Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About cheerbrarian

CBR 6
CBR 7
CBR 8
CBR 9
CBR10 participant
CBR11 participant
CBR12 participant
CBR13 participant
CBR14 Participant
CBR14 Bingo Badges
CBR15 Participant
CBR16 Participant
CBR17 Participant
CBR18 Participant

I am a born and bred southerner and transplant to the Midwest. I read because I NEED to (as a former English major, it's in the DNA) and because I'm possibly ignoring frigid temperatures. Until summer, and then I'll just be reading outside. I also enjoy cooking, witty banter, and cheese. All the cheese. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: ardaigle's Quick Questions interview.)

cheerbrarian's Reviews:

“Most sapients confuse working hard with being miserable.”

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

by 2 Comments

I was so confident that I would like Becky Chambers’ Wayferer series that when I snagged the first book the library, I grabbed the entire trilogy. Why waste time?? I was so excited to start book two and continue exploring the galaxy with Ashby, Rosemary and the rest of the crew of the Wayfarer. So it was a very rude awakening to discover that this second book has absolutely nothing to do with them. At first I was rather disappointed, but once I shook that […]

“All you can do, Rosemary – all any of us can do – is work to be something positive instead. That is a choice that every sapient must make every day of their life. The universe is what we make of it. It’s up to you to decide what part you will play.”

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

by Leave a Comment

I absolutely adored Becky Chambers’ “Monk & Robot” novella series and recommend it often to anyone who asks me for a book rec, in particular those who I think could use an emotional boost. It was a no brainer for me to pick up this Hugo Award winning series as I was sure I would like it, and I definitely did. In fact, I immediately bought it for a friend who I thought would like it and she read it in about 3 days. Four thumbs […]

“In headlines and news copy, we call them “the mentally ill.” In truth, they are our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters. They are us.”

While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence by Meg Kissinger

by Leave a Comment

This book was the selection for my local library book club and they came out swinging with a real heartbreaker for the first selection for our new year. It’s the first non-fiction that I can remember us readingnand rife for discussion. It is so raw and sad but well written that you’ll read past the point where your heart can take it. I was gripped by her storytelling but eventually had to take a break (see also my review of Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings which […]

“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

by Leave a Comment

This book was meant to be a palate cleanser for me as I needed to put down the heavy non-fiction book I was reading about mental health (While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence). Woof. I’ve begun interacting more in Threads and asked that community for a fun book, and someone mentioned that Kevin Kwan (he of Crazy Rich Asians) had a new one out and I was sold: over-the-top and silly was just what I […]

“That’s the problem with living in New York. You’ve got no New York to run away to.”

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

by Leave a Comment

In five-ish words: sophisticated, entertaining, New York, haunted I know a lot of people who say that Towles’ “Gentleman in Moscow” is their favorite book. I haven’t read it yet and have it on my TBR, somewhere middling in the middle. But then a co-host on my podcast recommended “Rules of Civility” for her “must read book” so this one rocketed straight to the top. I felt compelled to pick it up and I’m so glad I did! His writing is so clever and he […]

“Introduction: In the Long Run, We’re All Dead.”

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

by Leave a Comment

I first came acorss Oliver Burkeman’s ideas on the podcast NPR Life Kit, episode titled “How To Rethink What You Spend Your Time — And Life — Doing.” He had my immediate attention. And then I forgot about it because you know, life. A different friend said this book was life-changing and I was skeptical because that’s a bold claim but now that I’ve read it I concur. I have almost every other page of this book turned down, and so many lines highlighted it’s […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo