Nonfiction November Week #1: My Year in Nonfiction

Nonfiction November is here! This annual event, an entire month of bookish topics devoted entirely to nonfiction, is always a favorite. Our hosts this year are:

Katie at Doing Dewey
Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves
Julz at JulzReads
Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness
Rennie at What’s Nonfiction

MY YEAR IN NONFICTION

So far, 2018 has not been a stellar reading year. Instead, it's been a year of adjustment (to a retired lifestyle) and distractions (mostly political). While my overall numbers are down, the proportion of nonfiction has held steady at 35%.

How I consume nonfiction//
I read nonfiction, of course, but I also love listening. Having both the audiobook and a print copy is ideal. That way, I never miss out on photographs, maps, charts, etc. With a read/listen combination, I usually listen on my morning walk, while doing chores or while driving. Then I'll read outside in the late afternoon or at home in the evening.

What I'm reading about this year//

I've read on a wide variety of subjects, most notably...

RACE:

• Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo 

WEATHER:

• Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson
• The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

BOOKS AND READING:

• I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
• Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper

INTERESTING PEOPLE:

• Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner
• Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Notably missing this year are medicine/health, food, and The Supreme Court... though I guess just following all the news related to the Court is enough right now.

MY NONFICTION FAVORITE OF 2018

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall 

by Nina Willner, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Runners up

Word by Word:The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Kory Stamper, narrated by the author

Waking up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race

by Debby Irving, narrated by the author

My goal for Nonfiction November is simple. I want to hear about all the great nonfiction titles you have been reading this year...and then read several of them before Nonfiction November 2019. My best recommendations always come from book bloggers!

For links to other "My Year in Nonfiction" posts, visit Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness.

Sanibel Sunday: We're Back!

Hello from sunny Sanibel, FL! It's been a long week, but we're back... and earlier than usual, too. The first cold front of the season came through last night. Our air conditioning is off, the windows are open, and I had a glorious walk on the beach this morning. I collected a few sand dollars, a banded tulip, and several paper figs.


Finished this week//

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Kory Stamper, narrated by the author

An entire book about dictionaries? Yes, and I loved it. I borrowed both the ebook and audiobook from the library, but the author's narration was so good, I ended up just listening. Look for a Book Brief soon.


Currently//

White Fragility: Why It's so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

by Robin DiAngelo, narrated by Amy Landon

I've listened to nearly half of this book. To say it's giving me a lot to think about is an understatement. It seems especially timely as we approach the midterm elections.


Up next//

Nonfiction November starts this week and I have quite a few titles under consideration, but I'll probably begin with...

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

by Kate Moore 

The main question is whether to read or to listen... or maybe both. Will you be participating in Nonfiction November?


How was your week? What have you been reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? - October 22, 2018

It's Monday, and we're headed south. Not a moment too soon as far as I'm concerned... it snowed yesterday! We'll get the house open and ready for winter, line up help for the next home improvement project, and replenish our Vitamin D levels on the beach! We'll return to central New York before Thanksgiving.

This week I'm reading//

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

I pulled it off the shelf a few nights ago and read the first fifty pages... seems perfect for the Halloween season.


And listening to//

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Kory Stamper, narrated by the author

This is such an entertaining audio... who would have guessed? I'm around the 80% mark now and in no hurry for this book to end.


Up next//

I'm not sure... but it will be nonfiction because Nonfiction November begins next week. Hooray!


On the blog//

Book Brief: Dear Bob and Sue  by Matt Smith and Karen Smith
Pages From the Past: My 2006 Reading Journal


The week ahead//

We're on the road for several days. It's a 24 hour drive and we've found eight hours per day to be the upper limit of comfortable. That means at least three days in the car... and usually an extra day or two at one of our stopping points. There's always something new to explore!

How was your week?  What are you reading?

Book Brief: Dear Bob and Sue by Matt Smith and Karen Smith

Dear Bob and Sue
by Matt Smith and Karen Smith
ebook, 314 pages
publisher "unknown" (Is that code for self-published?)

