Nonfiction November Week 1: My Year in Nonfiction

Nonfiction November is here at last! This annual event has become a personal favorite. What's not to love about a whole month of bookish topics, and even a readalong, devoted entirely to nonfiction? Event details can be found here. Our hosts this year are:

Katie at Doing Dewey
Lory at Emerald City Book Review
Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves
Rachel at Hibernator’s Library
Julz at Julz Reads

MY YEAR IN NONFICTION

Reading nonfiction is a fairly recent development in my reading life. I grew up reading fiction, and continued through college and career. It was an escape from the demands of young children and family life. There were years when I read only one of two nonfiction titles, and probably years when I read none at all. In the late 90s, my book club began choosing nonfiction occasionally, and things began to change. Slowly. I discovered that sometimes nonfiction read like a novel... but it would be years before I would come across the term 'narrative nonfiction'. My reading and enjoyment of nonfiction has really taken off over the past five or six years. This year it accounts for nearly one third of my reading - a personal record.

The subject matter has been varied this year, to say the least - from the atomic bomb, joy-sparking organization, and campus rape, to a foodie friendship memoir, the '86 Mets, and developing a cure for CML - but I returned most frequently to social justice and the law.

Regular readers of this blog are aware of my love for audiobooks, especially when it comes to nonfiction. I must be an auditory learner, as I seem to retain more when I listen. My nonfiction reading has been evenly divided between formats -  print, audio, and print/audio combinations.  Whenever I listen, I try to get a print copy, too, so I don't miss out on photographs, charts or graphics, and maps.

THE FAVORITES

When Breath Becomes Air  by Paul Kalanathi

The Philadelphia Chromosome  by Jessica Wapner 

Just Mercy  by Bryan Stevenson

These three books stand out as clear favorites. I absolutely loved The Philadelphia Chromosome. It included so much that interests me -  cancer/gene research, new drug development, clinical trials, and personal stories. That probably sounds dull to most people, but it was written in a way that kept me riveted... listening well into the night. Unfortunately, it's not a book I recommend frequently.

When Breath Becomes Air has been my most recommended nonfiction title this year, but always with the warning to keep a box of tissues nearby! I finished Just Mercy a couple of weeks ago. That is my most recommended title now, and will continue to be for some time.

Finally, as a public service announcement:
 If you know any fans of the late 1980s Mets, please tell them about Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with the '86 Mets by Erik Sherman! I thoroughly enjoyed listening, but can't think of anyone (other than my brother-in-law) who might be interested.

My hopes for Nonfiction November are simple... I want to hear about all the books! And read them before next year ;-)

Visit Doing Dewey for links to more My Year in Nonfiction posts.

Yesterday's Post: Nonfiction for Your Book Club

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