Cannonball Read

Selfdestructible

★★★★★

Today, I am recommending a book written by a man I have known as both an in-character Cookie Monster talking about politics and life on the Internet, and as a freelance writer on pop culture. It’s a weird feeling, to be saying (in my own mind) “read Cookie Monster’s book!” but here I am, saying it.

Ajax, The Dutch, The War

★★★★☆

The World Cup was on this past summer and anytime I see it, I’m inclined to read more books about soccer. I’m a big sports fan but my interest in soccer really only begun about 12 years ago when, bored out of my mind for the summer of 2006, I watched the World Cup fastidiously. Soccer is now perhaps my fourth favorite sport after baseball, football, and basketball and I’m wearing a New York City FC shirt in anticipation of the game tonight.

First, We Make the Beast Beautiful

★★★☆☆

Sarah Wilson has been diagnosed over the years, everything from anxiety to depression to bipolar. She’s been on medication, off-medication, happy and functional, manic and gone and suicidal. This is a book for people who suffer from what she refers to as anxiety, but covers any sort of mental health issue where you feel like your brain doesn’t mesh with life.

Crooked Kingdom

★★☆☆☆

Picking up where Six of Crows left off, Crooked Kingdom follows Kaz Brekker and his gang of ne’er-do-wells as they deal with the betrayal and fallout from their heist. Inej has been taken hostage and they don’t have the money promised them. They’re all a bit battered and exhausted but don’t have any downtime to recover before Kaz has them back plotting. For revenge and for their money and for the return of Inej (whom Kaz might just like a little bit, much to his own dismay).