The Ungrateful Refugee

The Ungrateful Refugee, by Dina Nayeri

34/60 | Started 07.16.25 • Finished 07.25.25 | 4 stars

Upon seeing that a friend had read this book, and noticing the last name Nayeri (yes, related to the wonderful Daniel Nayeri of Everything Sad is Untrue fame), I quickly picked it up. It includes stories of mostly Middle Eastern refugees, both their escapes and their difficulties or successes in obtaining asylum, as well as Dina's own refugee story. There is also a lot of commentary on the refugee crisis, mainly in Europe, and the many unsuccessful asylum requests. I felt like it got a little political at times, though her first hand accounts lend credence to her take on the whole situation. Her writing is winsome yet provocative. I found myself wishing for more refugee stories to go along with her analysis, though many of the ones she tells are heart wrenching. Would recommend with a tiny grain of salt.

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.