Do you do a lot of reading in the summer? Or maybe you read all year round. I tend to read more in the summer because I am hanging by the pool or sitting outside enjoying the warm sun. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for a good book. I was talking to one of my college roommate’s recently and it turns out, that over the course of the summer, she read the same books!! (plus a few more that I hope to read soon). Since I am always searching for some good ones I thought you might like to know about them too.

Now, this summer, even tho I read 4 books – I would like to tell you about 2 of them. I have not done a book review since high school (only about 10 years ago right?) and I can’t even remember all the book review rules. Or if there are any rules. Anyway, I hope I don’t give anything away….I would like to encourage you to read both of these books. I think they are well worth your time. And, once you do, let me know in the comments below what your thoughts are.

The First is – ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens.

My sister sent this book to me because she just loved it and thought I might like it as well. She was right, I did.

Synposis –

Catherine Danielle Clark (nicknamed “Kya”) is abandoned, 1st by her mother and then one by one, all of her siblings. She is left with her father who drinks and pays her no attention. He does teach her how to fish and that’s about it. He ends up leaving when Kya is only a little girl.

Kya lives in the swamp. In Barkley Cove, NC. In town, rumors about her are flying around and she is nicknamed the ‘Marsh Girl’.

She did not know how to read, cook or take care of herself. Her clothes were too small. She lives in a shack with no water or electricity or heat. One good thing her dad did that was great – he left the marsh boat behind.

Kya eventually learns to take care of herself. She also learns to trust – until the unthinkable happens…someone is found murdered and the police won’t stop until they find the killer.

Review –

I liked the book because I was invested in Kya. I wanted to find out what happened to her. Did she ever learn to take care of herself? Did she live alone her whole life? Did the townspeople ever become her friends? Did she ever learn to read? Who did she talk to all day – the birds? I also thought crazy thoughts – what if she needed to go to the dentist? Or had the flu. Weird…I know.

Who was murdered? What happened at the trial? Who was accused? Did they find the killer?

Now, as a mom, I can’t even imagine leaving all of my kids behind. To fend for themselves with a drunken and abusive father. I would like to think I would take them with me. But, then again, I really have no idea what it is like to be in that situation. And, I hope I never will!

I have never lived without creature comforts. I have always had a roof over my head – even when I was camping. I have always had food on my table. I have always had gas in my car. What about you?

Wouldn’t you like to know what happens? It comes in Hardcover, Paperback or on Kindle.

The 2nd book I read is ’The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ by Heather Morris.

Synposis –

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau by force. His captors discover that he speaks several languages. As a result, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist). His job was to put the numbers on all the prisoners.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in his line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita. Luke then vows that he will somehow survive the concentration camp and marry her.

Review –

This book is based on a true story. Lale Sokolov told his story to Heather Morris over the course of a few years. The fact that it was a true story fascinated me.

I have read a few books about Auschwitz but I really never gave any thought to the people behind the tattoos in the concentration camps. It makes sense that it was a fellow prisoner. But, what a hard job that must have been for him.

Lale’s story of the beatings and the treatment of the prisoners was heart wrenching. Man’s inhumanity to man for sure.

I thought the book was good. I wanted to know how they survived the camps when so many did not. I wanted to find out what actually happened to them. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I didn’t have the empathy for them as individuals that I would have liked. Even tho I had empathy for the entire situation all together. I don’t think any of us can imagine the horrors of Auschwitz.

I do highly recommend this book. It comes in Hardcover, Paperback or on Kindle.