Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Secret Agent Man

A Perfect Spy by John Le Carré

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John Le Carré’s books are often labors of love to read. This was both love and labor with neither of them necessarily intertwining. I don’t want to go into details but there was a specific moment at my job this past week where I had to face down reminders of a rough work moment from years before. Nothing bad in terms of abuse or harassment but awful stuff. And it felt good to be reading “Magnus Pym’s” (Le Carré’s, David Cornwell’s) story at the same […]

I’m crying because I was just in a bloody battle. I hated every second of it and I would not recommend it to a friend.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

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“Studying for what?” “Um. Everything? My future,” Gabriel said. Arthur’s instinct was to laugh, but he managed to keep himself in check. “You’re studying for life? For your life? Is there a—is there a how-to guide for monarchs? Tips and tricks for subjugating the masses? Prevent a revolt in ten easy steps?” ― Lex Croucher, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love “If you wanted to come and find me, I’ve actually been pretty stationary. You know. Nearly dying.” ― Lex Croucher, Gwen & Art […]

The End and the Beginning

London Match by Len Deighton

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I’m glad I slept on this review. I confess to some disappointment when I finished it…that was the resolution? That was the best Deighton could do after an excellent two-book buildup? I expected a massive conflict and was sort of let down. But then I thought about the final conversation in the book, which I won’t use to spoil the plot but basically talks about the stagnancy of the spy game. You’re never really winning, per se, and you almost don’t know what constitutes winning. Occasionally, you […]

Sug y Saeson

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

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Mirror Lake is a picturesque place that lies on the border between Wales and England. Famed Welsh singer Rhys Lloyd – was there ever a more Welsh name? – has joined hands with investor Jonty to build a luxury development on the English side. Five tall, luxurious lodges rise up from the shore, irking the townspeople of Cwm Coed, which lies on the Welsh side. The development’s inhabitants are both implausibly wealthy as well as English; two good reasons to hate them. To try and […]

Ohhh Mexico

Mexico Set by Len Deighton

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I’m going to review this under the assumption that the reader has read the first book in Len Deighton’s Game, Set, Match trilogy. If you have not, I encourage you to do so (it’s very good!) and skip this review until you have. I liked this one almost as much as Berlin Game, perhaps even more! I love how Len Deighton writes books where he ratchets up the tension just by having people talk. It’s fun. His dialogue is great and it works well to building the story. […]

“They pick volatile people, people who’re going to perform for the cameras, they wind them up as tight as they can, they engineer a bunch of high-stress situations that are practically guaranteed to make someone lose their shit, throw in some alcohol—and then they sit back and let the cameras roll and the tweets pour in.”

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

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If you’re looking for another summer read to lazily sink your reading teeth into, Ruth Ware is usually a pretty good choise, and this one is no different. With a beachy setting, lots of intrigue and vapid people it’s a recipe for grand escapism. For anyone who is a mindful consumer of reality TV (i.e. you know it’s fake but you love it anyway) this is a fun peak behind the fictional curtain of a British show set on a tropical island meant to showcase […]



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