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Nonfiction November: My Year in Nonfiction

Hosted by Sophisticated Dorkiness this week
This week's prompt:
Your Year in Nonfiction: Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? 
I don't know if I can pick one favorite, I looked at my list and there are at least 10 that I really enjoyed so far this year. If I had to pick my top three they would be:

All three of these books really caught my attention and really made me take a look at my life.  I saw how much of a caffeine addict I really am, how lucky I was to be born in the suburbs in New Jersey, and how with hard work and determination I can achieve my dreams.


What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? 
A lot of the nonfiction I read, I listen to on audiobook on my commute to and from work.  I've found a great variety of memoirs with parts read by the authors. I tend to recommend those more than others because the audiobook adds a little something special I think you miss out on when you just read the book.
  • Paris in Love by Eloisa James - read by the author
  • My Brief History by Stephen Hawking - read by Matthew Brenher, but each chapter starts with Stephen speaking before transitioning into the reader's voice
  • I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai - read by Archie Panjabi, however Malala reads the introduction of the book
  • My Beloved World by Sonya Sotomayor - Read by Rita Moreno and Sonya starts off the book
  • Still Foolin' 'Em by Billy Crystal - read by the author

What is one topic or type of nonfiction you haven’t read enough of yet? 
I noticed that I haven't been reading a lot of books on history or politics. I'm interested, and I've added books on these topics to my TBR list on Goodreads, but I haven't checked them out yet.  I've been on a big kick with memoirs this year.

What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
I'd like to get some more ideas of books. Outside of my co-workers I don't know too many people who read nonfiction. I'd love to expand what I'm reading and find new topics to delve into!

Comments

  1. I don't know how I've made it this long without reading I Am Malala. That's just ridiculous. Thanks for reminding me to put it on my wish list :D


    The best thing about this event is seeing just how many of us really do love nonfiction books. We really ought to stick together!


    Have a great Nonfiction November!

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  2. I keep meaning to read I am Malala. Maybe I will get it on audio to spur me into action.

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  3. Caffeinated sounds really, really good. My roommate recently gave up soda and is always saying that she feels much better. I don't think I can make that jump yet, but maybe reading the book will push me that way.

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  4. I have been really enjoying doing my nonfiction on audio. It seems really help me get through them faster.

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  5. I thought the same thing, but I haven't changed my habits with caffeine. I will say it's made me more aware, but I still have my coffee in the morning and a diet coke (or two) when I go out to eat.

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  6. I really like when authors read part of their memoirs too. Sometimes they are not great readers, but I think hearing their voice for some sections really adds to the authenticity of the audio book. Thanks for the recommendations, and for joining us for Nonfiction November!

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  7. History is the one topic I'd really like to read more of too. i feel like there are so many topics I'd love to know more about. I love your recommendation of audiobook memoirs. The ones I've read that have been narrated by the author have been great and I should listen to more of. Caffeinated sounds great. Thank you for the recommendation and thank you for joining us for Nonfiction November this month!

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  8. Interesting how you recommend the audio more, because you think it adds something special. I know my boyfriend loves audio but I'm still struggling to get into it. I plan to try some more this year though - of course with nonfiction :)

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  9. That's how I feel! I'm currently listening to Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends, and at first I was a little bored with his reading, but now as he's adding voices, I'm really getting into his story telling.

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  10. You're welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. I wasn't into it until I was commuting to school. It was a short-ish commute by train and I really thought I could get a lot of reading done. However, I found I was easily distracted by conversations on the train or it would be too crowded to hold open a book. The audiobooks really saved me and now with my half hour drive to work it beats listening to talk radio in the morning.

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  12. I listen to a lot of memoirs by audio book too and find it so convenient for squeezing in more books. I have Malala's book on my list for this month, but the Stephen Hawking and Billy Crystal book looks really good too.

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  13. I enjoyed the Stephen Hawking book because I didn't know much about him and I wanted to be prepared for the movie coming out. And I love Billy Crystal so I really picked that one up to hear him tell me stories.

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