February Book Review

Damn, I love to read.

I’m a reader. Always have been. Always will be. I have hundreds of books, and I could spend hours in a book store just walking around trying to convince myself I don’t need every book with a pretty cover.

The point is, I love to read, and I read a lot. Each month, depending on the month, I usually get 2-4 books in. Harper Collins has recently been sending me copies of their new titles, and that’s been a great way for me to branch out and try something I may not have picked up on my own. I’ll be covering two of those books in this review roundup actually.

So, without further ado, the February Review Roundup…that’s not a permanent name.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Talk about a tear jerker. I bought this for my sister in law for Christmas, and I also received a copy from my grandmother. She fell in love, and devoured it in a couple of days. She loves historical fiction, so I knew this would be right up her alley. Once I dove in, I also fell in love. It’s hard not to feel pain when a survivor of the Holocaust details their time in one of the most infamous concentration camps the world has ever seen, but it hits a little different now that I’m an adult. Like most of you I’m sure, I read The Diary of Anne Frank in high school, and it shook me to my core, but this is a completely different space. This is a detailed narrative from an adult male who not only survived, but fell in love in the process and in the midst of so much pain, death, and deterioration of the human soul. There are some reviews for this book that ping the author for her lack of character development, but I read for enjoyment and this was great for that. I was an English teacher for 4 years, so yes, I know how to read a book on a technical level, but I try not to do that too much when I’m reading for fun. I think this is a beautiful story, and when I found out it was based on a true story it made me love it that much more. This is a great book for someone who loves historical novels, and also for those who loved The Diary of Anne Frank and want a more adult perspective of the same time period.

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Live in Your Home by Joseph Fink

This one was interesting, just as much as the title would have you to believe actually. While the text is told from one narrator’s point of view, it flows back and forth from the present to the past, with each chapter written in the present focused on her view of one specific individual. It’s set somewhere in Europe in the 1800s and also skips around to modern day. Our female narrator goes from having an ideal life with her father in the waterfront Mediterranean estate, to becoming the captain of ship with her band of misfit friends who spend decades trying to win their way into a secret organization by any means necessary. When she’s not planning elaborate schemes to get revenge, she’s describing the pitiful life of some man she enjoys torturing in his day to day life. It’s different, a little unsettling at times, and definitely not for someone that only wants to read romances or modern day thrillers. If you’re up for something different, give it a go.

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

This one was my personal development book for the month, and it was amazing. It has been in my Amazon cart for MONTHS and after asking a friend of mine for her recommendations to help me improve my communication skills at work, this was what she sent me. Within the first few chapters I was able to find some great tools to use with my team at work, and by the end I felt confident that I could approach a difficult conversation, not just at work, but also at home. This is not just a book for someone who manages people, but for anyone that needs to have a tough conversation. The examples in the book range from important conversations with your boss, to even more important conversations with your spouse, and how to avoid those conversations turning into a knock-down-drag-out where someone is in tears and the other person is too angry to speak, and ultimately nothing gets solved. I wish I had read this book a year ago, and I know keep it at my desk, all marked up, and ready to be used whenever needed!

Sanctuary by Luca D’Andrea

This was another novel I received from Harper Collins, and I love that it was originally written in Italian. It’s set in the 1970’s and it jumps around between the perspectives of multiple characters. Some people don’t like that idea, and if you don’t like jumping around, this is not the book for you. Also, I would like to point out the title is very misleading, and I anticipated a completely different ending; not to say that I didn’t feel that it fit, it just made me do a lot of thinking. One of the narrators is interesting because of the part he played as a child in WWII, and I enjoyed reading about that piece of his life and how it directly led to where he is currently. I’m always interested in life outside of the US, and other than books based in England, I don’t read a lot of novels set in other parts of the world, so I enjoyed that aspect as well. This is not a light read, and if you’re looking for more of a fun easy book, move on to the next review.

The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews

This was a book I found on my mother in law’s house when we were house sitting one weekend. She installed a brand new garden tub, and I decided to give it a go, and I mean, what is a bath without a book? I got so involved in this book I sat there until the water was cold, and stayed up until 1am to finish. This is the perfect weekend read, and it kept me interested the whole way. You fall in love with the main character, resent her piece of crap husband, roll your eyes at her mother, and decide that you also want to live on this small island. If you love a quick read, something light, and a bit of mystery, this is a good one for you.

I hope this helped you find at least one book that sounds interesting. If you have questions about any of the books I read just let me know, I’m definitely working on how I review books, so if there is specific information you would to see in my reviews please tell me!

Enjoy reading!

Love,

Lilly