Source: free download, thanks to kindle unlimited

Goodreads summary:
This complete version of Dear Bob and Sue  chronicles the journey of Matt and Karen Smith, who took a mid-career break to travel to all 58 U.S. National Parks. Written as a series of emails to friends, Bob and Sue, they describe their sense of awe in exploring our national parks, and share humorous and quirky observations. The national parks are among the most stunning places in America - pristine wilderness, geologic wonders, and magnificent wildlife - places everyone should put on their must-see-before-I-die list. Matt and Karen take you along as they visit them all. Unlike a traditional guidebook, this is one couple's perspective on the joys and challenges of traveling together. This is a story of discovery and adventure: chased by a grizzly, pushed off the trail by big horn sheep, they even survived a mid-air plane collision. Dear Bob and Sue  is the next best thing to visiting all the parks in person

My thoughts:

This is a great idea for a book, but it was not the book I'd hoped for.

Matt and Karen Smith, after becoming empty-nesters, decided to take a two-year break from their careers and visit all of the National Parks. The adventure is chronicled through a series of emails, written alternately by Matt or Karen, to their friends, Bob and Sue. Choosing to document the experience though emails allowed them to adopt a more informal, personal voice and share even the most off-beat anecdotes. I laughed through the first several letters, then quickly began to tire of the tone.

Surely their comments were intended to be funny and irreverent, though it often seemed they were taking cheap shots at one another, fellow travelers, and even park rangers. And although I like beer, especially after a long hike, is it really necessary to read about every one consumed over the two years? I think not. Ditto for the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I began to enjoy the book more after limiting my reading to two or three letters per sitting. It's definitely better in small doses.

After recently visiting four National Parks, it was fun to compare our experiences with Matt and Karen's - hikes, weather, restaurants, lodging, etc. We ended up choosing  a couple of the same hikes and one restaurant... Zax in Moab, UT.

Though not meant to be a guidebook, I would certainly take another look at Matt and Karen's adventures in a specific park as we plan a visit. It's too bad they didn't include an index...

Pages From the Past: My 2006 Reading Journal

I didn't mean to take such a long break from my Pages From the Past series, but when we went to Florida last winter I forgot to take my old book journal along. Since we've been back, it just never crossed my mind.  Anyway, we're up to 2006, so here we go.

Looking back, 2006 was a slow reading year for me, but I'm not surprised. There were three busy teens in the house and their schedules, especially sports, ruled my life!

Memorable Books Read in 2006

FICTION

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

The Accidental by Ali Smith

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor

Interestingly, none of these titles have stuck with me and I would be hard pressed to offer many details about any of them.

CLASSICS

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Still a favorite.  I've loved many of Cather's novels.

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

I went on to read Howards End  just a month of two later...

Howards End by E.M. Forster

My favorite Forster novel... and on my Classics Club list to reread.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Maybe I should put this is nonfiction instead...

NONFICTION

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop: A Memoir, A History by Lewis Buzbee

 If books about books appeal to you, you'll love this!

AUDIOBOOKS

I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman

by Nora Ephron, narrated by the author

I loved this book and still recommend it frequently.  It also lead to a great book club discussion.

Digging to America

by Anne Tyler, narrated by Blair Brown

This book made Anne Tyler an "audio author" for me. I went on to listen to Back When We Were Grownups  and The Amateur Marriage  shortly afterwards.


In retrospect, it's interesting that the fiction titles have largely disappeared from my thoughts and memories. Not so for the rest of the titles on this list.

Have you read any of these books? What were you reading in 2006?
Previous Pages From the Past posts can be found here.

Weekly Update: October 14, 2018

We're home. Our southwest adventure was amazing: four states, four national parks, three time zones (who knew there is no daylight savings time in AZ?), countless scenic wonders and attractions, a visit with family, and memories to last a lifetime!

We were so busy (and tired by the end of the day) that I didn't read at all on the trip - not even an audiobook at bedtime. I eased back into books this weekend by reading a graphic memoir and completing a book I've been working away at for a few weeks.

