43. To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey – an army colonel leads an expedition to explore Alaska in 1885 while his pregnant wife awaits his return and takes up the practice of photography in the meantime – told mostly through letters and journals – a bit of a slow start but picks up once the expedition gets into the interior – interesting characters and a touching love story across the miles – also fascinating look at the country – includes an anchoring contemporary element which provides some closure
44. Hanging Mary by Susan Higginbotham – the story of Lincoln’s assassination from the point of view of Mary Surratt and one of the young ladies living in her boardinghouse – fascinating and poignant interpretation of the events leading up to the assassination and the subsequent trial of Mary and others – the trials and executions took place at the site of my workplace, so this segment of history is particularly compelling to me
45. Reading Lolita in Teheran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi – a professor of literature continues classes in her home with a select group of students after being fired from her university position in revolutionary Iran – this had languished on my TBR for a few years and I’m glad I finally got around to it – the author is passionate and knowledgeable about literature and education – at the same time it also made me very angry to read about the horrible actions of the revolutionary government
