Thank you to Nonfiction November hosts: Katie of Doing Dewey, Julz of Julz Reads, Rennie of What’s Nonfiction, Sarah of Sarah’s Book Shelves, and Leann of Shelf Aware. Each of the five week’s features a special topic. This week’s topic is the year’s nonfiction:
Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
#NonficNov
My Interest
For years I read nonfiction almost exclusively. Then in 2008 I took my current job and moved to my current house. My 1.25-hour commute each way meant I now listen to a lot of fiction to pass the time. I still get in a good bit of nonfiction though. This challenge will take me back to my love of nonfiction.
The Questions
What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichel–it was so much more of a book than I expected. I love foodie books and foodie memoirs, love browsing cookbooks, and enjoy cooking, but this was also a darned good read.
Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? Much of my nonfiction reading always concerns royal history, and World War I and II. I enjoy social history the most. I read two books relating to violence or prison and was surprised by how fascinated I was by both–American Prison and American Summer.
What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? Twelve Patients: Life and Death in Bellevue Hospital by Eric Mannheimer. We are all affected by our messed up health care payment system. This book shows that and more.
What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? Just to enjoy reading or listening to well-written nonfiction “stories” of history or interesting persons or new-to-me places.
The Total to Date
Of the 73 books read/listened to so far this year, 17 were nonfiction. This month, obviously, I will read/listen to more nonfiction.
The Books
Click the linked title to go to my review
Twelve Patients: Life and Death in Bellevue Hospital by Eric Mannheimer
Why I Left the Amish by Salmoma Miller Furlong
White Mischief: The Murder of Lord Erroll by James Fox
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichel
Rocket Girl by George D. Morgan
A Well-Read Woman: The Life, Loves & Legacy of Ruth Rappaport by Katie Stewart
American Moonshot by Douglas Brinkley
Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinor Pruitt Stewart
American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz
Hitler and the Hapsburgs by James Longo
The Assassination of the Archduke by Greg King and Sue Woolmans
Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II by Jane Dinsmore
Claiming My Place by Planaria Price
Journey Interrupted: A Family Without a Country by Hildegarde Mahoney
Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power by Andrew Nagorski
American Prison: A Reporter’s Underground Journey into the Business of Punishment by Shane Bauer
1947: Where Now Begins by Elizabeth Asbrink
It’s not too late to join in! Post this week’s topic and link it at Julz Reads.
