201. In a nutshell: Former Member of Parliament provides a very basic (though not basic enough for me) understanding of how the UK government works. Worth quoting: “Britain is rare among democratic states (only Israel and New Zealand belong to the same category) in not having a book of constitutional rules.” Why I chose it: I was looking for British […]

Nice Little Anthology of Our Search For Guidance

Asking for a Friend: Three Centuries of Advice on Life, Love, Money, and Other Burning Questions from a Nation Obsessed by Jessica Weisberg

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Best for: Anyone who likes self-help books / advice columns. In a nutshell: Author Weisberg explores the history of advice giving, from Benjamin Franklin to life coaches. Worth quoting: “Americans’ interest in advice reflects our cultural tendency toward optimism: we tend to believe that with a bit of direction and a small boost, the future can be bright.” “People seem to prefer advice-givers whose wisdom seems attainable, who learned from doing.” Why I chose it: My sister gave me this for Christmas a couple of […]



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