I love our fall sunsets in central New York, but temperatures are trending downward and many of the leaves are already gone. Snow is in the forecast... definitely time to think about heading south.


Finished this week//

Dear Bob and Sue by Matt Smith and Karen Smith

A middle-aged couple takes a two year break from their jobs to visit every National Park. They write a book, comprised of emails sent to their friends Bob and Sue, chronicling the journey. I started this in anticipation of our trip, but found it worked better for me reading only a few emails at a time. It was just okay overall... I'll post a book brief soon.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley 

At last. My library finally  purchased a copy of this foodie-themed graphic memoir. It's been on my wish list for years! Knisley's artwork is the star of the book, but her love of food shines though. It's probably more accurate to describe this as a coming-of-age memoir where life's pivotal events intertwine with food... and recipes are included.

I've enjoyed a couple of Knisley's other books (French Milk, An Age of License: A Travelogue) over the years and plan to search out her remaining work when it's time for my next graphic memoir fix. If you're unfamiliar with her work, Relish would be a good introduction. It's truly a delight.


Current reading//

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper 

It takes a certain kind of nerd to appreciate a book about dictionaries... and I suspect if you're reading this blog, you might be inclined in that direction. I borrowed both the ebook and audio versions from my library - no waiting list for either ;- )  At the 30% mark, I've pretty much abandoned print in favor of the audio version. It's read by the author and is outstanding!



Set aside//

So, our Gothic Gala was a bust. Three out of four of us abandoned The Mysteries of Udolpho. Are you still reading, Monica? I can only describe it as a slog in print and downright painful on audio. My impending trip probably didn't help... perhaps I might have been a little more determined (patient?) in other circumstances. I'm not ruling out another try at some point, but am in no hurry right now.


On the blog//

Book Brief: I'd Rather Be Reading  by Anne Bogel


Coming soon//

Nonfiction November is back! It has become my favorite blogging event of the year... details are here.


The week ahead//

We are grey-b-sitting! Angus is here for a week while his people are on vacation. He was initially confused by Zelda's absence but, realizing he was the sole beneficiary of our attention, settled in quickly. It's nice to have a greyhound in the house again :)

How was your week? What have you been reading?


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Book Brief: I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
by Anne Bogel
narrated by Anne Bogel
Mission Audio, 2018
2 hours and 23 minutes

Motivation for reading:
I cannot resist books about books!

Source:
audiobook downloaded via hoopla from my library
(If your library has hoopla, the ebook is also available for immediate download.)

Publisher's summary:
For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time - it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.

I'd Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary companion for everyone who feels that way. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads people to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them who they are today.

Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives. The perfect gift for the bibliophile in everyone's life, I'd Rather Be Reading will also command an honored place in the audio library of any book lover.

Opening paragraph:

1

Confess Your Literary Sins 

In David Lodge's campus novel Changing Places, two college professors - one American, one British - swap teaching roles for a year. In one memorable scene, the British academics invite their American guest to play a party game called Humiliation. Players confess important literary world they haven't yet read, and points are scored based on how many other players have already read them. The person with the most - and most egregious - gaps in their personal reading history wins. If everyone but you has read that book, you're going to be great at Humiliation.

My thoughts:

I've read Changing Places, so from the first paragraph, I had a feeling Anne Bogel and I might be on the same page - literally. And as it turned out, we were. Bogel is a reader and she understands readers. So much of what she writes here resonates with me.

There are many quotes I would share if I'd had a print copy but, since I listened, you might want to read (or listened to) this book for yourself. The audio version is very short... easy to listen to while completing daily tasks or on a short car trip. Bogel narrates it herself and her passion for reading is evident. My only complaint is that the pace of the audio may have been a little too fast. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly agreed with every word!

..."what I've come to learn is this: if my real life reminds me of something I read in a book, I'm reading well -- and I'm probably living well, too."  

My rating: