Nonfiction November: Your Year in Nonfiction

October 31, 2022 Uncategorized 42

 

Friends! I know it’s not yet November, but it will be tomorrow and we can’t wait, so Nonfiction November kicks off today! I’m so excited to have you all join me for our first weekly discussion prompt. As is tradition, we first want to hear about how your reading year has been going to far and what you’re looking forward to from your year in nonfiction.

We’d love for you to share your response to the prompt, plus any nonfiction book reviews you post this week, with us in the linky at the end of this post. You’re also welcome to include any of the lovely graphics co-host Jaymie at The OC Bookgirl designed for us in your post too!

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? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

Here’s how my year has gone so far:

Nonfiction Favorites

I’ve particularly been enjoying essay collections this year and two of the best I’ve read have been collections about Black art. The first, A Little Devil in America, is a collection by Hanif Abdurraqib, who’s quickly becoming a favorite author. He writes about many different types of art, mixing his criticism with memoir and broader cultural critiques. The second collection, Black Love Matters, is by a variety of authors, but all focus on the topic of Black romance novels. I thought this was a fantastic topic, which engaged with the heartwarming genre of romance in a critical way. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. Last but not least, I thought The Wrong Kind of Women was one of the best books I’ve read addressing structural barriers in the world – in this case, sexism in the film industry. The author blends statistics and memoir to tell a persuasive story and ends with a helpful call to action.

Current Obsessions

Well, I’m currently reading about two very different topics! First, my husband and I just bought our first home, so I’m going all in on home decorating books. It’s so fun to finally have a place that we can really make our own. Then, like a normal person, I’m doing a deep dive on the Opioid crisis for a little bit of relaxing, light reading. I picked this topic to dive into because I’ve been accumulating books on this topic on my to-read list for some time and Beth Macy’s new book release, Raising Lazarus, reminded me to actually read them.

Most Recommended

Honestly, I don’t feel like I’ve been recommending books very much this year. I’ll have to remember to push some of the favorites I mentioned on my fellow readers.

Nonfiction November Hopes

I always just love everyone’s excitement about nonfiction this month! I’ve been really busy lately with moving, but I’m hoping to dive back into blogging and spend a lot of time reading all of your posts.

Over To You

Now it’s your turn! Please link-up your post below and don’t forget to join Jaymie at The OC Bookgirl when the Instagram challenge starts tomorrow, Nov 1st. Then, for more fun next week, go visit Rennie at What’s Nonfiction for our next discussion prompt. Happy Reading!

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42 Responses to “Nonfiction November: Your Year in Nonfiction”

  1. Lisa notes

    Congratulations on your new home! How fun that you’re getting to create it like you want it. I’m excited to see what everyone is reading through the posts this month. Reading about the opioid crisis sounds very informative and important. My reading obsession this year has been on dealing with grief. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks Lisa! I’m excited to hear about what everyone is reading this year too. I lost my cat in March and have to admit that I’m still explicitly avoiding reading about grief, but I imagine I’ll reach the point where I want to read it about it eventually.

      Reply

  3. stargazer

    The Wrong Kind of Women sounds interesting! Sometimes it is quite depressing to read about this topic though. Good luck with decorating your new home, that must be good fun. Thanks for co-hosting, Nonfiction November, I look forward to the event.

    Reply

    • DoingDewey

      It can be depressing to read about different biases – I was a grump the whole time I was reading Invisible Women! – but it helped that this book had some actionable suggestions. Thanks so much for joining us 🙂

      Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks Jaymi! I find that it’s rare for me to like a short story collection, but for some reason, essays really work for me. I’m not really sure why that is!

      Reply

  7. Rennie

    Biggest congrats on the homeownership!!! Us too! Although we’re in the ludicrously, unnecessarily complicated NYC co-op apartment buying process so we’re nowhere your stage of decorating yet, sadly. I’m just thrilled for you!

    I did have a lol at your opioid crisis light reading comment. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think of Raising Lazarus when you get to it!

    I think the only overlap I had with you on these is A Little Devil in America, which I read a month or so ago on your recommendation. What a fantastic writer – I want to get to his other essay collection soon too!
    Rennie recently posted…Nonfiction November Week 1: Your Year in NonfictionMy Profile

    Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks so much, Rennie! Good luck with the apartment buying. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

      I’m happy I could make you laugh 🙂 Hopefully I’ll get to Raising Lazarus in the next week or so. It turns out that buying a house comes with a lot of adulting, so my reading has slowed down!

      I’m so glad that you liked A Little Devil. I think Notes on a Tribe Called Quest is actually my favorite of his essay collections, so you have some great reading ahead of you.

      Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Good luck with the move! And thanks for trying to join us anyway. I hope are able to find at least a little peaceful time to read 🙂

      Reply

  10. Molly

    Oh I feel terrible but you made me laugh out loud at your comment about the opioid crisis being light reading.

    Congratulations on the new home! There is just no feeling quite like knowing it is all yours and you can do whatever you want with it. I hope you enjoy it!

    Reply

    • DoingDewey

      They’re so much more enjoyable now that I can make use of more of their suggestions! There’s so much wonderful variety within nonfiction, I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading 🙂

      Reply

  14. Christopher @ Plucked from the Stacks

    Congratulations on the new home! As someone currently looking at paint swatches and flooring options, I totally understand.

    I’ll be really curious to read what you think about Raising Lazarus. And A Little Devil in America sounds fantastic. Adding that to my TBR pile.

    Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks Chris! I’m excited for you that you’re getting to do some home decorating too.

      I’m glad A Little Devil seems to be catching people’s attention. I’ve loved all of the author’s essay collections, although I have yet to try his poetry.

      Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks for sharing your link here! And I’m sorry the inlinkz isn’t showing up. I’ve not found a better alternative, but it can be glitchy.

      Congratulations on your new home as well! I hope you’re enjoying it and getting settled in 🙂

      Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Thanks, Kathleen! I appreciate you sharing about the event and I’m excited you’ll be doing some of the later posts. I know even though I always read a lot of nonfiction, it’s a fun change to see so many other people focusing on it this month 🙂

      Reply

    • DoingDewey

      Aw, thanks so much, Jenna! This is the first I’ve mentioned it. We only moved a few weeks ago. I’m glad you’re enjoying your new place too!

      Reply

  20. CurlyGeek

    Thanks for hosting Nonfiction November, it’s one of my favorite events. Black Love Matters sounds great; I’ve really tried to diversify my romance reading and I enjoy the different perspectives on romance tropes (Jasmine Guillory and Talia Hibbert are two favorites). A few nonfiction titles I loved this year include Inheritance, Quiet, Being Heumann, and We’re Going to Need More Wine.
    CurlyGeek recently posted…My October Reading Wrap-UpMy Profile

    Reply

  21. Trin Carl

    I’m glad we are both reading Sedaris, I just saw him five feet away! I wrote a review on his book event this week. I also noted what prompted your blog writing, and enjoyed that. Have a great week! @theglobaldig.blogspot.com
    Trin Carl recently posted…Snow in britainMy Profile

    Reply

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