As a brief kickoff to Nonfiction November, I thought I’d share a couple of lists — nonfiction I’ve read but not reviewed so far this year, and nonfiction I’m thinking about reading this month.
Read But Unreviewed
When I went to start putting this list together, I was worried that it was going to be embarrassingly long. Turns out, it’s not quite as bad as I thought, only 10 books behind. Granted, this doesn’t count all of the fiction I haven’t bothered to review yet… but I’m not going there this month!
- Fink, Sheri: Five Days at Memorial
- Goodyear, Dana: Anything That Moves
- Bissell, Tim: Extra Lives
- Valenti, Jessica: Why Have Kids?
- Sandberg, Sheryl: Lean In
- Pang, Alex Soojung-Kim: The Distraction Addiction
- Brosh, Allie: Hyperbole and a Half
- Rybczynsk, Witold: Last Harvest
- Glei, Jocelyn: Manage Your Day-to-Day
- Allen, David: Getting Things Done
In the Queue
This is definitely not a comprehensive or definitive list of books I’m thinking about picking up this month, just a snapshot of some of the books that are pulling at my attention right now:
- Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History by Florence Williams, a medical, anthropological, journalistic look at “how our breasts went from being honed by the environment to harmed by it.”
- This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett, a collection of essays on family and writing.
- In Praise of Messy Lives by Katie Roiphe, a collection of essays on life, literature and pop culture.
- One Summer by Bill Bryson, a look at one world-changing summer in America.
- Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson, a look at the ways technology can make us better.
- Going Clear by Lawrence Wright, an in-depth investigation into the world of Scientology.
- Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, a look at some of the trials and tribulation of real life princesses who didn’t always have fairy-tale endings.
I’m not entirely sure what I’ll get to this month — reading or writing wise — but it’s nice to have some lists out there to feel like I’m getting organized. Any recommendations for books I should definitely read or write about this month?
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I would love to hear what you thought of Lean In. I enjoyed it a lot and always like discussing it with people 🙂 Are you planning on doing Rebecca and Allison’s book club again this month? I’m can’t wait to get started reading Orange is the New Black!
I forgot about the Orange is the New Black book club! That sounds fun and I want to participate. I’ll have to dig that one off my shelf too.
Definitely read the scientology book! That’s my recommendation for November. I thought it was very well researched and just generally great, and I recommend it very much.
I’m excited about that one. I pre-ordered the paperback, so I should have it in week or so (unless I cave and start in on the copy I snagged from the library).
Princesses Behaving Badly sounds interesting!
How about Hitler’s Furies? Haven’t read it yet, but looks fascinating.
Given every month is a non-fiction celebration for me, I’m still super excited about this! I can’t wait to read your non-fiction reviews, especially Going Clear. I read an awesome book about Scientology back in my early days so the review’s a bit messy, but you might enjoy it anyway!
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read much about Scientology before, but I am fascinated. I’m hoping to start Going Clear tonight!
I didn’t think I was into Non-Fiction November until I looked at the books on my bedside table and realized that I’m actually reading a fair bit of non-fiction right now. Five Days At Memorial is staring at me right now and I’m half way through the new Salinger bio and am loving it. So sounds like I’m in for Non Fiction November!
Five Days at Memorial is such a good book. I’m hoping I can get my words together enough to post a review at the end of the week.