Happy almost-November! This week marks the start of Non-Fiction November, an annual event hosted by several bloggers to include recommendations, discussion and, of course, non-fiction reading! This is my first year participating and I'm so excited! Every week there's a discussion prompt and link-up, and here we go with week 1 (I've decided to publish my posts a day early, each Sunday, since I already have a regular Monday post):
Introductions and Your Non-Fiction Year So Far (Hosted by Julie at Julz Reads)
I currently live in Hawaii (for another year and a half) and I work at a library. I love my husband and our puppy and (most of the time) our moody cat, plus a bunch of other stuff like books, knitting, snail mail, baking and traveling. My favorite color is anything in the blue-green family, and my favorite animal is the yellow-bellied marmot. You can find me on Instagram @knittinglindsay.
I've actually read a surprising 12 non-fiction books this year (woo hoo!) and most of them have been pretty decent 4-star reads. I think my favorites would have to be "One Summer: America, 1927" by Bill Bryson and "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance.
I also really enjoyed "Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren and "American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World" by David Baron.
The "March" graphic novel series by Congressman John Lewis about his work in the American Civil Rights Movement.
3. What is one topic or type of non-fiction you haven’t read enough of yet?
This year? Probably memoirs, which is normally the type non-fiction I read the most. I've read a lot of history and even some science this year. I could totally do with something light and fun; maybe I'll try to work in "Scrappy Little Nobody" by Anna Kendrick or "Talking As Fast As I Can" by Lauren Graham.
4. What are you hoping to get out of participating in Non-Fiction November?
I'm not exactly hoping for it, but it's inevitable: I know my TBR list will be expanding! And I'm planning to get in a non-fiction book or two in November; you can see a list of my potential reads here.
Oh, the March trilogy is so incredible!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Seeing that old information in a new format really made it hit home for me more than anything else I'd read about the civil rights movement.
DeleteThe Bill Bryson book sounds fascinating - I love the 1920s, definitely adding that one to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteI learned so much! The first half moved a *little* slow but I absolutely inhaled the second half.
DeleteWhy will you only live in Hawaii for another year and a half? That seems sad. Anyway, you and I have similar tastes in books. I love Bill Bryson and thought 1927 was wonderful. I also enjoyed Lab Girl and March (the whole series). So I guess I'd better add the other books to my TBR pile. Thanks. Nonfiction November
ReplyDeleteHi Anne! My husband is in the Air Force, so we move every couple of years. This is actually our second time being stationed in Hawaii, so we're not doing too badly! ;)
DeleteI still need to read the final book in the March series, but the other two were fantastic. I think they should be required reading in school!
>I'm not exactly hoping for it, but it's inevitable: I know my TBR list will be expanding!
ReplyDeleteTruth.
Bill Bryson's One Summer has been on my gonna-read-it-one-day list for so long! I really need to get to it.
I need to get the other volumes of March, pronto. I also have a few of your faves on my TBR already.
ReplyDeleteI read Hillbilly Elegy last year, coincidentally finishing on Election Day - quite a memoir! Lab Girl was a book club selection early last summer and I really liked that one, too. Just wished I'd read instead of listened. One of these day I'm going to read Bill Bryson!
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of memoirs this year, and I can recommend "Scrappy Little Nobody" and "Talking As Fast As I Can"--both are really good, though I preferred Lauren Graham's book.
ReplyDeleteLab Girl is getting quite a bit of love as I go around the blogs tonight.
ReplyDeleteExploding TBR wishlists are guaranteed with this particular challenge :-)
Mr Books & I honeymooned in Hawaii, so we have a fond spot for that part of the world too.
I've been hearing a lot about Hillbilly Elegy and March in the past year. I need to finally get on that! And Lab Girl seems to be popping up in a lot of people's list. The usual problem: so many excellent and interesting books, so little time. Damn!
ReplyDeleteJust posted a list of my own over here if you're interested: http://www.bookpunks.com/become-obsessed-memoirs/
I've got a Bill Bryson book on my TBR shelf: The Mother Tongue - English and How It Got That Way. Your mention of him reminded me I have it! Thanks! Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteWelcome! I loved Hillbilly Elegy as well. And I tend to use Nonfiction November to create my nonfiction TBR for the upcoming year!
ReplyDeleteOne Summer is definitely on my list and, in case this helps, I absolutely loved Talking As Fast As I Can; I listened to the audio version (which Graham reads) and it was really great. Welcome to Nonfiction November; hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Hillbilly Elegy. Our book club may read it together next year.
ReplyDeleteLab Girl and March are on my list to read.
And it looks like I've just added another—American Eclipse sounds pretty interesting!
I have read two of your most-recommended (Hillbilly Elegy and One Summer) and want to read the other two!! I've also been meaning to read March for a long time.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm visiting your blog from Nonfiction November. I have been aware of Hillbilly Elegy for a while, I'd like to listen to it sometime. I have a big interest in children's lit and would like to get to March sometime too.
ReplyDeleteI read all those this year too, except the Bryson. I've read other Bryson, so I know how good he is already. Loved, loved Lab Girl and March. I listened to the Eclipse book when the eclipse was going on.
ReplyDeleteI see you're reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry! Great one. Looks like you've read some fun nonfiction this year. I also loved the March trilogy. Good luck with your reading!
ReplyDeleteI loved Hillbilly Elegy and the other books you mention look great too. Hawaii is one of my favorite places on the planet - I hope you're enjoying your time there!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Scrappy Little Nobody a lot. Anna Kendrick came across as just as fun and friendly as she does in the interviews I've seen. And I loved Lab Girl! Such a great combination of beautiful writing and interesting science :)
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