Thursday, November 5, 2020

Nonfiction November 2020 – Week 1

 

This week begins Nonfiction November, an event that celebrates reading nonfiction. The event is hosted by Katie of Doing Dewey, Julz of Julz Reads, Rennie of What’s Nonfiction, and Leann of Shelf Aware. The main post for this week (with links to other blogs) is at Shelf Aware.


My year in nonfiction:

I decided to join in on this event for the first time because I thought I had read more nonfiction than in previous years. That is true but only by a couple of books, although there are two more months in 2020 and I am currently reading two nonfiction books. So maybe it is that I am getting more out of the nonfiction I am reading.

To this point in the year I have read three historical nonfiction books: two books about the influenza pandemic of 1918 and one about the life of servants in Victorian and Edwardian times.  I read four books of mystery reference. Plus, one travel journal, one biography, and one book about books. For a total of 10 nonfiction books. In previous years I have read eight or less nonfiction books.


Favorite nonfiction read of the year:

This is easy. Ross Macdonald: A Biography (1999) by Tom Nolan is not only my favorite nonfiction read, it is one of my favorite books of the year.

Ross Macdonald, pseudonym of Ken Millar, was the author of the highly regarded Lew Archer detective series. Ken Millar was born in northern California, spent his childhood in Ontario, Canada, and met his wife Margaret Millar while going to college in Canada. The couple moved to Santa Barbara in 1946 and were living there when Ken died in 1983. He was a very interesting man, and this biography was very well done. The emphasis is on his personal life although that naturally includes his development as an author of crime fiction.

I admire Ross Macdonald as a writer, but for years I have been interested in his life in Santa Barbara, where I have lived for four decades. 


A particular topic that I’ve been attracted to more this year:

Like most people, my reading has been a bit different this year. I always read a lot of mystery fiction of all types, but this year I read more comfort reads. I think I have read a bit less than before, and my concentration has definitely suffered, but all in all I had a good reading year, and that was true of my nonfiction reads also.

My husband has read three books about the influenza pandemic of 1918 but I have never had an interest in that topic. Until now. This year I wanted to know what people experienced in that pandemic and what we could learn from it. 

Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It (1999) by Gina Kolata

It is clear from all the books I read on this subject that doctors and scientists had no idea what the disease was that was killing so many people or what was causing it. This book focuses on research efforts to identify the virus after the 1918 pandemic ended.

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History (2004)

by John M. Barry

This book did go more into the events of the spread of the flu from 1918 through 1920 than Gina Kolata's book. It is also much longer with about 460 pages of text and another 100 of notes and references. There is an emphasis on the state of medicine, science, and research in the US in the 19th century, leading up to the outbreak of the flu, at the same time that the US was getting involved in World War I.

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And I am now reading Pandemic 1918 by Catharine Arnold. That book is more focused on first person accounts of the pandemic.


What do I hope to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? 

Two things. I hope that reading posts by people who are enthused about nonfiction will inspire me to read more in that area myself, and I hope to see suggestions for types of nonfiction that I have not considered. 


#NonficNov


28 comments:

Heather said...

I don’t think I would be able to read about pandemics while in a pandemic. I also have done a lot of comfort reading this year.

TracyK said...

Heather, except for the one I am reading right now, the books were not very graphic about the illness. They were a mix of science and history and I learned a lot about World War I. The differences between now and then were interesting.

In addition to comfort reading, there has been more variety in my reading. I am willing to try more things.

Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf said...

It's good to know the flu titles weren't very graphic. I've been interested in reading both of these, but like Heather, was a little nervous about that right now. Thanks for clarifying!

TracyK said...

Monika, these are worthwhile books to read, but I would not push anyone to read them right now. The circumstances were different, with less communication available to all. There was a lot of confusion, which is not so different from what we have experienced.

Cath said...

I ought to participate in this, given I've read 22 non-fiction books this year, but I'm suffering from inertia it seems. I need a kick up the backside. Look forward to your posts anyway... who knows I might even be able to stir myself and join in. LOL!

crackercrumblife said...

Whew more power to you for reading about the flu pandemic during a pandemic! My mom and brother have been doing that too. I will have to pass your titles on!

TracyK said...

Yes, Cath, you would have a lot to contribute to Nonfiction November as a longtime reader of many types of nonfiction. Maybe next year. I am afraid I have overcommitted myself for the month of November, but think it will be a good experience for me. And I am already planning more nonfiction reads for 2021.

