Non-Fiction November Week 2: Five Non-Fiction / Fiction Pairings

It's week two of Non-Fiction November, and the link-up topic this week is a non-fiction/fiction pairing. I got a little carried away and did five, but, hey, can you really have too many books in one blog post? Where applicable, I've included links to my book reviews.

This week's link-up is hosted by Sarah at Sarah's Bookshelves.

If you've ever seen "Jurassic Park" (or read the book, which I have yet to do) and were intrigued by the science of bringing back dinos from extinction, "Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction" is for you. It's an easy, enjoyable read that covers the ins and outs of de-extincting a species, where that science is at today, and the ramifications. In a mostly lighthearted tone, Pilcher discusses de-extincting everything from the t-rex to Elvis Presley, but in the end she does make a very good argument for how we should be using the science. It's a fascinating, educational read in layman's terms. (And it does actually mention where Michael Crichton got the idea for the mosquito-in-amber de-extinction method.)

"Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction" review

I love historical fiction -- trust me, I'm a total sucker for period dramas -- and I really enjoy novels set (or written) in the 1920s. And in his signature style, Bill Bryson paints a really interesting, easy-to-read picture of the era, set around the summer of 1927, but really covering the decade as a whole. I learned a ton of stuff and got a good ol' reminder of how lucky I am to be a woman today and not 100 years ago, and it was one of my favorite books this year.

"One Summer: America, 1927" review

A memoir written by the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two perpetrators of the Columbine Shooting, is a perfect companion to "Nineteen Minutes," Jodi Picoult's novel about a school shooting.

"A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy" review

I finally got around to reading "The Hate U Give" last week and I can definitely see what all the fuss has been about. It's a novel about a 16-year-old black girl whose unarmed friend is shot dead -- right in front of her -- by a white police officer. It's about what it's like to be black in America, and so is the non-fiction book "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Both opened my eyes and got me thinking, and regardless of your political or social views, they're both worthwhile reads.

"Unbroken" is one of the best books I've ever read -- it really defines the narrative non-fiction genre, I think. I'm sure most of you have read the book or seen the movie or both, so you know it's about a former Olympian turned WWII bombardier who survives more than six weeks adrift in the ocean after a plane crash, only to become a Japanese POW in absolutely horrific conditions. I've never read a more powerful WWII story than "Unbroken," but "The Fire By Night," a very well-researched novel, was excellent, and it involves Japanese POWs. It's a dual narrative set in both the European and Japanese theaters, and definitely worth a read if you like WWII history.

"Unbroken" review
"The Fire By Night" review