Week 3 (November 14-18): Stranger Than Fiction
with Christopher at Plucked from the Stacks
It's already the third week of Non-Fiction November again (see here).
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Week 3 (November 14-18) - Stranger Than Fiction:
This week we’re focusing on all the great nonfiction books that almost
don’t seem real. A sports biography involving overcoming massive
obstacles, a profile on a bizarre scam, a look into the natural wonders
in our world - basically, if it makes your jaw drop, you can highlight
it for this week’s topic. (Christopher @ Plucked from the Stacks)
I haven chosen a few different ones. I am not a sports person, so any achievement that people reach is stragner than fiction to me. Though I admire the Boys in the Boat more than the Madmen who undertake that voyage, they were really mad indeed. Risking their lives (and that of others) just to win a bet, more or less.
The other books are far worse. I know I would not live long in a dictatorship because I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut. I guess I inherited that from my grandfather who was just the same but was lucky to escape the baddies.
So, here are my books:
Brown, Daniel James "The Boys in the Boat" - 2013
Nichols, Peter "A Voyage for Madmen" - 2002
Fallada, Hans "Every Man Dies Alone" (GE: Jeder stirbt für sich allein) - 1947
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander "August 1914" ["The Red Wheel" cycle] (RUS: Солженицын, Александр Исаевич/Узел I - «Август Четырнадцатого», Красное колесо) - 1971
Vargas Llosa, Mario "The Feast of the Goat" (E: La fiesta del chivo) - 2000
I am definitely a history person, so the last three are more important to me than the first two. But all of them are a lot stranger than any fiction.
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For more information on Nonfiction November check here.
I have a real passion for all things historical - as you've no doubt noticed - and find I just can't get enough of it. Non-fiction written well can be just as gripping as the best fiction. I think non-fiction authors have become very good at producing strong narratives which can't help making you go 'wow'.
ReplyDeleteTotally with you on the inability of keeping my mouth shut! The number of times my mouth has said something only for my brain to catch up moments later to think.. oh, oh, now I've done it!!
I have indeed, Kitten. Some of the interestes we share. And some of the traits. We must be related. ;)
DeleteI do admire people who goes beyond the usual. However, as you say, to risk other people's lives is not something I like. There are some amazing sports people out there. I have read Fallada and you can really admire such a person for doing something he beliefs in, even if it does not make a lot of noice in the surrounding world.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us agree with that, Lisbeth. Risking your own life is crazy enough, risking that of others for some achievement in sports or otherwise is unpardonable.
DeleteFallada is quite well known in Germany, his books were even turned into films. However, I doubt that many got the chance to read him during WWII.
Boys in the Boat is still on my TBR! I must remedy that one of these years! ~ Carol @ Reading Ladies
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol, for mentioning your name. Don't know whether you'll see this answer. But yes, Boys in the Boat is a great story.
DeleteI've seen a few people participating in this NFN reading challenge! I hope you enjoy these books, Marianne :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dini. I have, these are books that I recommend to others.
DeleteInteresting selections, thanks for sharing them
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shelley Rae. I try to find something that might be interesting to many and I am always glad when someone does think so.
DeleteLots of great choices this week, but I wasn't familiar with The Feast of the Goat. It sounds horrifying, but I'm going to have to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christopher. Neither was I, even though I had read books by the author before. Someone in our online book club suggested it and I am glad we did read it although it really is horrifying.
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