The Fortnight in September

The Fortnight in September, by R.C. Sherriff

33/60 | Started 07.08.25 • Finished 07.16.25 | 3.75 stars

This older novel came recommended by a local bookstore. It follows the Stevens family on what very well might be their last family holiday to the seaside town of Bognor. As the story progresses through each day of the trip, from their preparation day up until their unexpected extra last several hours, the reader learns about the quirks and hopes and thoughts of each member of the family. There are lone trips to the countryside, forays onto the boardwalk, and cricket games on the beach. There's nothing extraordinary about this book, really, it's just a delightful, insightful, clean look at one British family's extended stay at the English shore. Would recommend.

In the Garden of Beasts

In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson

32/60 | Started 06.21.25 • Finished 07.08.25 | 3.5 stars

I really wanted this to be different than it was; more of what it was like to experience the decline of German political life in the lead up to Hitler's rise to power. But instead it felt like a behind the scenes of the American embassy at the time, and the pettiness that existed between its members at different levels. And then thrown into that was the social promiscuity of the ambassador's daughter. It just didn't have the insight and intrigue I was looking for, or maybe it was there and I just didn't feel it. Either way, it was still somewhat informative and you can tell well researched and written.

And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

31/60 | Started 06.17.25 • Finished 06.21.25 | 5 stars

My first Agatha Christie! Ten people are invited to Indian Island for an event, though none of the guests know each other. They are quickly confronted by less than savory pasts, and a murder follows, with seemingly no way to get off the island. I found the mystery that follows to be plausible, and gripping, and finished it in just a few days, though it is a smaller book. I read the version where the figures were little Indians, but my understanding is that it's been "updated" to be "politically correct" and now features little soldiers. Might convince me to pick up another Agatha Christie (there are SO many, among so many other books to read)!