Third Girl from the Left: A Memoir

Third Girl from the Left: A Memoir by Christine Barker. Interesting memoir of a person who would become a broadway dancer, and was in the original production of Chorus Line in the 1980s. While this is about her professional career, it is also about New York at a time when AIDS was just taking hold and of course devastating the Broadway world. There is also an interesting connection in that her brother was the lover of Perry Ellis, and Ellis' attourney, both of whom died of AIDS.

Lincoln on the Verge

Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington by Edward Widmer. After Lincoln's election as president, he had to travel from Springfield, IL to Washington DC to take office. This is the chronicle of the train journey that took him across the northern part of the country to. He travelled through the north to avoid any assassination attempts that were assumed would take place if he traveled a more direct route, which would take him through southern states just as they were beginning to succeed from the Union. Along the route of this trip he used the opportunity to have as many people see him as possible, at a time when newspapers were the only mass communication. Highlighted in this telling is the presence of the telegraph, which had come into its own and would play a part in the civil war. The author can tend to be a bit too 'wordy' and goes off on tangents, which may be necessary when the story is of a train trip. As Lincoln gave speeches during this trip the authors highlights how he was perfecting his style and approach that would mark the 4 years of his presidency.