Blast From the Past: February 2012

 It's time to look back at my reading in February of 2012.  Here are five of my favorites from a decade ago:

The Obamas by Jodi Kantor- this book came out in the midst of Obama's time in office, and it looks at their marriage- especially Michelle's reluctance to be involved in politics.  I enjoyed this book and will read pretty much anything about any president and their family.  

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo - this is narrative non-fiction at its best.  Boo chronicles the story of several people living in Annawadi a settlement close to Mumbai's airport as they struggle for survival.  These people are living in extreme poverty, in conditions so out of what I can even imagine that this book left me thinking about them for a long time.

Looking For Me by Betsy Rosenthal - Rosenthal's novel in verse tells the story of her mother, Edith, who grew up during the Depression in Baltimore as one of twelve siblings.  This story shows how Edith tries to figure out who she is and where she fits in this large family.

The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani - Sonia is half-Indian and half Jewish-American, dealing with being sent to public school after her father loses his job and they can no longer pay for private school tuition.  Her new classmates have questions about Sonia's background and where she fits in - and sometimes Sonia doesn't know the answers.  When I started reading this one, I thought it might be a light, fluffy read, but this has some real depth to it and would be great to use with a book club.

A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship and Resistance in Occupied France by Caroline Moorehead- Moorehead shares the story of 230 women and girls from various backgrounds who all united to resist the Nazis. For a time they were rounded up and gathered together in a fort outside Paris.  But eventually they were sent by train to Auschwitz, and only 49 survived. 

These five were winners in 2012, and they'd still be worth reading in 2022.  Have you read any of these books?  What were you reading ten years ago? What about last year?