Nonfiction November is here! This annual event, an entire month of bookish topics devoted entirely to nonfiction, is always a favorite.
Week one (10/28-11/1) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction. What books have you read? What were your favorites? Have you had a favorite topic? Is there a topic you want to read about more? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
Our host this week is Heather at Based on a True Story
MY YEAR IN NONFICTION
2024 has been a very good reading year for me so far but, in terms of nonfiction, it's been just okay. (I consider my nonfiction year to run from November 2023 through October 2024.)
The bullet point takeaways include:
- my overall percentage of nonfiction is down (19% vs an average of 25%)
- my overall nonfiction quality/enjoyment is down this year
- I haven't read from my go-to nonfiction categories this year
So what have I been reading?
My nonfiction reading this year has included memoir, history, and how-to/instructional titles. These topics are a bit of a departure for me, especially the how-to/instructional category. Overall they have been less satisfying.
How do I consume nonfiction?
I prefer nonfiction on audio, and almost all of my nonfiction this year has had an audio component. I am especially fond of read/listen combinations for history and biography, and I love memoirs read by the author.
What was my favorite/most recommended nonfiction title this year?
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Honorable Mentions
... and a new author discovery
Also a Poet: Frank O'Hara, My Father, and Me by Ada Calhoun
Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun
What are my favorite topics?
My favorite nonfiction topics generally include social justice, the Supreme Court, medicine, food and foodie memoirs, current events, history, and books about books & reading.
*Note to self - stick to those topics next year
What are my goals for Nonfiction November?
I want to get my nonfiction reading back on track by reading at least two books related to my favorite topics this month. I also hope to discover more nonfiction titles.
Memoirs read by the author are a favorite of mine, too. I "read" a lot more celebrity memoirs than I did when I was younger just for the chance to hear the voice.
ReplyDeleteJoy - It's been quite a while since I last read a celebrity memoir, but there are several out now that sound tempting.
DeleteI love the title of the last book! I like nonfiction and have a few memoirs so far on my list for next year.
ReplyDeleteVicki - That title attracted my attention, too. I read Also a Poet first and decided I wanted to read of Calhoun's work.
Delete19% is still a very decent ratio of nonfiction to fiction! I find that it is hard to find the nonfiction titles I want to read on audio, but I agree that listening to an author read their memoir is the best.
ReplyDeleteHappy Nonfiction November!
Jane - I started reading a lot more nonfiction about a decade ago and even got up to 35% prior to the pandemic. Since then I've been drifting back down through the 20s. I'm still happy with 19% nonfiction, but disappointed that there were no real standout titles this year other than Team of Rivals.
DeleteI'm sorry your nonfiction books haven't been as satisfying this year. It's good that you've taking a minute to look at it and can get back on track with topics you do enjoy again. I hope you can get to the audiobook soon of Lovely One since you like Supreme Court books and your daughter listened to this already!
ReplyDeleteLisa - I'm glad Nonfiction November provided the opportunity to reflect on just that aspect of my reading and am already taking steps to get it back on track. I've started Ina Garten's new memoir, and plan to listen to Lovely One this winter.
DeleteSome very interesting choices. Will need to check them out. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beverly. I've enjoyed getting a head start on my Nonfiction November reading this week.
DeleteI haven't read Team of Rivals, but have always heard great things about it
ReplyDeleteEmma - Team of Rivals is excellent! You can't go wrong with Doris Kearns Goodwin's books. I hope to read her latest in 2025.
DeleteYou never know until you try, but I'm sorry your new nonfiction topics haven't totally worked out! Fingers crossed for some great reads this month!
ReplyDeleteAngela - I started listening to Ina Garten's new memoir this week and am really enjoying it!
DeleteI have also not had nearly as good a nonfiction year as in the past. I love narrative nonfiction that gives me a glimpse into historical events, sports dramas, and social justice. Like, you, I need to stick to those.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I'm sorry your nonfiction year hasn't been great either. I'm also drawn to good narrative nonfiction and am looking forward to reading A Fever in the Heartland next year.
DeleteDKG is the GOAT! I own and love her book The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga. I already have No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II on my TBR. I will ad Team of Rivals, although really I should just mark all her books as TBRs.
ReplyDeleteJinjer - I loved both The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys and No Ordinary Time, and am sure you'd enjoy Team of Rivals, too. All of her books belong on my TBR, too... just need to decide whether to read her latest memoir of the 60s or her book about LBJ next.
DeleteSome interesting ones there, and hopefully you'll get some inspiration for some good reads next year from all the posts during the month!
ReplyDeleteLyzzybee - Thanks. I've already found several books for my tbr from this week's posts alone and am looking forward to enjoying nonfiction
Deleteagain!
I love foodie memoirs too. If you ever review any of your foodie book I also run a monthly link up for reviews of foodie books. We'd love to have you! It is posted on the first of each month.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather. I'll keep that in mind.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing this and for taking part in the challenge. I love the way to stay married!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I really enjoyed Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give and want to check our Ada Calhoun's other books.
DeleteI heard about Team of Rivals when Obama was first elected but haven't read it yet. Thanks for highlighting it.
ReplyDeleteHarry - I've read several of DKG's books and they've all been so well written and informative. Team of Rivals seemed particularly relevant given our current situation.
DeleteI enjoyed discovering your blog through Nonfiction November and look forward to reading more of your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary.
DeleteYeah I agree my nonfiction reading has been down this year so I need to rectify that next year. But I think there's been a lot of good fiction so I'm not too sorry about that. It's great you read the Kearns Goodwin book, such an interesting topic. I want to check out her new one An Unfinished Love Story. I often like memoirs on audio. Happy November.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I decided to address my nonfiction slump last week. I listened to Ina Garten's new memoir and thought it was great... what an interesting life she has had! Now I'm reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff and listening to Stanley Tucci's latest. Thins are looking up!
DeleteI received Team of Rivals for my birthday this month, and I decided to start reading it yesterday in an attempt to ward off my encroaching fears about the election tomorrow. It's helpful for me to read about a person who was a good leader.
ReplyDeleteDeb - I hope you enjoy Team of Rivals as much as I did! Lincoln is such an inspiration and DKG's writing and storytelling is excellent! I'll be reading another of her books next year.
DeleteOof, there is nothing like a reading slump to bring me down. Then, I am sad and cannot read and it just keeps going! I see from a comment above that you are kicking the slump to the curb - here's to that continuing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. Ina Garten's new memoir really turned things around for me. Last week was tough, too, but I'm trying to stay on track.
DeleteI've only read a half-dozen nonfiction titles so far this year, with the majority being memoir/foodie. I guess I can count Rod's new book, since I read the manuscript a couple of times before he sent it to the publisher. ;) Historical books take me longer to read, but I may devote a few months to some, reading a chapter a week or so. DKG's new book is one I'm interested in, as is The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson.
ReplyDelete