It was at your blog that I found out about Lost Lands, Forgotten Stories, set in Labrador, which is definitely in my plans for 2021.

NancyElin said...

Tracy,
...oh I'd love to read the Ross McDonald biography.
The pandemic books are not what I want to read.
I'm hearing enough about this topic on the news.
As soon as Joe Biden reaches 270 electoral votes officially....then I can start my reading again!

Margot Kinberg said...

I really want to read that Ross McDonald biography, Tracy. You're the second person now who's recommended it, and it really seems interesting! And comparing the pandemic of 1918 and our situation now is really interesting, too. I can see why you chose those books.

TracyK said...

Erin, I was lucky to have the books about the 1918 pandemic in my house, because I probably would not have taken the chance and purchased them. My husband has always been interested in the topic. I am interested in some related fiction also but haven't taken that leap yet. Although I did buy a copy of Lockdown by Peter Mays.

TracyK said...

Nancy, the Ross Macdonald biography is fantastic. I am now reading the letters between Ken Millar (real name of Macdonald) and Eudora Welty.

I have been numb all week because of the election, mostly focusing on books and blogging. Today I finally got outside and potted a couple of plants.

Katrina said...

I haven't read anything by Ross MacDonald and really feel I should as you love his books, I'd wait until I've read him before reading a biography. At the beginning of this pandemic just about every book I picked up unexpectedly mentioned the plague or something similar, it was quite spooky. I've read a lot, but nothing too taxing on the brain.

TracyK said...

Margot, Part of what I loved about the Ross Macdonald book was about his life in Santa Barbara, but I was also curious about his relationship with Eudora Welty and the book covers that well also. The books about the 1918 pandemic were interesting and they all offered different perspectives. The one I am currently reading is more about the places (mainly in the US but not exclusively) that were affected and what that was like.

TracyK said...

Katrina, I have enjoyed the Ross Macdonald books I have read but really have only read a few. I have heard good things about a lot of the other books, so I hope you will enjoy them also.

Much of my reading this year has been vintage mysteries and comfort reading, but you and I both read The Master and Margarita, which was quite taxing for me.

Judith said...

Hi Tracy,
Oh gosh--I didn't know that Gina Kolata wrote a book about the 1918 flu epidemic! Will definitely look into that. I like her writing and have read a couple of books by her previously. The other book I have read portions of, and have in the house.
Although I haven't signed up for Nonfiction November, I've been reading nonfiction and have one going now. I mostly like to listen to nonfiction, yet with Obama's memoir coming up on November 17, I will not do that without having a hardcopy right by my side for the annotations and footnotes.

CLM said...

I read the Gina Kolata book when it came out, and thought it was fascinating although it took me ages to finish. She wrote for the NYT and her articles were always very accessible.

TracyK said...

Judith, I had not looked into the other books that Kolata wrote. Which books have you read?

Obama's memoir should be very good, but I will probably wait a while to get it.

TracyK said...

Constance, it was a very good read. Most of what was in that book was totally new information for me, so that was a bonus. I certainly know more even about the regular flu and why it can be dangerous than I ever did before.

Jinjer-The Intrepid Angeleno said...

I must read the Ross Macdonald book! Added it to my TBR.

TracyK said...

Jinjer, I try not to recommend books because each person has such different tastes. But I love the Ross Macdonald book so much.

Rick Robinson said...

I'd like to see a picture of your cat.

TracyK said...

That is a great idea, Rick. I just put up a post with photos of Rosie.

shelleyrae @ book'd out said...

I’m intrigued by the Ross McDonald biography, thanks for your recommendation.

TracyK said...

Shellyrae, it was interesting reading about an author's life, especially an author married to another author. With the added bonus of a lot of it taking place in Santa Barbara.

Christopher @ Plucked from the Stacks said...

I've been so hesitant to pick up any health-related books this year—big surprise, I know—but I recently read Richard Preston's The Hot Zone, and I think it broke my mental block. All three of the ones you listed are going onto my TBR pile.

TracyK said...

Christopher, The Hot Zone (and other books by that author) sound very good but horrifying. I will give them a try some day.

col2910 said...

Good luck - though now we are in December! I used to try and read one non-fiction book a month, but its been years since I came anywhere close. Maybe I'll try and get back into it next year.

TracyK said...

Col, I will be aiming at one non-fiction book a month and then hope that I read more than that.