Nonfiction November Week 4: Reads Like Fiction

The last week has been a a rough one. I had work or plans outside the house every night of the week, which has left me woefully behind responding to comments and visiting other Nonfiction November participants. I hope this week is better.

For those who need a recap, Nonfiction November is a month-long celebration of all things nonfiction. Each week, we’ll have a different prompt and a different host looking at different ideas about reading and loving nonfiction. This week our newest host, Rennie from What’s Nonfiction, has a totally new topic for us to discuss:

Week 4: (Nov. 19 to 23) – Reads Like Fiction (Rennie @ What’s Nonfiction): Nonfiction books often get praised for how they stack up to fiction. Does it matter to you whether nonfiction reads like a novel? If it does, what gives it that fiction-like feeling? Does it depend on the topic, the writing, the use of certain literary elements and techniques? What are your favorite nonfiction recommendations that read like fiction? And if your nonfiction picks could never be mistaken for novels, what do you love about the differences?

This topic is exciting to me because it opens up the chance to talk about my favorite type of nonfiction, narrative nonfiction or creative nonfiction. Here’s a quick definition of that genre from Lee Gutkind, who founded an entire literary journal around the form:

The word “creative” refers to the use of literary craft, the techniques fiction writers, playwrights, and poets employ to present nonfiction—factually accurate prose about real people and events—in a compelling, vivid, dramatic manner. The goal is to make nonfiction stories read like fiction so that your readers are as enthralled by fact as they are by fantasy.

I’m a sucker for good storytelling, so when nonfiction can present a true story in a way that has the same vivid characters and dramatic story arc as a great novel, I’m know I’m going to love it. I especially love creative nonfiction that isn’t memoir, books where the author has dug deep into a story and knows so much about that person, time, or place, they can make it feel like you’re right there. 

So, what books would I recommend for great narrative nonfiction? I’m glad you asked! One of my best posts over at Book Riot – 50 great narrative nonfiction books– is on exactly that topic. The list isn’t nearly comprehensive, but it’s got most of the books I recommend when people are looking for nonfiction that reads like fiction. I’m a little obsessed with that list – I agonized over what to include and how to organized it – but I’m so happy to have it out in the world.

Since I published that list last fall, there have been many additional examples of creative nonfiction published I’ve got two lists of suggestions in this post. The first five are books that I read this year and would recommend:

• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou – The reporting in this book is stellar, and the way he builds the case against Elizabeth Holmes and her company is page-turning.
• The Feather Thief by Kurt Johnson – This is another true crime book without much violence, about the theft of rare bird feathers from a natural history museum.
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean – If you love libraries, this book is essential reading. The overall narrative is a little weaker than some of these other books, but her storytelling in each chapter/essay is perfect.
• The Personality Brokers by Merve Emre – I’m fascinated by personality testing, so of course I was going to read a narrative history of the Myers-Briggs test. The narrative is a little slow, in placed, but I liked it a lot overall.
• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – I’ve talked about this book a bunch, but that’s ok. It’s one of the most genuinely creepy and extremely empathetic true crime books I’ve ever read, despite that fact that it’s slightly unfinished.

And the second five are books that I haven’t gotten to read, but are high on my TBR:

• Rising Out of Hatred by Eli Saslow – This is the story of the reformation of a young white nationalist, and the impact his hateful views had on a close-knit college community. I haven’t read this one yet, but I heard the author speak about it and I know his writing is excellent.
• The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum – This is the newest addition to my TBR, the story of how one chemist led the fight for food safety regulations in the United States. The author is a former professor of mine, and also the author of one of my favorite historical science books, The Poisoner’s Handbook.
• Boom Town by Sam Anderson – I didn’t know I wanted to read a narrative history of Oklahoma City until this book came out, and now I definitely do!
• Amity and Prosperity by Eliza Griswold – The story of a single mother who turns into an environmental activist after her children become sick following an energy company’s arrival in their small town.
• Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope – I weirdly love business nonfiction (especially when jerks finally get what is coming to them), and so this one made it on my radar. Basically, it’s the story of a financier who helped Malaysian government officials scam the people of that country through a corrupt development fund.  

Whew, that got long! Meet me in the comments to share some of your favorite narrative nonfiction books – I promise to be more responsive than last week!