Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Much Better than St. Louis Sushi

Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller

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The book: Actress of a Certain Age is a collection of autobiographical essays by Jeff Hiller, an actor who spent 20 years playing mostly bit parts and commercials before being cast in Somebody Somewhere on HBO. He talks about his childhood in Texas, his process of coming out, trying to find work he enjoyed, what it’s like to be a struggling actor, and a whole lot of other stuff besides. Why I read it: Somebody Somewhere was an absolute gift during the pandemic, and Hiller was a huge […]

“What is the correct collective noun for us..? Maybe ‘a repugnance of twats’ is most apt?”

The Twat Files by Dawn French

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I am a big fan of British humor, whether on TV, film or the page. While I haven’t seen a lot of the French-Saunders comedy team’s sketch work, I know who they are. I am more familiar with Jennifer Saunders due to Ab Fab, but I was aware that Dawn French had a series called The Vicar of Dibley and I recognized her as “The Fat Lady” in the HP movie franchise. French has written several books, and this latest one The Twat Files got […]

CBR Diversion: People Who Read People Are the Luckiest People in the World!

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This diversion we will discuss books about real people: biographies, memoirs, and historical fiction. I read about people mostly through historical fiction. I adore all the books written by Fiona Davis, Lynda Cohen Loigman, and Kate Quinn.  After I proclaim for the umpteenth time, I am so done with WWII, I stumble upon a masterpiece like Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray. I will gobble up the occasional juicy memoir or biography. Who could resist Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (which must be […]

I cried six times while reading this memoir slash podcast slash pop culture book.

Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo & Jenny Owen Youngs

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Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC. It hasn’t affected the contents of my review. First, here’s the blurb, because I’m not sure my review actually does a great job letting you know what the book is about: “A memoir reflecting on heartbreak, perseverance, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from the hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer. Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny’s favorite show, Buffy […]

I finally read Gender Queer!

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

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I’m sure this book has already been discoursed to death here at Cannonball Read, so I won’t get too much into that. (It was a book club pick, yes?) I finally decided to read it because I have been much more active in my local anti-censorship organization this year, and wanted to be able to better defend the book if someone came after me with questions about it. The book is so stunning, warm, and earnest. It’s the most thorough exploration of this specific form […]

“Reading is one of the main things I do. Reading is everything.”

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron

I Remember Nothing & Other Reflections by Nora Ephron

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Reading makes me feel I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss. […]



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