It's week two of Nonfiction November! This week is hosted by Frances at Volatile Rune and is all about how we choose our nonfiction reading - "What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you?"
When I think about different genres or areas of nonfiction, I can kind of pinpoint things that don't super interest me - business, self-help (to a degree), religion, health/wellness. So on the surface, I think most of my nonfiction reading veers towards history. I was a history major in college (and worked as a historian for many years), so it's always been a subject that interested me. I love learning about people, events and even buildings/structures, both big and small. But history is such a vast subject - are there areas I'm more drawn to? I took a look through my last few years of nonfiction reading to see if there were any patterns that stood out.
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Other subjects I enjoy are space and politics (which is really surprising, since I am not a political person at all!). Although, my political reading tends to lean more on the personal side. Kate Andersen Brower is a particular favorite author of mine in this area.
I don't follow many nonfiction authors, but Erik Larson has become an auto-buy favorite after reading my first book of his many years ago. His narrative nonfiction style has brought so many areas of history to life for me.
What kinds of nonfiction are you drawn to?
Well I think you know that I also love reading about history. No big surprise there, right? I also enjoy reading about true crime but I've yet to read Erik Larson's books even though I've been really wanting to. Do you have a recommendation which book is best to start with?
ReplyDeleteThe Devil in the White City was my first book and still probably my favorite of his! Best combo of true crime and history.
DeleteI liked both of the Erik Larson books I read (Devil in the White City and The Splendid and the Vile) so I really should pick up more.
ReplyDeleteHis books are always a hit for me!
DeleteSo many good ones! I am very curious about the Pearl Harbor one and The Queen!
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with royalty!
DeleteLove that you could pin down your likes so much to history, buildings, survival stories,... I'm not a big non-fiction reader myself, but I do think history would be one of the non-fiction topics that would speak to me most of all too.
ReplyDeleteThere is just so much to read about, really something for everyone!
DeleteIt makes sense that you still have a love for history (I still like to read science books).
ReplyDeleteIt was such a big part of my life, and I'm glad I can continue to learn!
DeleteYes, Eric Larson is just so good. I haven't read all his books, but I loved Devil in the White City (loved reading about the World Exhibition in Chicago), The Splendid and the Vile (I like reading about WWII), In the Garden of Beasts, and most recently The Demon of Unrest.
ReplyDeleteI also read How to be a Tudor--love books like that! I have been focusing more on the pre-Tudor history for awhile now--those Plantagenets and the War of the Roses.
Nice meeting you--I see we like a lot of the same kind of nonfiction.
We do have a lot of similar interests, that's awesome! I still need to get to Demon of Unrest.
DeleteI've read some of these! My nonfiction reading leans toward history or wilderness survival. And creepy stuff. I love creepy stuff.
ReplyDeleteHaha, that's cool! I have gotten some wilderness recs from you, which I need to get to!
DeleteErik Larson is one of my favorite authors, too.
ReplyDeleteHe always delivers!
DeleteI definitely read anything by Erik Larson.
ReplyDeleteI'm always excited to see a new release from him!
DeleteKate Moore is an auto purchase for me - The Woman They Could Not Silence is a stand out book from last year. I also love reading about people overcoming adversity.
ReplyDeleteI'm eagerly awaiting more from her!
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