2019 In Non Fiction
The time for vacillation is over. My dilemma whether to join Nonfiction November, was resolved by all the reassurances from bloggers that there’s no expectation to read any more non fiction than normal. So I’m diving in with the first week’s discussion topic.
Julz Reads has given 4 questions all on the theme of Your Year In Non Fiction
What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year?
I’m cheating here by choosing two books. They’re both memoirs which deal with sobering social issues (homelessness and health provision) but do so with a huge dollop of humour.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn . This is a spectacular book which traces the way Raynor and her husband Moth dealt with the loss of their home and business. Just days after Moth received a devastating medical diagnosis the couple embarked on a 630 mile walk along the South West Coast Path. They experienced the kindness of strangers but also hostility.
This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay . Who would have thought gynaecology could be so funny? Kay reveals some of the bizarre medical emergencies that confronted him as a junior doctor (read this book and you’ll be astonished the things people manage to insert into their bodies). But this book has a serious message – the unbelievable strains imposed on these doctors through lack of funding and indifference.
Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year?
I’ve read 6 non fiction books this year and will shortly finish another; Becoming by Michelle Obama. They had nothing in common except that all but one of these books was a memoir.
What nonfiction book have you recommended the most?
The Salt Path .
What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
There are loads of novels that feature historical figures or episodes I know little about so I’m hoping to get some ideas for non fiction books to help fill in those gaps. Next week’s topic is in fact ‘book pairings’ where the idea is to match a fiction and non fiction book on the same topic. I suspect my wishlist will grow as a result.
Andrew Blash
I still look for Jack London Style writers: for those who risk the life itself, in place of wonder but utter violence and social break down. The pure fact knowing every day could be your last
Nonfiction November Week 5: New to My TBR #NonFicNov – Superfluous Reading
[…] @ Booker Talk Karen @ Booker Talk & shelleyrae @ Book’d Out Jade @ […]
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DoingDewey
I love medical nonfiction and I definitely want to pick up This is Going to Hurt. There is definitely no expectation you read more than usual, just that you have fun with the event 🙂
BookerTalk
You can get This is Going to Hurt as an audio version too – narrated by Adam Kay himself
hibernatorslibrary
This is going to hurt sounds fascinating. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
BookerTalk
It’s a good mixture of humour and serious message. He has a new one just out which is about medical staff on call at Christmas
jessicabookworm
I am so pleased you decided to take part, Karen. 🙂
BookerTalk
Thanks Jessica, it’s been fun to do – just wish I had more time to read some of the other bloggers who are participating
shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
I also enjoyed This Is Going To Hurt and Ive added his second book to my list,I’m intrigued by The Salt Path, thanks for the recommendation
Please stop by to see my Introduction to NonFicNov
BookerTalk
The Salt Path is now available on audio via Audible. I think it would make an excellent listening experience
tbretc
Becoming was SO good. Enjoy!
BookerTalk
Finished it in the last few days. Wow. I had admired her for the way she handled being first lady but now my admiration has grown. She is so honest about her weaknesses and concerns
Grab the Lapels
It looks like I’ve been reading a lot of domestic nonfiction lately. I’m not sure how I ended up there, but I am always fascinated by the darkness in the domestic. Mua-ha-ha-ha!
BookerTalk
Nothing wrong in that at all
Jade @ Reading with Jade
Wonderful to hear such high praise for The Salt Path here as it is the nonfiction title I have chosen to start Nonfiction November with.
I hope you have a wonderful month of reading.
BookerTalk
What a fabulous book to begin with Jade. I have Becoming – Michelle Obama’s memoirs – on the go right now. Such a fascinating story
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
I’m glad you decided to join us for Nonfiction November. Enjoy!
BookerTalk
Thanks Deb. It’s such good fun
Wokeread
Thanks for your recommendation. I’m going to check out ‘The Salt Path’. I think ‘This is Going to Hurt’ looks good too!
BookerTalk
Hard to choose between them – they are so different.
annelogan17
I think fiction tends to lead us into non-fiction for many of the reasons you just listed. We learn about something through a work of fiction that happened in the past that we want to learn more about, so we turn to a work of non-fiction to fill in those blanks. It’s a fun way to read, for sure! Enjoy your November reads 🙂
BookerTalk
It shows that reading fiction can indeed broaden the mind
Sheree @ Keeping Up With The Penguins
Oooh, fantastic! I’m looking forward to getting some more non-fiction recommendations; my reading has been very fiction-heavy of late, and I’m eager to branch back out. 😉
BookerTalk
If you follow some of the other participants I think you’ll get more recommendations than you can possibly imagine….
Jinjer
So glad you decided to participate as I have now added The Salt Path to my TBR!
BookerTalk
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Just saw your blog site – you have some beautiful photos
Jinjer
Thank you!
gulfsidemusing
I wasn’t familiar with The Salt Path, but it’s on my list now!
BookerTalk
Great to see it getting some additional interest.
The Paperback Princess
I love the fiction/nonfiction pairings too. I always end up adding a whole bunch of books to my list.
Seems like everyone has been reading a lot of memoirs this year!
BookerTalk
I’m both excited to get recommendations and also nervous about just how many books I could end up getting. All the work I’ve done this year to reduce my TBR could be undone….
The Paperback Princess
I took a look at the ones I added to my list in NFN for the last two years and I have read…one of them!
BookerTalk
I suspect that could be me in 12 months time
WordsAndPeace
hmm, I clicked on something, and I think my comment is gone…
So glad you joined! For me, this is definitely more about sharing than a reading challenge per se, though of course you can set up special times to read nonfiction this month!
Also, following my experience, as you are going to visit so many bloggers, it will get hard to remember who recommended what, so be sure you track that, because we’ll share that during the last week, and it’s neat to see the sources of our recommendations.
My post is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2019/10/28/nonfiction-november-my-year-2019-in-nonfiction/
BookerTalk
That’s a good tip – I have a terrible memory
Jinjer
Yikes! I didn’t read the entire NonFicNov schedule so wasn’t aware that we will be linking up to bloggers who recommended the books we’ve added to our TBRs. Thanks to you I can still go back and figure out whose recommendations I’ve already added.
BookerTalk
I hadn’t spotted that either…..
kaggsysbookishramblings
Stop it! You’re making me so keen to read The Salt Path!!
BookerTalk
No can do. If I had my way everyone would read that book
nickimags @ The Secret Library Book Blog
This Is Going To Hurt was such a good read but I haven’t read The Salt Path yet. I loved Becoming!
Brona
This is the danger of Non-fic Nov!! The Salt Path sounds exactly like something I would enjoy reading, with the added bonus that it was shortlisted for the Costa (I seem to have this weird, but lovely affinity with books that come from a Costa nomination). It is now on my wish list 🙂
BookerTalk
Just noticed that The Salt Path is available as audio from Audible….
Carol
I need to write my week 1 Post! I’m glad you’re participating! 👍😍
hopewellslibraryoflife
Interesting choices. I’m glad you are joining in
Kat
I don’t read much nonfiction myself, but in October I read Rebel Writers: The Accidental Feminists, about seven women writers in the ’60s and ’70s. Loved it!
BookerTalk
That sounds an interesting book – I’m a fan of both Edna O’Brien and Margaret Forster
Laurel-Rain Snow
My favorite nonfiction books tend to be memoirs written by writers or celebrities. Enjoy your books.
BookerTalk
Writers’ memoirs I can appreciate but celebrities usually don’t do much for me