Nonfiction books for November reading and December gifting
Plus bookish quotes, tips for reading classics, and an exciting podcast guest
Hi, readers!
What a week we’ve had! Tuesday feels like it was years ago, but this weekend I feel relief, hope, and joy. There’s much to celebrate and even more work still to be done, but, readers, Americans have a woman of color as our Vice President-elect and that is simply amazing.
In addition to the election announcement, the other high note of my week was recording an episode of Novel Pairings with Traci Thomas of The Stacks Podcast. Traci is the queen of nonfiction reading , so Chelsey and I were eager to chat with her about The Autobiography of Malcolm X during Nonfiction November. Our conversation added a lot of nonfiction titles to my personal reading list, and I can’t wait for you to hear it when it releases on November 17th. Until then, I have a few nonfiction recommendations of my own that are perfect for adding to your November TBR or gifting to a dedicated nonfiction reader this holiday season.
This week in books.
This week I read…
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley. I’m going to save my full thoughts on this for the podcast episode, but what a prescient and perfect book to be reading during this election week. Amazon | Bookshop
Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson. I love Peterson’s writing (and highly recommend her newsletter) because she manages to be simultaneously incisive and relatable. She excels at voicing things I’ve felt but couldn’t put into words myself, and I really related to much of this book. In this book, Peterson unpacks how Baby Boomer’s own economic anxieties and lived experiences affected the way they parented their millennial children and how that, in turn, has led to a generation of burnt out and unsatisfied adults. I appreciate the way Peterson looks at the roles systems and institutions play in this phenomenon—capitalism doesn’t get off easy in this book. I also think that while this book is clearly a limited glimpse at what it’s like to be a millennial, Peterson does a good job of acknowledging her privileges and biases upfront and balancing her personal experiences with the journalism that makes up the bulk of the book. As a millennial myself, I’m not sure how interesting Can’t Even will be for non-millennials, but I do think a lot of Peterson’s observations on parenting would be relevant to parents and teachers from any generation. Amazon | Bookshop
Now I’m reading…
A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore. I needed something light and distracting (but still political) so I picked up this historical romance. It’s too early to have a real opinion yet, but I do think Dunmore’s writing is energetic and sparkly, which I’m thoroughly enjoying. Amazon | Bookshop
I’m hoping my attention span and focus return this week because there are a lot of books I want to read soon. This gothic mystery, this acclaimed fantasy novel, and this YA retelling of Emma are at the top of my list right now.
And I picked up…
This week I received a copy of The Decameron Project from Scribner, which is a collection of 20 short stories from a wide variety of authors written during the Covid pandemic. I also received Graham Swift’s Here We Are (Knopf), a novella set in 1950s Brighton, England that’s described as “a masterly work of literary magicianship that pulls back the curtain on the human condition”—sounds like my kind of book.
I also downloaded this mystery on Libro.fm because I need something unputdownable (can that adjective apply to audiobooks?).
12 nonfiction books for November reading and December gifting.
While fiction will always be my first and greatest love, I’ve enjoyed discovering what sorts of nonfiction work for me and I try to read at least one nonfiction book per month. If you’re planning to participate in Nonfiction November or gift some great nonfiction this holiday season, these twelve 2020 releases need to be on your radar.
The Answer Is… by Alex Trebek. For the trivia nerd and the lover of earnest celebrity memoirs. Amazon | Bookshop
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper. For the aspiring physician or the social activist. Amazon | Bookshop
Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson. For the millennial who’s trying to take it all on. Amazon | Bookshop
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. For the reader who wants to look at the past to understand our present. Amazon | Bookshop
The Dead are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne. For the biography lover and the revisionist historian. Amazon | Bookshop
Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking by Bill Buford. For the foodie who’s missing their restaurant outings. Amazon | Bookshop
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker. For the reader who loves family sagas and family secrets. Amazon | Bookshop
If Then: How the Simulantics Corporation Invented the Future by Jill Lepore. For the techie and the futurist. Amazon | Bookshop
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. For the reader who appreciates stunning writing and essays that stick with you. Amazon | Bookshop
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erk Larson. For the World War II history buff. Amazon | Bookshop
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio. For every American. Seriously, everyone should read this book. Amazon | Bookshop
Unworthy Republic: The Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to Indian Territory by Claudio Saunt. For the reader who wants to confront what was written out of the history books. Amazon | Bookshop
What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather. For anyone seeking hope after a particularly divisive year. Amazon | Bookshop
Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein. For anyone seeking understanding after a particularly divisive year. Amazon | Bookshop
You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe. For the historian with a sense of humor. Amazon | Bookshop
Bookish reading.
If you’re road-tripping to see family this holiday season, check out this list of funny audiobooks to keep you company on your drive. (And remember you can use this link or code “fictionmatters” to get two audiobooks for the price of one on Libro.fm.)
Time Magazine released a beautiful list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.
These four books in translation will help you escape and refresh.
Didn’t find a giftable book on my list? Check out this epic list of 115 Best Nonfiction Books to Give as Gifts.
I don’t listen to the My Favorite Murder podcast but based on their stellar book recommendations, maybe I should start?
This list of bookish quotes to use as inscriptions in your gifted books is super sweet.
These six tips are great suggestions for conquering classic literature.
Novel Pairings.
If you haven’t listened to Novel Pairings yet, this is the month to start. Last week we released our first mystery episode on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. And this Tuesday our gift guide drops! We’re recommending perfectly giftable books paired with extra goodies for all the readers on your list. On November 17th, we have an extra special episode discussing The Autobiography of Malcolm X with Traci Thomas of The Stacks Podcast.
You can find Novel Pairings wherever you listen to podcasts, so subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss a single episode!
End notes.
Watching: After I finished my Aspen Words reading, I started a rewatch of Downton Abbey. It has been incredibly soothing and a delightful escape. Also every time I type it in my Amazon search bar this cocktail recipes book and this cook book come up and I’m tempted by both of them.
Listening: To all of the election coverage, of course! I found this discussion between Ezra Klein and Chris Hayes to be particularly thoughtful and informative.
Making: Snickerdoodles. They’re my comfort cookie.
Loving: The Madewell 30% off sweaters sale! I’m trying to refrain from purchasing anything because I’m getting very little wear out of my nice clothes now that I’m not teaching, but I still get a little dopamine rush from browsing all the beautiful knits. This cozy cardigan, this oversized Henley, and this intricately patterned mockneck are particularly tempting.
Readers, I hope that your reading hasn’t been utterly destroyed by this week’s news cycle and that you’re enjoying some good nonfiction. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. Michelle and I love hearing from you!
If you’re looking for more book recommendations and delightful bookish community, consider supporting FictionMatters on Patreon.
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Happy reading!
Sara
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