It’s Nonfiction November, and that always makes me get all wiggly with excitement.
Plus: the streets around me look like this…
…so what’s not to like about this time of year?
We’re starting the month with a question from Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness, one of my favorite bloggers. This week, she poses this series of questions…
Your Year in Nonfiction So Far
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?
Favorite of the Year
Every time I think of this book, I smile. It’s one of those. A definite comfort read, and especially lovely when times are good.
Topic
Memoirs! Oh my goodness… this year, the memoirs. I’ve been vicariously living lots of other people’s lives this year and it’s been a year of personal expansion in all kinds of ways. And reading about people experiencing terrific and terrible things has expanded my worldview. It’s one of many factors that make me feel like I’m becoming my better self.
Here are some of the life stories that have inspired me…
- Fifty Acres and a Poodle: A Story of Love, Livestock, and Finding Myself on a Farm by Jeanne Marie Laskas
- The Exact Same Moon: Fifty Acres and a Family by Jeanne Marie Laskas
- Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
- Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
- No More Words: A Journal of My Mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh by Reeve Lindbergh
- West with the Night by Beryl Markham
- We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union
- Portage: A Family, a Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life by Sue Leaf
- Educated by Tara Westover
- I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
- Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan
- Dinner: A Love Story: It All Begins at the Family Table by Jenny Rosenstrach
Most Recommended
Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
It’s short, it’s clever, it’s succinct, it’s personal. It’s quite perfect. If you like tiny snippets of story, memoir in bite-sized pieces, poetic and perfect writing, and humor… this one’s for you.
Hopes for Nonfiction November
More great nonfiction recommendations by other bloggers. I can’t wait. Based on last year’s Nonfiction November, I read and enjoyed Sloane Crosley’s I Was Told There’d Be Cake (recommended at Books Are My Favourite and Best) and Michael Strahan’s Wake Up Happy (recommended by Kristilyn at Reading in Winter). I’m excited to learn about great nonfiction books that made other bloggers’ favorites lists.
I’ve heard such great things about Educated, it’s one of the top books to read on my non-fiction list. And Portage sounds right up my alley (and the cover it perfectly retro).
Rory — Portage is really delightful. And I agree: great cover.
What a great year of nonfiction! Fifty Acres and a Poodle sounds so, so charming, and I need more books like that 🙂
Kim — It’s completely charming. And so is the sequel, Fifty Acres and a Family.
Heating and Cooling sounds fascinating!
Kelly — reading it made me so happy. I kept marveling at her creativity.
Born a Crime is one of my all-time favorite books! I listened to it on audiobook, but also bought a paperback copy to keep as well. I already have Noah’s second book preordered on Audible, and it doesn’t even come out until May 2019!
Melissa — new book coming out in May? I’m on it!!
Yep! AND he’s got a new Netflix special coming out on Nov. 20!
Woohoo!
OH – I have had Fifty Acres and a Poodle on my living room bookshelf for years! Thanks for the reminder to pick it up. 🙂
Debbie — Ooooo, lucky — to own a copy!
I have had Fifty Acres and a Poodle on my living room bookshelf for years. Thanks for the reminder to pick it up and actually read it!
Fifty Acres and a Poodle… adding to my wish list immediately! Love the sound of this one.
It’s charming, but not treacly.
I was told there’d be cake has been on my list forever and ever. I need to force myself to put it on my library shelf. I just always forget. I am really curious about West With the Night after reading your review! Even with the uncomfortable sounding parts of reading a book from that time, I think I’m going to have to get my hands on that.
The discussion of West with the Night (such a great discussion!) and the quality of the writing really worked for me.
学无止境，认真拜读！
I think what you’ve said about memoirs totally hits the nail on the head about why nonfiction readers are drawn to memoirs a lot. Good luck with nonfiction November & happy reading!
Thanks, Jade! Happy Nonfiction November —
I really enjoyed Born a Crime. I read it last year with a Read-along, and it also has given me tons of traffic to my blog!! Here is my post: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/10/29/nonfiction-november-my-year-2018-in-nonfiction/
Such a great book, and his narration added so much.
I love a memoir too. Heating and Cooling sounds intriguing, and just my thing. I’ve got the audio of Born A Crime ready to go and hoping to listen to it soon.
Louise — you’ve got some great reading on the horizon!
Beautiful shot! I’m excited to join Nonfiction November too. I don’t read a lot of memoirs but some of the ones you mention definitely sound interesting to me. Enjoy your reading month!
Thanks, Iliana! I hope you have a great Nonfiction November, too.
Oooo, thank you for reminding me about Heating and Cooling! For some reason I had it in my head that it was micro fiction, not memoir, so I didn’t even realize it would work this month. May your November be full of amazing books! 🙂
Kazen — It’ll be perfect for this month! It’s tempting to read it fast because it’s in such bite-sized pieces, but if you can read it slowly I think it’ll be more satisfying. So much to savor in that book. Happy Nonfiction November!
I just reserved a copy of Fifty Acres and a Poodle from the library. I am enjoying your blog which I found through Nonfiction November. I, too, am from Iowa and see lots of similar reading tastes to yours.
Hi, Tina — it’s always great to hear from a fellow Iowan!* I hope you enjoy Fifty Acres as much as I did. (And if you like it, there’s a sequel: The Same Exact Moon)
*I went to W-SR with a Ristau who was a wrestler. Not-so-common name — any relation? [because all us Iowans know each other : ) ]
I’m glad to hear that last year helped you find some books you enjoyed! Hopefully this year did the same 🙂
It definitely did! So grateful —