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Today’s September reads post is short and sweet. Sadly, I was stuck in a reading rut and didn’t have much motivation to read. Part of the problem was that I made myself finish a book for my book club that I just wasn’t into. So it was very slow reading and not many books were read. The books I read were all over the rating scale. With only four books read, I had a 2, 3, 4 and 5 star read this month. Here are my September reads that I’m sharing with Jana and Steph’s monthly linkup.
2 stars
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter – In 1962 Pasquale is running his family’s hotel on the Italian coast. American actress Dee Moray ends up as a guest at his inn. The two end up forming a close relationship despite their language barrier. Present day, Claire Silver must listen to movie pitches for her movie producer boss. An unexpected visitor leads her on a path to connecting the past. This book ruined me this month. I would have given up on it, but it was my book club’s read for the month. It had been on my to read list, so I’m glad that I finally was able to give it a try. I was also the only one in the book club who didn’t love it. The story line didn’t interest me at all which made me want to do anything but read. However, I’m definitely in the minority with my opinion about this book. If it’s been on your to read list, I recommend you give it a try.
3 stars
My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni – Tracy Crosswhite has spent 20 years looking into the disappearance of her younger sister, Sarah. Edmund House was convicted and put in jail, but she’s not convinced he’s guilty. But then Sarah’s body is discovered and Tracy makes some discoveries that put her life in danger. This was just an okay mystery for me and didn’t make me interested in continuing the Tracy Crosswhite series.
4 stars
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane – Peter Stanhope and Kate Gleeson are neighbors and best friends. Their fathers, both cops, met on the job and moved their families to the suburbs. After a tragic accident, the two families who were once cordial to one another, are not the same. As the book progresses, we follow Peter and Kate and how their lives are shaped by the accident. This book was Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Summer Reads book pick. My husband listened to it on audio and I read it so we can discuss it with each other. This book gave me insight into mental illness and alcoholism and the effects they have on a family.
5 stars
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – It’s 1942 and Lale Sokolov is transported from Slovokia to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He is given the job of tattooist, marking his fellow prisoners with the numbers that will identify them. For over two years he survives at the camp, even falling in love. This book had been on my to read list for awhile. While the subject matter of the Holocaust is always difficult to read, I think that it’s important to remember. Like many books about this time period, it is based on a true story. It is well written and a highly recommended read.
I loved Ask Again, Yes. Very interesting characters and amazing writing – I especially loved Kate and her family.
Yes, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! Agree with the characters and writing!
I’m glad you had a couple 4 and 5 star books this past month!
-Lauren
Yes, I always enjoy getting at least a 4 star read!
I loved the tattooist also. it has such mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it!
Ask again yes sounds pretty good
Glad I wasn’t the only one who loved The Tattooist. Such a difficult subject, but such a great story.
I like Tracey a lot but read them without the expectation of being blown away…sort of like enjoying a bowl of buttery noodles that are comforting without being exceptional. I’m okay with that kind of meal.
I read Beautiful Ruins years ago, 2012? 2013? and it was a slog.
I feel like I have to give the series another shot, but I’m trying to avoid series at the moment! LOL!
Sorry to hear you had a rough reading month. A bad book can definitely throw your reading game off and it’s hard when that book is one you feel you have to read too. I felt the same way about My Sister’s Grave. I got so annoyed because at some point keeping the “secret” felt stupid. People are dying here! The Tattooist is on my TBR. I agree that we need to read hard books but I’m holding back on reading it because I’m not sure if I could take it!
I think my reading slump is over, yeah! It’s just finding time to read now!
Ask again yes is floating around here big time again. Cant wait to check it out!
Yes, I can’t believe how many of us read it this month! Definitely worth checking out!
I feel like I tried to read Beautiful Ruins and couldn’t make it through, or I did finish it and it was so unmemorable I can’t remember anything about it.
Ask Again Yes is on my list for this month. I can’t wait.
Yeah, I hope to avoid anymore books that I have to force myself to get through. Looking forward to hearing what you think of Ask Again Yes.
I actually had a copy of Beautiful Ruins on my bookshelf, but had no interest in reading it and now I don’t feel bad about giving it away! I just read The Tattooist last month and it was a 5 star read for me as well. Even though I don’t typically like historical fiction, I like novels based on true stories and this was a very powerful one. I’m looking forward to hearing more about Cilka’s Journey as well. I’ve seen too many positive reviews of Ask Again, Yes to ignore it, so I’m adding that one to my TBR!
Can’t wait to hear what you think about Ask Again, Yes!
Ask again, yes sounds good – off to update my TBR list 🙂
Yes, definitely give it a try!
I quit My Sister’s Grave about 3-4 years ago and never tried another one of his books.
Yeah, I’m not so sure I’m going to read any other books by Dugoni.
I believe I read Beautiful Ruins and My Sister’s Grave awhile back. I do want to read Ask Again Yes, and I’m hearing so much about the Tattooist, that it’s something I might pick up also.
If you like WWII historical fiction then you should definitely give the Tattooist a try.
hmm, i own Beautiful Ruins, bought it a couple years ago… i think because of the cover. that’s so interesting about your book club, i have found that everyone in my book club pretty much has similar tastes, we all end up feeling roughly the same about a book, with an occasional one person liking a book the rest of us hated.. but i don’t think we’ve ever had 1 person dislike it when everyone else liked it. hmm. very interesting, now i want to read it lol. it’s funny because the tattooist of auschwitz was a book club book and we all hated it, except for one girl lol.
Currently reading the Tattoist and so far really liking it!
Cant’ wait to hear what you think! Just found out that Morris came out with a new book which I can’t wait to read.