Throughout the month of November I'm taking part in the bookish event of Nonfiction November - a month dedicated to, and encouraging the reading of, nonfiction titles.
There are a number of content creators who host events surrounding this initiative to promote nonfiction in the month of November, and I'm combining (& taking part in) two. One of which is hosted on YouTube by booktuber abookolive - I have compiled my TBR using her challenges. Secondly, I'm taking part in an event hosted here in the book blogging community by five wonderful bloggers - Katie at Doing Dewey, Rennie at What's Nonfiction?, Julie at JulzReads, Katie at Sophisticated Dorkiness and Sarah at Sarah's Book Shelves. Each week I will be sharing a new post that relates to the topic of nonfiction books, with the post prompts being provided by those five bloggers I've mentioned above.
This is my first time taking part in Nonfiction November, and I'm super excited to be doing so.
PROMPT
Your Year in Nonfiction So Far hosted by Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness
Totalling it up, so far this year I've read 17 books that would be categorised as nonfiction - these come from varying subgenres of nonfiction, including titles that would be deemed coffee table books, essays, nature writing, memoirs and more.
Links in this list will take you to Goodreads
1. The Color of Pixar by Tia Kratter
2. The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
3. The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane
4. Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge
5.The Light Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People by Meik Wiking
6. Britain by the Book: A Curious Tour of Our Literary Landscape by Oliver Tearle
7. The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
8. Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer by Wendell Berry
9. Inside the Magic: The Making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Ian Nathan
10. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
11. The 50 Greatest Train Journeys of the World by Anthony Lambert
12. Spring: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons by Melissa Harrison
13. Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee
14. One Woman Walks Wales by Ursula Martin
15. Summer: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons by Melissa Harrison
16. The Joy of Forest Bathing: The Mysterious Japanese Art of Shinrin-Yoku by Melanie Choukas-Bradley
17. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
Looking at that, on the one hand I'm surprised I've already read so much nonfiction this year, and on the other I'm not - reading more nonfiction was one of my reading goals for 2018, and I can clearly see I've been succeeding in that.
Something this list of books tells me is that I'm picking up more nonfiction relating to nature and the great outdoors, which I love & am so happy about. Prior to this year, I read a lot of nonfiction that related to people and also books, so it is great to be branching out into another area that brings me joy in my day to day life.
All of these titles I would rate quite highly, and in all honesty, I would recommend them all for very different reasons. If I had to pick just the one though, I think it would be Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge - I know this book isn't for everybody, especially based off the mixed reviews on Goodreads, however there was just something about this book that truly spoke to me & I connected with it. I definitely think I read it at just the right time in my life, when I needed it, but also that it makes a great start of the new year read (which is also when I read it). Silence: In the Age of Noise is a collection of thought provoking essays - the kind that really make you aware and wonder, allowing (& pushing) you to take a deeper look at your own life.
Totalling it up, so far this year I've read 17 books that would be categorised as nonfiction - these come from varying subgenres of nonfiction, including titles that would be deemed coffee table books, essays, nature writing, memoirs and more.
Links in this list will take you to Goodreads
1. The Color of Pixar by Tia Kratter
2. The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
3. The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane
4. Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge
5.The Light Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People by Meik Wiking
6. Britain by the Book: A Curious Tour of Our Literary Landscape by Oliver Tearle
7. The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
8. Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer by Wendell Berry
9. Inside the Magic: The Making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Ian Nathan
10. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
11. The 50 Greatest Train Journeys of the World by Anthony Lambert
12. Spring: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons by Melissa Harrison
13. Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee
14. One Woman Walks Wales by Ursula Martin
15. Summer: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons by Melissa Harrison
16. The Joy of Forest Bathing: The Mysterious Japanese Art of Shinrin-Yoku by Melanie Choukas-Bradley
17. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
Looking at that, on the one hand I'm surprised I've already read so much nonfiction this year, and on the other I'm not - reading more nonfiction was one of my reading goals for 2018, and I can clearly see I've been succeeding in that.
Something this list of books tells me is that I'm picking up more nonfiction relating to nature and the great outdoors, which I love & am so happy about. Prior to this year, I read a lot of nonfiction that related to people and also books, so it is great to be branching out into another area that brings me joy in my day to day life.
All of these titles I would rate quite highly, and in all honesty, I would recommend them all for very different reasons. If I had to pick just the one though, I think it would be Silence: In the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge - I know this book isn't for everybody, especially based off the mixed reviews on Goodreads, however there was just something about this book that truly spoke to me & I connected with it. I definitely think I read it at just the right time in my life, when I needed it, but also that it makes a great start of the new year read (which is also when I read it). Silence: In the Age of Noise is a collection of thought provoking essays - the kind that really make you aware and wonder, allowing (& pushing) you to take a deeper look at your own life.
I'd love to hear about any nonfiction titles you love recommending to others - in particular, one you've read this year.
I haven't heard of any of those besides Into Thin Air! But you're doing a great job this year. ��
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you!!
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but Silence in the Age of Noise sounds right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteSilence: In the Age of Noise isn't quite what I had expected when initially picking it up, but I came away with so much from it. Definitely recommend.
DeleteThanks, I didn't know this essay by Berry. Here is my post: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/10/29/nonfiction-november-my-year-2018-in-nonfiction/
ReplyDeleteThis Wendell Berry essay makes for really interesting reading, even though it is many many years since first being published.
