Tag: discussion

This week’s discussion prompt for Nonfiction November is Nonfiction Favorites hosted by Leann of Shelf Aware.

Leann says, ‘We’ve talked about how you pick nonfiction books in previous years, but this week I’m excited to talk about what makes a book you’ve read one of your favourites’.

• Is the topic pretty much all that matters?
• Are there particular ways a story can be told or particular writing styles that you love?
• Do you look for a light, humorous approach or do you prefer a more serious tone?
• What qualities make you add a nonfiction book to your list of favourites?

I have to admit I found this week’s question a little difficult to answer as I don’t read that much nonfiction… except in November! However, using my list from the first discussion prompt of this year’s Nonfiction November, I think I can draw some conclusions.

Subject matter is the main thing that draws me to a book and it helps if it has some sort of personal connection. For example, I’m a keen gardener so a book like Where The Hornbeam Grows by Beth Lynch was always likely to appeal to me although, unlike the authoruthor, I’ve never had to make a new life in another country. Similarly, my political views incline more to the left than the right so the memoirs of a figure such as Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary in the Labour government, naturally pique my interest. Finally, as regular followers of my blog will know, anything about John Buchan is likely to grab my attention.

When it comes to writing styles, I think my choice shows I like the personal touch. For instance, what particularly appealed to me about reading the latest biography of John Buchan was that it was written by his granddaughter, Ursula Buchan. Even though she never met him, her insight as a member of his family offered an unique element.

I read a lot of historical fiction and the Second World War is a favourite period. This carries over to my choice of nonfiction. Often reading about a particular aspect in a work of fiction makes me want to find out more; the fact behind the fiction, if you like. Occasionally it can happen the other way around as well. An example is one of my book pairings from week two of Nonfiction November. Reading Monopoli Blues about the role of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in World War 2 meant Eight Hours From England by Anthony Quayle caught my eye. Even more so since it is a fictionalized account of the author’s own wartime service with the SOE.

My final thought is there are often features I particularly like in nonfiction books such as photographs, maps, diagrams and extracts from diaries or letters.

What attracts you to a nonfiction book?

Nonfiction November has commenced – and, yes, I do know it’s still October.

The first of this year’s weekly discussion prompts is Your Year in Nonfiction, hosted by Julz of Julz Reads. Julz asks us to take a look back at our year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions:

• What was your favourite nonfiction read of the year?
• Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year?
• What nonfiction book have you recommended the most?
• What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

So far this year I’ve read five works of nonfiction – although I’m hoping to add to that during November as you can see from my reading list. My main motivation for taking part this year is to encourage me to read a few of the nonfiction books in my TBR pile and take a temporary break from a diet solely made up of fiction.

Links from the titles will take you to my full review.

Memoir

Where The Hornbeam Grows by Beth Lynch – the author reflects on her experience of making a garden in a new country
In My Life: A Music Memoir by Alan Johnson – the author looks back at key events in his personal and political life through the music that has meant the most to him

Biography

Beyond The Thirty-Nine Steps: A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan – a new biography by the granddaughter of John Buchan that argues there was much more to him than just the author of the famous spy thriller
Untitled: The Real Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor by Anna Pasternak – the author’s attempt to rehabilitate the reputation of the woman for whom Edward VIII gave up the throne of the United Kingdom

History

Monopoli Blues by Tim Clark and Nick Cook – a search for the truth about Tim Clark’s parents’ wartime service in the SOE

 

I think to anyone who knows me well my choice of titles won’t come as much of a surprise. To those who don’t, my list reveals my interest in the life and works of John Buchan (witness my ongoing Buchan of the Month reading project), in gardening and in 20th century history, especially the Second World War. A common thread is literary festivals I’ve attended as both Alan Johnson, Beth Lynch and Anna Pasternak have appeared at Henley Literary Festival and Ursula Buchan at Oxford Literary Festival.

Although I’ve published reviews of all these books on my blog, Ursula Buchan’s book appears as a reference source in all my reviews of the John Buchan books I read so I’d have to pick that as the one I’ve recommended most. It’s also my favourite not least because I heard Ursula talk about the book at Oxford Literary Festival and had my copy signed by her afterwards. So, as well as being a fascinating book, that makes it special.

What does your year in nonfiction look like?