Week 3 (11/10-11/16) Book Pairings: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. Maybe it's a historical novel and the real history in a nonfiction version, or a memoir and a novel, or a fiction book you’ve read and you would like recommendations for background reading. Or maybe it’s just two books you feel have a link, whatever they might be. You can be as creative as you like! (Hosted by Liz at Adventures in reading, running and working from home).
It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis (fiction)
Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright (nonfiction)
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
— Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis presents an alarming look at the growth of fascism in America in his fiction book, It Can't Happen Here. Madeleine K. Albright outlines the signs of fascism in her nonfiction book, Fascism: A Warning.
Germinal is a novel by the French writer, Émile Zola, first published in 1885. It tells the story of the wretched poverty of mine workers in Northern France.
Sociologist Matthew Desmond looks at the reasons why one in eight children lives in dire poverty in the richest country in the world, why corporations who make huge profits pay meager wages, and why people live and die on the streets in his book, Poverty by America.
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (nonfiction)
A new regime begins in Ireland, and small terrible things begin to happen to ordinary people. Scientist Eilish Stack is horrified to find that her husband, the father of her four children, has been carted off by the secret police. And that's just the beginning in the novel Prophet Song.
Author Hannah Arendt looks at the beginnings and characteristics of totalitarian governments, focusing on two totalitarian governments in our time, Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, in her nonfiction book, The Origins of Totalitarianism.
Very nicely done and timely! My host post is up now: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/nonfiction-november-2025-week-3-pairings-2/ and I've added a link to yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz!
DeleteGreat job 👏 on the pairing.
ReplyDeleteI love your Zola/Desmond pairing - clever!
ReplyDeleteGreat pairings. Alas, it has all the signs of a 2025 post...
ReplyDeleteMy post is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/11/10/nonfiction-november-2025-book-pairings/
Great book choices, with or without pairings, but the contrasts make for interesting thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSuch serious pairings but thanks for sharing .
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT and very timely pairings. Great job! I begged people to read Madelein Albright's book before the election but was told I was over-reacting. Not so--I have a degree in political science in which I studied every dictator. Read it now and weep.
ReplyDeleteAh, perfect pairings, yes!
ReplyDeleteThose are (unfortunately) remarkably good pairings. Well done.
ReplyDeleteGreat pairings! I am part way through my nonfiction book in the pairing I chose, but am not loving it like I thought I would.
ReplyDeleteNicely chosen pairings! I plan to read Albright's book, as well as Prophet Song, but I'm not sure my heart can handle either right now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting pairings. I've read three of the books, including Sinclair Lewis's, but sadly, I think his title was wrong - it can happen here and maybe even is happening here. Vigilance is required.
ReplyDeleteThey all sound relevant.
ReplyDeleteExcellent pairings with a political theme. One is only surprised that some of the bad politics are still there today.
ReplyDeleteYikes that is a big push for me to read The Prophet Song. I like how you told someone somewhere that it is written in Third Person Personal which is a concept I have yet to know or ponder on. yet. And the fascism pairing is brilliant. RE: Germinal, I recall the mention of how many times the mine owners/managers made compared to the miners and it was low, like 5x? now think about what some CEOs are getting TIMES the hourly wage and it is staggering. :/ That quote about 1 in 8 children in poverty is US - so sad and maddening. Your post here this week is powerful.
ReplyDeleteI am very sad about Americans lately. And Americans are my people.
DeleteTerrific list! So relevant, right now.
ReplyDeleteWith a degree in government from Florida State University (mumble mumble years ago) and as one who carries a copy of the Constitution of the United States in my bag, I applaud your pairings. I've read one book by Madeleine Albright, and she is one plain-spoken woman! I'm sure she lays out her case regarding American fascism in plain language. Fascism was an enemy to my father in World War II. It is my enemy, too. Well chosen!
ReplyDeleteAll these book pairings sound very timely (sadly enough 😬) for today's world we're living in. I wish it ain't so but here we are. Great job done!
ReplyDeleteThese are all great choices and necessary reads. Will be checking them out.
ReplyDeleteThe Sinclair Lewis book seems so prescient these days. An amazing story that tracks right alongside reality (sadly). I have not read the Albright book, but it seems like a great one to sit on the shelf next to Lewis'. Thank you for the rec and pairing here!
ReplyDeleteInteresting and heavy pairings. I admire your ability to tackle the hard subjects head on. I am going to add Poverty in America to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI added Fascism: A Warning to my TBR list. It seems like something everybody should read right now.
ReplyDeleteI read It Can't Happen Here during W's administration & it seemed scary enough then...
ReplyDelete