I am not really a non fiction reader. My Dad is, the most of his reading would be non fiction! The non fiction I read is professional reading - I am a teacher and so I always have a professional book on the go.
Other kinds of non fiction books that I read are How to.... books. If I want to learn something I in the past read this type of book. Not so much now, usually I can learn what I need by going online.
I do enjoy reading autobiographies and memoirs. Not that I read many of them but I will pick them up more when I have more reading time in my life. This year I intend reading:
Spanning the twentieth century, the magically vivid letters of the legendary Mitford sisters constitute not just a superb social and historical chronicle; they also provide an intimate portrait of the stormy but enduring relationships between six beautiful, gifted and radically different women who wrote to one another to confide, commiserate, tease, rage and gossip -- and above all, to amuse.
No Time For Romance is Lucilla Andrew's story, the powerful and moving account of a young girl in wartime London, learning the hard way about medicine, injuries and death, as well as love and hope. It is a story both of personal courage and of the courage of the British people at war.
I read many of her novels as I was growing up set in war time London and I loved them. It is probably her autobiography that I will read first.
I used to read a lot of education non fiction like The Morning Meeting book. Now I'm getting into reading books on paleo and gluten free diets. It's interesting information. But I'm like you and prefer fiction. I've never read an autobiography, but want to. Maybe I'll start with something fun like Ellen.
ReplyDeleteI believe Ellen is popular. Yes reading about health issues is non fiction reading one does when you want answers. Just saw your tweet about non fiction. I think you are right and that we often forget the non fiction we do read.
DeleteIt's a bit sad that How To books are slowly dying out. The internet has a way of doing that, doesn't it? Do cookbooks count as non-fiction? Because I read those :) Like you said on my blog, if I'm very interested in a person's life, I'll read their (auto)biography. But if it reads like a bunch of facts, I probably will end up stopping. I like when they flow like a novel, like the author is telling a story about that person's life. Those are interesting! Still, just not something I pick up every day.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love when I get insights into a person's life or when I get that sense of one human being reaching my heart.
DeleteI recommended the Mitfords too!
ReplyDeletehttp://mwgerard.com/armchair-bea-ethics-non-fiction/
Oh how interesting. Must take a look at your post.
DeleteThe Mitfords sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI'm wild about nonfiction, like your dad :) Maybe he should have a blog too!
I think everyone is either one or the other, he does read some fiction and loves Louis L'Amour - has all his books. While I introduced him to ipods I don't think he would handle a blog as he is 87 years.
DeleteI feel silly because I generally do not read any non-fiction books! My friend keeps wanting me to read The Omnivore's Dilemma. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :D
Check out my post!
I wonder do you actually read more non fiction than you realise. As I read other posts I think, oh, I read that!
DeleteI am not a big non-fiction reader either. Out of the 200+ books I read a year, about 3 of them are non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteProbably my ratio too!
DeleteI really don't like "how-to" books in the area of self-help. It's too cookie cutter for me and most of the time, not a whole is learned. So, I definitely stay away from those, unless it's an educational book on theories for counseling or my profession. Definitely see "how-to" books in the form of recipes/cookbooks as great, though!!! Although, it's still not cookie cutter, and I usually modify my ingredients anyway. I know...I sound difficult, don't I? lol!! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Mitford sisters book sounds quite interesting and I will need to look into that!
It's been so much fun visiting everyone's blogs and learning about new books and being reminded about books I need to read :D
Both these books sound really interesting!!! I don't read too much non-fiction, but have definitely walked away from this topic with quite a list to look into!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog!!!
~Kristin @ Always With a Book
I own quite a few how-to books on computer-related subjects like Photoshop, but like you, I now often turn to the Internet for tutorials when there's something I want to learn. No Time for Romance looks like something I might be interested in reading; going to keep that one in mind.
ReplyDelete