It's Week 2 of Nonfiction November (November 9-13). Julz Reads will be sharing Book Pairing: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real history by reading a nonfiction version of the story.
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird AND How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
A novel about the life of a freed enslaved Black woman who joins the Buffalo Soldiers AND a nonfiction overview of the history of American racism and ways to overcome racism in America today.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig AND From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
A novel about a woman who tries to take her own life and ends up with opportunities to relive her life and make different choices in the afterlife AND a nonfiction book written by a mortician who travels the world to see ways different cultures care for their dead.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue AND Influenza: The Hundred-Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History by Jeremy Brown
A novel about a nurse in flu-ravaged Dublin in 1918 AND a nonfiction book about the 1918 flu.
These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901: Arizona Territories: A Novel by Nancy E. Turner AND Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West
Interesting combinations! I like to read a real account story of a fictional story I have read. It is an excellent way to learn more, and also see if the fictional author has got it right. I will see what I will come up with next week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this very interesting challenge.
I found that I really enjoyed reading Moby-Dick along with nonfiction books about Melville and whales.
DeletePairing history with historical fiction sounds like a great idea, though some fiction writers might be embarrassed at what you would find out about them. I've had some bad moments when I realized that the fiction writer wasn't careful about details (especially when it comes to food: there's a lot of sloppiness in the research). I might be too literal-minded to want to read about reality! Of course I don't mean that historical fiction can't invent _characters_ who experience the history -- I just want accuracy in their daily life. What's your view from these pairings?
ReplyDeletebe well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I agree. It is rare that historical fiction really feels true to the times. Even the rhythm of our speech has changed so much that I think it's unusual for an author to be able to reconstruct a semblance of accurate speech.
DeleteWhat a clever idea! Especially with Historical Events. This idea will most probably get me to read more non-fiction. I can count my non-fiction reads on one hand.
ReplyDeleteThe pull of the stars has caught my eye more than once, maybe maybe.
I think I need to go and buy a 2021 diary. Then I can start listing all the things I want to take part in on the blog next year. Feels like I'm missing out on some of the good stuff!
Elza Reads
I know. I went through and made a list of all the book blog memes so I wouldn't miss out. I need to update those now, I think.
DeleteInteresting pairings. I'm currently reading The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue. It feels almost like nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteI thought so, too.
DeleteInteresting pairings! I've only managed to come up with one so far!
ReplyDeleteThis is always hard for me.
DeleteSuch great pairings! Now I've got to step up my game when I do this post next week. :-)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'm sure your pairings will be fabulous, Helen.
DeleteI loved These Is My Words (read it twice) and will look for Dreams of El Dorado. I'll bet my husband would enjoy that one, too.
ReplyDeleteI haven't started it yet, but I'm taking it along on our trip to Arizona.
DeleteThese are great pairings! I want to read the Emma Donoghue and Jeremy Brown pair especially.
ReplyDeleteI love your pairings! I'm prepping my post now and going through my books. I too have a pairing for The Midnight Library, he he...
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about these. No pairing here but I'm reading Kathy McCoy's memoir, "The Crocodiles will Arrive Later. Look for a review soon!
ReplyDeleteInteresting pairs, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat pairings! I want to read that flu book, but the library waitlist is huge. I guess everybody wants to read the flu book!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
From Death to Eternity is added to my list! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHere's mine: https://happiestwhenreading.com/2020/11/09/fiction-nonfiction-pairings/
As much as I love Emma Donoghue, I REALLY struggled with The Pull of the Stars. Thanks for participating and providing such a great variety of pairings!
ReplyDeleteReading historical fiction always makes me want to find out about the real story. With these pairings I can!
ReplyDeleteThe 1918 flu pairing is really interesting - I love when the pairs can tie so closely together like that.
ReplyDeleteOoo your western pairing sounds fabulous!!! I am looking forward to your thoughts on them!
ReplyDeleteGreat pairingss. I didn't know the book by Donnoghue was on the flu.
ReplyDeleteMine are here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/11/10/nonfiction-november-2020-book-pairings/
I find books about death fascinating and terrifying in equal measure, so I'm interested to see a couple people pairing books like that with Matt Haig's book. I've been hearing good things about, but hadn't paid much attention. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThe flu pairing sounds fascinating too, but I'm not sure I'm up for those right now!
Clever, clever post!
ReplyDeleteI was on the look out for a book about the 1918 Flu after reading the Pull of the Stars...thanks for tip!
ReplyDelete