November 22, 2021
Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction #NonficNov
I’m eager to participate in Nonfiction November this year hosted by What’s Nonfiction, Doing Dewey, The Thousand Book Project, Plucked from the Stacks, and OCBookgirl. During the month of November, you will notice one nonfiction focused post each week:
Weekly Topics:
(Join us?)
Week 1: (November 1-5) – My Year in Nonfiction (with Rennie at What’s Nonfiction)
Week 2: (November 8-12) – Fiction/Nonfiction Book Pairing with Katie at Doing Dewey
Week 3: (November 15-19) – Be The Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert (my fav memoirs/biographies) with Veronica at The Thousand Book Project
Week 4: (November 22-26) – Stranger Than Fiction (tweaked by me: Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction) with Christopher at Plucked from the Stacks.
Week 5: (November 29-December 3) — New to My NF TBR with Jaymi at OCBookgirl
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction
Nonfiction November is an opportunity to reflect on the year, to celebrate and appreciate nonfiction, and to share recommendations.
This week’s prompt for Nonfiction November hosted by Christopher at Plucked from the Stacks is Stranger Than Fiction. I am tweaking this topic because, for me, a favorite form of nonfiction is narrative nonfiction (nonfiction that reads like a story). There is nothing strange about these stories! However, you will notice that several have been turned into movies….because….well….they read like fiction!
Please join me for Nonfiction November!
Background Image Source: Canva
Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction
The Girl With Seven Names: Escape From North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee
(My review of Girl With Seven Names here)
Born a Crime: Stories of a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
(My review of Born a Crime here)
A young readers version of Born a Crime here.
Educated by Tara Westover
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
(My review of Glass Castle here)
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
(My review of Killers of the Flower Moon here)
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
(My review of Hillbilly Elegy here)
Hillbilly Elegy Netflix movie here.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
(My review of Glass Castle here)
Unbroken: A WW11 Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Unbroken movie and YA version here.
(Not reviewed because I read this before I started blogging or Goodreads)
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
(Not reviewed because I read this before blogging or using Goodreads)
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
See the Broadway production, Come From Away or watch it currently streaming on AppleTV+.
(My review of The Day the World Came to Town)
QOTD:
See any favorites?
Have you read one of these titles?
I’d love to hear your suggestion for a nonfiction book that is stranger than fiction or for a nonfiction book that reads like fiction.
Happy Reading Book Friends!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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I keep intending to read Killers of the Flower Moon, The Day the World Came to Town, and Born a Crime.
All three are TBR worthy! 🙌
I tried to read more nf this month, but haven’t had time to read much at all. Touching the Void is my current, a climbing accident memoir
That story sounds intense! The reading life has its ups and downs. This is a hard time of year too with many distractions!
Yes! I’ve always said I’d read more NF if it read like fiction. Great post!
Thanks! Yes, narrative NF is definitely a favorite!
What a great list. I have read two of them and could have easily also added them to mine.
There are so many books that would fit this topic. Find my Stranger than Fiction books here“
I’m eager to read your post!
I like your take on the topic. I do have that memoir from North Korea but have just finished a different memoir on the same topic so I think I’m done with that for a while
Thanks Karen! You can read it next year and use it in your NF pairings post! 😂
There’s no fiction to pair with though!
I love your topic tweak and actually my topic contribution a few years ago to Nonfiction November was nonfiction that reads like fiction – I think it fits nicely with this year’s topic! I’ve read all of your recommendations besides Unbroken (I’m always resisting that one, I don’t know why!), Bonhoeffer, and Day the World Came to Town. I really want to get to that last one!
Thanks for your encouragement! Well…yeah…..Unbroken is difficult in places….mainly the concentration camp section which I skimmed. But overall, an inspiring read! I agree, You must read The Day the World Came to Town!
I’ve read all of these except Bonhoeffer (which is still on my list) and thought they were excellent!
I’m happy to hear we share the book love JoAnn! 🙌
What a great list Carol. I had seen Hillbilly Elegy around, but wasn’t sure about it. I know my library has it, so I am going to add it for the new year. I do enjoy Non-Fiction that reads like fiction. I have read all but three you mentioned.
Yay! I’m happy to hear we’ve shared so many great reads!
Have read almost all of these–funny, because I think I’m mostly a fiction reader, but a good memoir is hard to beat! And — I just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land — have you read it yet? Amazing story telling– 5 plots and all fascinating.
Yes I’ve read Cloud Cuckoo Land and reviewed it maybe a month ago. It is amazing story telling! I had to take notes at first!
Great selection, Carol💜
Thanks Jonetta! 🙌😍
That’s a clever twist on the prompt Carol, thanks for sharing
Thanks Shelleyrae!
A really great list. The last ones on the post I haven’t heard of; I’ll be investigating this weekend. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanks Adrienne! Happy Thanksgiving!
Trever Noah’s book was excellent! And, I have added The Day the World Came to Town to my TBR. The universe has sent it to me several times this week and, now that I have seen it on your list, I know I need to pick up a copy.
It’s inspirational! Enjoy!
I might have to try one of these because I have a really hard time with nonfiction.
Let me know how it goes if you do!
[…] 4: (November 22-26) – Stranger Than Fiction (tweaked by me: Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction) with Christopher at Plucked from the […]
I love your slight twist on the topic! And you landed on a ton of great titles. The Girl With Seven Names has been on my TBR pile for a bit. There was a point a few years back when I was devouring every book about North Korea I could find, but I never made it around to this one.
It’s a page turning escape….and some of her decisions are stranger than fiction! I think you’ll enjoy this memorable memoir!
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[…] I LOVE a nonfiction book that reads like fiction! I have two titles to highlight today (and many more in last year’s post). […]