Well, this month clearly got away from me and I'm hard pressed to say how. Nevertheless, as nonfiction is something I'm really pushing myself to read more of, I definitely didn't want this month to go by without me playing along with everyone for Nonfiction November. So this week, I'll be playing catch up. Week 1's was hosted by Jules of @JulesReads:
Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
What Was Your Favorite Nonfiction Read Of The Year?
This one's a tie between Elizabeth McCracken's An Exact Replica Of A Figment Of My Imagination and TaNehisi Coates' We Were Eight Years In Power. Two very different books - one that made my heart break and one that made my brain work.
That Nonfiction Book Have You Recommended The Most?
Even more than fiction, I feel that nonfiction is something that I recommend based on what I know about particular readers. For example, I have recommended Shrill by Lindy West to all of my feminist friends but West's language and graphic subject matters make it a book that's not for everyone. For biography buffs, I highly recommend both Grant by Ron Chernow and Victoria: The Queen by Julia Baird. But they are both very big books and definitely not for the faint of heart. For my more liberal friends, I always recommend Sarah Vowell's books and Assassination Vacation is no exception. Perhaps the book that I find myself recommending most, of the nonfiction books I read this year, is Notorious RBG which really has something in it for everyone.
What Is One Topic or Type of Nonfiction You Haven't Read Enough Of Yet?
Easy - science. I'm not looking for textbook reads but I would like to read some of Mary Roach's books, perhaps some Carl Sagan, and, definitely, Neil DeGrasse Tyson's Astrophysics For People In A Hurry.
What Are You Hoping To Get Out Of Participating In Nonfiction November?
As always, it's a great chance to remember the nonfiction books I've read this year and to kick myself in the rear for not reading more nonfiction (although I may have reached a personal best this year). Most of all, it's always great fun to visit the sites of everyone participating so I can find even more nonfiction reads I want to read.
What about you - how was your year in nonfiction?
Welcome to Nonfiction November! You've mentioned so many books I want to read... We Were Eight Years in Power, Shrill, Victoria, and Assassination Vacation (maybe audio with that one). Notorious RBG was a favorite last year. The science-y book at the top of my wish list is the audio version of Get Well Soon by Jennifer Wright.
ReplyDeleteI loved both of those books: it's amazing what some writers can do with so few pages to work within!
ReplyDeleteI want to read Grant, but it is so long! and so expensive! The minute it goes on sale I'm probably going to snatch it up.
ReplyDeleteWow, quite a range of variety in your nonfiction reading! I read very little nonfiction usually, so I am doing Nonfiction November, too - but only unofficially. This month is just too busy for me to write extra blog posts!
ReplyDeleteBut I am enjoying several memoirs at the moment - one in print, one on audio, and one middle-grade graphic memoir - and all three are excellent. Memoirs are definitely my favorite kind of nonfiction to read.
Enjoy your NF month!
Sue
Book By Book
Mary Roach's Packing For Mars, Stiff, and Spook were great. Sagan's books are always a great time, he was such a great writer or orator. And I'm over halfway through Eight Years in Power and it's a tough but important read. Good luck with the rest of your reading!
ReplyDeleteI didn't read much in the way of nonfiction this year, although I can say I read more this year than I did last. So that's something, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteWe Were Eight Years In Power is on my list to read. I hear it's quite powerful.