NonFiction November Week 2: Choosing NonFiction

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Nov 7

THE HOST

Frances blogs about the books she has read at Volatile Rune and is a published poet, reviewer, sometime storyteller and novelist.

THE PROMPT

Week 2 (11/6-11/10) Choosing Nonfiction: What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you're attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking.

MY THOUGHTS

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR WHEN I PICK UP NONFICTION BOOKS?

Every single nonfiction book I read answers a question. I'm looking to fill a hole in my world. Some books answer curious questions or satisfy a desire to be more knowledgable on a subject. Sometimes, what is lacking is human interaction and I will pick up a nonfiction memoir, read by the author, to sit with a friend for a while and listen to them tell me about themselves.

DO I HAVE A PARTICULAR TOPIC I AM ATTRACTED TO?

I go through phases. Certainly, NonFiction November has encouraged me to make a reading plan and read a little deeper!

During 2020 I was so lonely and struggling during COVID that I got to thinking about other kinds of people that might have dealt with pressure and loneliness. This lead me to female spies and code breakers who tirelessly served their country during WWII and then were not allowed to even mention it when they were unceremoniusly sent back to the kitchen.

I am fascinated by habits as well and can never pass up a good book about how human beings build and break habits.

Last year, Cults held my attention. People who are so die-hard about Trump made me curious. I was trying to figure out how and why people would follow someone all the way to death.

I start with one book and try to keep reading until my curiosity is satisfied. Sometimes, it is a single book in a category. Other times, I need to read all the books on the subject until I cannot find anything new.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR WRITING STYLE THAT WORKS BEST FOR ME?

The only NonFiction I refuse to read anymore is the faux expert books that are written by non-experts and intended for quick public consumption. Malcolm Gladwell is a great example of this. His books just seem to go around and around a topic and he repeats other people's research while holding himself as an expert on the subject. It always feels like he takes an idea and makes the research he presents support it. Gretchen Rubin is like this too. Her books always make me feel like she had a premise and then she went hunting for the supporting evidence. The books don't completely lack value, I just don't want them anymore.

DOES THE COVER INFLUENCE YOU?

Of course it does! I say never negatively judge a book by its cover but some books are too pretty to not pick up.

THE BOOKS I PICKED UP BECAUSE THEY ARE PRETTY

The bright colors, the illustrations, the groovy designs.

I mean, that cheerful yellow in Live Your Best Life just jumps off the display and begs to be looked at.

The Dark Fantastic is a beautifully illustrated cover that draws me in. I bought it and displayed it lovingly all year (maybe I should actually read it).

Likewise, I sensed from the cover of Cultish that this author was going to take me on a trip through the language of fanatical groups.

BOOK COVERS THAT DIDN'T MATCH THE BOOK

I low-key hate these covers and adored these books.

The Divorce Colony is a mess of a cover. Whatever is happening here convinces me that good collage artists are amazing because....what's going on? Who is the lady? What....just, what actually? But the book was so good and incredibly thought provoking.

Hello Molly! has no business being this joyful on the cover and then making me cry so many times. Maybe a nice two face? Half in light and half in dark? I dunno. There was joy in that book but it was the depth of trauma she has dealt with that stayed with me.

How to Take Over the World was such a great book and what the actual heck is going on with this cover? Bizarre.

Tell me, please! What kind of NonFiction do you enjoy?