Monday 15 November 2021

Nonfiction November 2021 Week 3 Experts #NonficNov 3

Week 3 (November 15-19): Be The Expert/ Ask the Expert/ Become the Expert
with Veronica at The Thousand Book Project


Three ways to join in this week! You can either share 3 or more books on a single topic that you have read and can recommend (be the expert), you can put the call out for good nonfiction on a specific topic that you have been dying to read (ask the expert), or you can create your own list of books on a topic that you’d like to read (become the expert).

I think this is one of my favourite for Nonfiction November. Last year, I wrote about the Tudors since I love that period of English history and have read a lot about it that I could recommend to others who are interested in it. (see here)

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When I was thinking about, whether I would like to share books about another topic or ask questions, the Netherlands sprang to my mind. I have lived there for twenty years and have read quite a few books in Dutch and about the Netherlands (see here on my list about Dutch and French books).

But this is all about Nonfiction, so I put together a list of Dutch books that tell us about the people, their history and what it is like to live there).

Hirsi, Ali, Ayaan "Infidel: My Life" (NL: Mijn Vrijheid) - 2006
A memoir by a woman from Somalia. Her life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, to her activism in the Netherlands. A very interesting book that led to a lively discussion about religion, women's rights, different lives in different countries and other books about these topics in our book club.

Mak, Geert "Jorwerd: The Death of the Village in late 20th Century" (NL: Hoe God verdween uit Jorwerd) - 1996
This book is about a small village in Friesland and the changes it underwent in the first half of the 20th century, changing from farming to a commuting place, the influence of modern technology on a people that had lived off the land for centuries. It shows us what development and improvement has done to our lives

Vossestein, Jacob "Dealing with the Dutch" - 1998
Based on his wide experiences and insights of all types of foreign views on the Dutch, Jacob Vossestein is called an interculturalist. He wrote this as a guide book for companies and people wanting to do business with the Dutch.

Westerman, Frank "The Republic of Grain" (NL: De graanrepubliek) - 1999
The description of
life in a Dutch region, in the North of the Netherlands during a tough time. The rise and fall of an area due to nature, politics, decisions made.

White, Colin & Boucke, Laurie "The UnDutchables: an Observation of the Netherlands, its Culture and its Inhabitants" - 1989
Two Americans who had lived in the Netherlands for 22 years together published the first edition of this book in 1989, it has been updated every other year since then and is a huge bestseller both in the Netherlands and many other countries.

For more information on Nonfiction November check here.

16 comments:

  1. Infidel is a great book. I read it several years ago and really liked it.

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    1. Yes, it is, Lark, a fantastic book. I lived in the Netherlands back then, not in the same way the author did but I still was a foreigner, so I was very interested in her account of that part of her life.

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  2. I don't think I've ever seen a list of great books about the Dutch people. Wonderful idea for a list.

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    1. Thanks, Deb. They ask us to "be the expert" and since i lived in the Netherlands for 20 years, I have read a few non-fiction books about it and even more Dutch fiction books (as you can see from my list which I linked in the post).

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  3. You remind me I want to read Infidel ... what an incredible story and I can imagine it would spark great discussion.

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    1. Definitely a great discussion book, Lory, whether you know the Netherlands or not. There is so much about Somalia, Saudi-Arabia and the Muslim world. I highly recommend it.

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  4. The Undutchables sounds like it would be a great introductory choice to the country. Thanks for sharing your expertise

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    1. Thanks, Shelley, yes, I wished to have read this one in particular before I moved there. Would have helped me with a lot of things.

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  5. What an interesting choice of books. I love the Netherlands, but have not read that much about the country and its people. Here I have a few good tips.

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    1. I thought that many of my blog friends haven't read a lot about the Netherlands, Lisbeth. As I said to Deb above, I also read quite a few Dutch novels, so whatever you're looking for, check out my link "Dutch and French Books"

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  6. What a fantastic list of books—and I haven't read a single one. I think that's one of the things I love the most about your posts: you're constantly recommending things that are completely new to me.

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    1. Thanks, Christopher, I think that's because I lived in different countries and met many international people, especially the smaller countries are so often overlooked and not promoted enough. I'm glad I can do that in my little way.

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  7. This is a great list of books! Infidel was a favorite the year I read it.

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    1. I read it with my book club, JoAnn and it made #2, just after "The Kite Runner". It is a highly interesting book about so many cultures and what happens to many refugees.

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  8. The UnDutchables sounds great! One of my students is Dutch, but has lived there permanently only recently. I will send her your post, she might enjoy these books

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    1. Oh, that's great, Emma. I suppose she speaks Dutch, so some of the books on my link might be interesting for her, as well.

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