The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict - audiobook, historical fiction about Mileva Marić, Albert Einstein's first wife, a physicist in her own right, who made numerous sacrifices to further his career at the expense of her own, and was not credited for her collaborations with him. After reading of his poor treatment of his wife, I lost a lot of respect for Albert Einstein.
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline - audiobook, biographical novel about the inspiration for the painting "Christina's World."
Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs - biography, award, children's, Newbery, about Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women.
Varina by Charles Frazier - historical fiction about Varina Howell Davis, the second wife of Confederate president Jefferson Davis. She is a very interesting character. One passage that caught my eye (on page 136): "On the Senate side, Sam Houston roamed the halls flirting with every young woman he met. He wore a cougar hide vest and left his coat open to display it, hoping to be asked what the material was. He introduced himself to V[arina] the same as to all the young ladies, with a set of moves like a fencing exercise. He lunged an aggressive step forward - pushing up much too close - then bowed low, and in a deep voice said, Lady, I salute you. Then he stood and took a snakeskin pouch from the pocket of his cougar vest and plucked out a little carved wooden heart. He spent his days on the Senate floor whittling dozens of them. He reached it out and said, Let me give you my heart." This passage is apparently based on Varina's memoir about her husband (referenced in a biography of her) and a 1921 newspaper article about Houston.
City of Secrets by Stewart O’Nan - It would have helped this historical fiction audiobook (well-read by Edoardo Ballerini) to have the author's historical note (from the end of the print book) as I knew very little about post-WWII Jerusalem and the British occupation there, and had never heard of the Irgun or the King David Hotel bombing of 1946.
The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristen Harmel, read by Madeleine Maby and Jacques Roy - historical fiction, audiobook. Supposedly based on the true story of Virginia d'Albert-Lake, it is set in occupied Paris just before and during World War II.
© Amanda Pape - 2018
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