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Linking up with this week’s host, Rennie at What’s Nonfiction?
It’s been a great year for Nonfiction November. So many people have talked about so many different books that my list of nonfiction books to read has grown HUGE! I thought I was getting a little burnt out on nonfiction mid-month, planned to take a break, but instead dove right back into a couple more. I could share many more books, but have decided to limit it to twelve, so here we go!
Memoirs
I’m a big fan of memoirs and am excited to have these to look forward to. In fact, I’m so excited, I’ve already started one.
- Haben: The Deaf Blind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma – This one came to my attention via Heather at Based on a True Story and sounds very inspiring.
- Inheritance by Dani Shapiro – Honestly, who’s NOT talking about this memoir of discovering that the man you though was your dad, isn’t. I saw Inheritance far too many places to name here, but this is the memoir I’ve already begun. The hype is well deserved.
- The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power – Susan at The Cue Card loved this book and I’m excited to read it, but need to wait for the right time because it’s long!
- Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roper – A memoir of leaving a small, family-run Baptist church was recommended by Rennie at What’s Nonfiction?
Investigative Journalism
I’ve had a thing for investigative journalism this fall, so was very happy to find a few more to add to my list.
- Unbelievable by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong – I honestly don’t know how I’ve missed this account of two detectives’ relentless investigation of a rape no one seemed to really care about. Thanks to Shelleyrae at Book’d Out for bringing it to my attention.
- When Men Were Glory by John Krakauer – I’ve read and enjoyed almost all of Krakauer’s books, but never got around to this one. Julz at Julz Reads reminded me that I should.
- Columbine by David Cullen has been on my nonfiction TBR list FOREVER! I’m not sure why I’ve never read it, but Rachel at Never Enough Novels has once again put this book high on my nonfiction reading list.
- American Predator by Maureen Callahan – Somehow this 2019 summer release completely slipped by without my notice. Thanks to Carla at Happiest When Reading I’m looking forward to learning more about this very meticulous serial killer, though I may wait until the days are a little longer and a little lighter!
Friendship & History
I love novels about friends and also certain takes on historical fiction, so finding their nonfiction counterparts is always a pleasure.
- My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams – A friend who poses as an heiress and proceeds to scam the people around her sounds both chilling and fun! I’m looking forward to reading about her thanks to Tina at TBR, Etc.
- Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett – I was so excited when I read about what Allison at Mind Joggle had to say about this nonfiction book by Patchett that I picked it up almost immediately. This one is no longer on my TBR list. I’ve already finished it and can also highly recommend it. Thanks, Allison!
- The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan – I had this book on my Nonfiction November reading list last year and then never got to it. Then it sort of slipped through the cracks, but after hearing Angela at Musings of a Literary Wanderer’s praise I’m moving it back on my list.
- Live From New York by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales – Between Daisy Jones & The Six and The Only Plane in the Sky, I’ve become a new fan of oral histories. Thanks to Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves I’m adding this oral history of Saturday Night Live to my nonfiction TBR list.
How large has your TBR list grown thanks to this year’s Nonfiction November?
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I added a lot of books to my TBR this month! I hope you enjoy The Last Castle, such a fascinating home!
It’s been on my list before, so we’ll see how long it takes me to get to it this time. Right now I’m a bit tired of nonfiction.
I thought Inheritance was fascinating! I also like Truth and Beauty (did you ever read, Autobiography of a Face? That story still haunts me after a decade at least.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will be busy next few days preparing!
I want to read Autobiography of a Face sometime, now that i know a bit about Lucy Grealy.
Hope your Thanksgiving was great.
Did Truth and Beauty make you want to pick up Lucy Grealy’s Autobiography of a Face? I practically ran to the library for that one after finishing Patchett’s book.
Yes! I do want to read Autobiography of a Face, but need to take a little break from nonfiction for awhile.
I added My Friend Rachel based on Tina’s recommendation too. I just checked but my library doesn’t have it. Thank goodness we’re getting ready for Black Friday sales! Hope you can get to Columbine soon!
What a great list you have compiled for yourself. Nonfiction November was so much fun for me this year.
Oh YAY! So glad you’re interested in the SNL book! It’s super long, but is actually something you could read in small snippets really easily.
I really liked Columbine on audio, by the way!
I’ll keep Columbine on audio in mind. Both it and the SNL book will need to wait for a bit as I’m burned out on nonfiction right now. (Plus all that shiny new fiction coming out this winter.)
I’m drawn to Inheritance though it might be a long time before I get around to reading it
It was a really easy, short listen if you like audiobooks.
The American Predator book bothered me more than I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, which I didn’t think was possible. I have a pretty high serial killer threshold, but those two gave me hardcore heebie jeebies, and AP was worse.
Eek! Thanks for the warning. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was often difficult to listen to for me, too.
I really liked Haben. Very honest telling and an incredible story. However, read the book vs. audio. She narrates the audio and as her hearing is limited to high frequency sounds, so her voice is high frequency. I listened to a sample and it wasn’t what I wanted to have in my ear for hours.
American Predator didn’t do it for me. Maybe it felt like it was trying to ride to coat tails of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
Thanks for the tip on Haben. I almost always listen to an audiobook’s sample to try and judge if the narrator will work for me or not.
So glad you loved Truth & Beauty! I definitely need to pick up Lucy Grealy’s book.
There are so many great ones here. I didn’t get a chance to make my list of recommendations, but I do know that I want to read Know My Name. I think you recommended that and it seems like a must-read.
Yes, Know My Name is fabulous!
Thank you so much for participating! It was another great month. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for hosting. The month is so great for highlighting nonfiction, something I barely read any of a few years ago.
Hey thanks for the shoutout! I agree that Samantha Power’s memoir is long (a bit like Michelle Obama’s in that way) …. the first personal part goes by pretty quickly, the end is slower. Hope you like it. Of the other books you mention, I probably need to get to Truth & Beauty …. I did get The Only Plane in the Sky from the library which I need to find time for. I’ll probably need to buy a copy ….
After listening to The Only Plane in the Sky, I bought a hard copy. It is just a book I want to own.
I’m reading Inheritance right now 🙂
I hope you find Unbelievable a worthy read.
Thanks for sharing your recommendations through this event.
Please stop by to see my NonFicNov: New to My TBR + Wrap Up
I just finished Inheritance and really liked it. Can’t wait to get to Unbelievable once I’m in the mood for nonfiction again.