My first review of 2024 is going to be a bit generic and sub-par, because I made the rookie mistake of starting this book many moons ago, getting distracted, and then returning to it. And it’s entirely my fault. My name is Caesar’s Wife, and I’m a Kindle Addict (‘Hi Caesar’s Wife!’). This collection of essays was gifted to me by my boss last year, and I dived into it with relish. But you see: it’s a paperback, and I’ve become hopelessly reliant on my Kindle. I love reading in bed by the glow of my Kindle, lamp off, until my eyes inadvertently close. It’s become a bit of a crutch for me to get a full night of sleep.
As my addiction to my Kindle grew, so did my TBR pile of paperbacks. It’s grown so large that I’ve run out of room next to the bed. Every time I finished a book, I’d think about reaching the pile… but the soft glow lure of the Kindle was too great!
So, in 2024, my half cannonball goal is not only to read 26 books, but to read 26 physical books (and audiobooks! I’m only prepared to tackle one literary addiction at a time, thankyouverymuch). And thus, I returned to this book to finish what I started before tackling my TBR tower.
On to my review (or what I can recall…):
Gabbert has crafted a series of essays in three parts, covering all manner of doom. President Trump, pandemics, natural disasters, witch trials, mental illness, the ever present threat of asteroids (mostly in blockbuster movie format, thankfully)… crime… war… 9/11. It’s a veritable grab-bag of the worst and how we, as humans, process this smorgasboard of calamity yet somehow… keep… going. One essay is simply titled “I’m So Tired” and giiiiiiirl. I feel you. Though it’s mired in contemplation of the worst of all, it somehow managed to avoid depressing me (more than I already am, hahah*sob*). It’s incredibly well researched and sourced, and structured in a natural flow of consciousness which swept me away with each essay. I learned, I wallowed, I gasped, I despaired, and I miraculously enjoyed the experience.
So to my boss: thanks for picking me yet another winner. And to the lovely readers of Cannonball Read: as the possibility of another Trump presidency approaches, now might be the time to gird your loins and give this book a read.
5 relentless 24-hours-news-cycles out of 5.