DeleteYou've read a lot of nonfiction this year! I read Cider With Rosie a few years ago and enjoyed it. Silence: In the Age of Noise sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteCider With Rosie was a wonderful read - it felt like fiction at times. Great to hear you enjoyed it also :-)
DeleteI love nature writing. I've been drawn a lot more to natural history this year, it provides a pleasant distraction from the real world.
ReplyDeleteI get that!
DeleteThat's such an interesting list! Silence sounds like a lovely book, something to read when the weather is cold and the world outside is calm. Into Thin Air is one of my all time favorites, it's so tense and amazing. Thanks for joining us this year!
ReplyDeleteInto Thin Air was so much better than I had even expected - I see why it is an all time favourite of yours.
DeleteInto Thin Air is one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed The Year of Less. Dead Mountain is on my TBR. I also had a goal of reading more nonfiction in 2018, and I've read so many great books!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you've been doing well on that goal!
DeleteInto Thin Air seems to be a popular nonfiction favourite, and I totally see why. I feel like The Year of Less is a great book to read when needing to analyse your own habits - helped me immensely. Dead Mountain was my most recent nonfiction read and I thoroughly enjoyed it; interesting theory presented also.
17 non fiction is pretty great! I was pretty surprised at how few non fiction books I've read this year. Something like 11% of my overall reading.
ReplyDelete11% is pretty good still! I hope nonfiction November works in your favour of boosting nonfiction reads!
DeleteWhat a wonderful year in nonfiction so far! I've never heard of One Woman Walks Wales and I'm intrigued... it reminds me of The Salt Path, which is another book I need to get to. Have you read The Solace of Open Spaces? I'm not a big nature person but Ehrlich's essays about the American West are so beautifully written and poignant that I couldn't help but fall in love. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Salt Path is a new to me title, but having just had a little look at it, I would agree the two (The Salt Path & One Woman Walks Wales) have similar themes. The Solace of Open Spaces is a new to me title also, but again having just looked at it, sounds like a wonderful read as you say.
DeleteI've just added both of these titles to my nonfiction wishlist - they sound like my kind of reads. Thank you!
This is how it happens - my first post read for #NonficNov & I've already added One Woman Walks Wales to my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI also like the sound of Silence (see what I did there?)
Haha - I like what you did there!
DeleteOh, don't worry, I've already added 10+ books to my wishlist from this first post prompt!
I've been curious about The Year of Less for a long time now. This month seems like the perfect time to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it, if you are able to get to it this month.
DeleteDead Mountain is an interesting read, such a crazy story! I just read another book about it, Mountain of the Dead, a few months ago. I've had Into Thin Air on my reading list for a long time, and have heard that Diary of a Bookseller is wonderful. You have such an eclectic nonfiction list!
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting reading multiple books/perspectives on a specific topic or event. I'll have to look into that title.
DeleteHaha - I have quite an eclectic reading taste in general!
I haven't read any of these, but so many of the nature-related titles sound soothing. And Silence in the Age of Noise is something I think a lot of us could use!
ReplyDeleteThe soothing & calming qualities are one of the reasons I love nature books :-)
DeleteWow - great list. I think Silence would speak to me too. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to share, recommend and talk books :-)
DeleteDead Mountain was awesome. If you like that and Into Thin Air, check out my Mountain list from a previous year: https://julzreads.com/2017/11/13/nonfiction-november-im-the-expert/
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, I definitely will - thank you!!
DeleteI love your list of non-fiction titles you read....I've already added three of them to my TBR. There are so many great books out there.....Dead Mountain is on my list as well, and I happened across Mountain of the Dead: The Dyatlov Pass Incident which is another account of the same event which is sitting on my desk.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look into that title - thank you!
DeleteFifty Train Journeys sounds right up my alley, and you make a good case for Silence, too, all too relevant a topic these days.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Silence: In the Age of Noise being a relevant topic. Happy reading!
DeleteThe only one of these I've read is Into Thin Air, but The Diary of a Bookseller is on my wish list. Silence in the Age of Noise sounds like a book I would appreciate!
ReplyDeleteThe Diary of a Bookseller is a fun bookish read, and Silence: In the Age of Noise such a thought provoking and introspective read. Happy nonfiction November!
DeleteSilence and Forest Bathing both sound great (I always enjoy books about water, swimming, etc!).
ReplyDeleteForest Bathing more refers to the activity of bathing in nature more than anything, but a great read all the same.
DeleteI love nonfiction, and I don't read nearly enough of it. I bought Into Thin Air earlier this year. I'm hoping to read that one this winter.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great reading experience of Into Thin Air; I sped through it!
DeleteI have really started to get into reading nonfiction nature/outdoors books this year as well. I joined a few Facebook book clubs that center around these type of reads - the We are Wildness Book Club and Women Who Hike book club. I don't usually participate a whole lot but I do read along. :) Lol. I like to get the reading lists for suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI love Wendell Berry! We studied him in one of my classes a few years ago. And the Year of Less sounds really good too!
Your books look great. :)
Those book clubs sound like a lot of fun!
DeleteSilence: In the Age of Noise sounds rather perfect. I really enjoyed Quiet, and it sounds like it might be a variation on that theme.
ReplyDeleteI've read, and enjoyed, Quiet also - Silence: In The Age of Noise is slightly different, leaning more towards mindfulness than those of us who are introverted, but I would recommend it all the same.
DeleteOh yay! I'm glad to hear that you've been enjoying reading nonfiction and found that some books that resonated with you. I've not read any of the books on your to-read list, so I'm excited to hear about them.
ReplyDeleteI've loved upping my nonfiction intake this year!
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