Nonfiction Archives - Novel Visits

An Education on Racism in America

Susie — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:00:38 +0000

Before the murder of George Floyd, I though I was a pretty good antiracist. I live in a very liberal state and like it that way. I work with a population that includes Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, and White kids. My sympathy and horror have always followed the brutal killings of Black bodies by police. I’ve donated to antiracist organizations. I’ve spoken out about racist comments. I believed I understood racism in America pretty well. I thought I “got it.” Watching the protests that followed Floyd’s murder, reading articles online, taking in the heartfelt words on Twitter and Instagram from Black voices I don’t personally know, but none-the-less heard, all made me realize that clearly, “I don’t really get it.”

It quickly became overwhelmingly obvious that as a privileged White woman in America I had A LOT to learn about racism. So, I set off on a journey to become more educated, to be the student. Today, I’m simply sharing the learning path I’ve been on so far which has mainly been books (of course). These are not reviews, because I am in no position to review books on race. These are just what I’ve read and a little of what I’ve learned from each….

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Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow | Audiobook Review

Susie — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:00:29 +0000

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
Narrator: Ronan Farrow
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (Hachette Audio)
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Length: 464 pages (10 hrs. 43 min.)
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

Farrow’s account of the climate of corporate-cover up that allowed for workplace predators to both survive and flourish….

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Pairing Fiction with Nonfiction| #NonficNov

Susie — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 11:00:59 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’ve already collected loads of new titles just from the first week of Nonfiction November. Week 2’s topic is my favorite, book pairings, where we tie together a nonfiction book and a fiction counterpart that either have similar themes or would make great reading partners. Nonfiction November is hosted this week by Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves, so if you haven’t already, head over there and add your own link or (even better) find links to lots of other great bookish sites. I know I’m excited to share my pairings this year….

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MY YEAR IN NONFICTION | #NonficNov

Susie — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 10:00:37 +0000

It’s that time of year when we celebrate nonfiction! For five weeks the hosts of Nonfiction November offer up a variety of different topics to shine some light on all the great nonfiction out there. This week’s host is Julie at Julz Reads, and the topic is “My Year in Nonfiction.” You can add your own nonfiction offerings by linking up on her site.

Before I get to this week’s specific questions, I want to share a few stats about my nonfiction reading this year. As of this writing, I’ve finished 97 books this year and 16 of those have been nonfiction, which is 16.5% of my reading. That’s up a tiny bit from last year, but way up from where I was a couple years ago (barely 10%). I think 15-18% is the sweet spot for me when it comes to nonfiction. Fiction will always be my first love, but I’ve come to crave great nonfiction reading, as well. So, let’s take a look at my year….

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The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff | Audiobook Review

Susie — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 10:00:34 +0000

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
Narrator: A cast of 45 readers, plus some recordings
Publisher: Avid Reader Press (Simon & Schuster Audio)
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Length: 425 pages, plus 50+ of notes, etc. (about 14 hrs.)
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

A stunning compilation of first person stories surrounding the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, some we already knew, but many more we’d never heard….

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Novel Visits 2019 Fall Preview | More

Susie — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 10:00:01 +0000

I know summer is in no way officially over, but I head back to work next week, so it’s beginning to feel a lot like fall around here. With the season of falling leaves, Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner my mind can’t help but turn to fall books. Typically fall is a time when publishers release some of their most highly anticipated books and this year is no exception. With luck, the books on this preview will bring me as much success as those on my 2019 Summer Preview. Of the 15 there, eight I loved, including 3 that will easily be in the running for best books of the year, and I only DNF’d 2. Fingers crossed fall releases are just as good. I hope you find a few here to add to your own “to be read” list!…

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AUDIOBOOKS – My Favorites from 2018 | More

Susie — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 11:00:07 +0000

In a little over two years I’ve gone from being an audiobook neophyte to one of their most devoted fans. In 2016 I listened to maybe three audiobooks, whereas this year so far I’ve listened to 29. I tend to have pretty good luck with audiobooks because I’ve become very careful in not only thoroughly checking out the book, but also the narrator. We have to face it, a wonderful story on audio can be ruined with the wrong narrator. The audiobooks I’m sharing today come from three categories, nonfiction, fiction and backlist books I listened to this year. Let’s get started!…

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READS LIKE FICTION | #NonficNov

Susie — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:00:58 +0000

Like many other readers, I used to actively avoid nonfiction, but every once in a while, I’d slip one in. As a devoted fiction fan, I began to realize that I could enjoy nonfiction, especially when it read like fiction. So, today I’m excited to share six books in Nonfiction November’s challenge for the week, “Reads Like Fiction.” For this challenge, I turned to both older and newer nonfiction reads that I think make prefect choices for reluctant and/or budding nonfiction readers.

Nonfiction November is a fabulous month dedicated to all things nonfiction. We’re all lucky to have a different blogger hosting each week’s topic: Katie at Doing Dewey, Sarah at Sarah’s Bookshelves, Julie at Julz Reads, Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness, and this week, Rennie at What’s Nonfiction?. Head on over to her blog to link up your own “Reads Like Fiction” selections!…

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My Week in Books 11/19/18 | More

Susie — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 11:00:27 +0000

Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Ready or not the holiday season officially kicks off on Thursday. My son and his wife are hosting this year, making it especially easy for me. After that, I’m looking forward to three more days where I can relax, read, and maybe do some online Christmas shopping. (The actual stores, I plan on avoiding.) Then four more weeks of school and BOOM! It’s Christmas. I’m always amazed at how quickly November and December fly by. Enjoy the season!

Last Week’s Reads

Finishing three books last week is not nearly the accomplishment it might look like. I was already nearly done with the first and the next two were so good, it was easy. …

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Nonfiction November Mini-Reviews

Susie — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 11:00:33 +0000

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung
This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
Missoula by Jon Krakauer
The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
Fly Girls by Keith O’Brien

Today marks the halfway point of Nonfiction November, so it seems like a good time to do official mini-reviews of multiple books I’ve already mentioned several times this month. Three are memoirs, one a piece of investigative journalism, and the last, a historical account of early female flyers. All are great works that many will want to add to their nonfiction TBR stacks!…

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