Books

31. Bella Abzug: How One Tough Broad from the Bronx Fought Jim Crow and Joe McCarthy, Pissed Off Jimmy Carter, Battled for the Rights of Women and Workers, ... Planet, and Shook Up Politics Along the Way by Suzanne Braun Levine and Mary Thom.

I did not know a single thing about Bella Abzug before I read this book, but now I am filled with admiration for her and sad that I went so long without knowing about her.

The structure of this book is unique, in that it is little snippets of interviews put together to tell Bella's story. At first I was skeptical, but the authors did a great job of a creating a narrative thread out of it. This book is really interesting and inspiring.

Also, dude, what is up with the ERA not being ratified? Read more about it here.

32. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This was an excellent fantasy novel. It is framed as the re-telling of a life story by an innkeeper, who is much more than he appears. There isn't always a lot of action in this long book, but the story is so well told and the characters are all very interesting. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series with high hopes.

33. The Last Van Gogh by Alyson Richman
This is the story of Van Gogh's last days from the point of view of Van Gogh's doctor. It made me interested to learn more about what is actually known about the end of Van Gogh's life, and it was an ok book, but the author over did it in her color descriptions. I think she might have been using a paint catalog. :)

34. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
More awesomely fun archaeological adventures! I am loving this series more than ever.