Week 2 of Nonfiction November is hosted by Frances at The Volatile Rune. She asks:
What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking.
Let’s address topics first!
I like to think I would read anything if it grabbed me – and sometimes I do. But when I think about it more deeply, I do have topics I favour over anything else, and the top ones are:
- Memoirs from actors, musicians, artists and others working in the arts that I like or are interested in their work. More often alive rather than dead too.
- Medical books, be they memoirs, history or health-related
- Popular Science – virtually any topic – from astronomy to quantum physics, botany to the ocean deeps, Marie Curie to fireworks, plus the environment and ecology.
- The 1960s and 1970s – the decades I grew up in. Anything relating to social history, rock’n’roll, TV and movies etc. esp if relating to South London.
- Books about books – any kind!
What about style?
Generally I prefer memoir over biography. I don’t mind when actors etc get help to write their memoirs, providing a) the help gets acknowledged and b) said help gets their subject’s voice right.
I also enjoy books that combine expertise in a subject with elements of memoir and experience of the author. This is an increasing trend, and one that I’ve welcomed. It makes nf books more easily readable, less dry than keeping to the subject only, and allows more engagement with the author. This applies to short nf essays as much as longer books.
Covers and Titles?
I admit, a snappy or clever title, or a gorgeous cover will make me pick a book up always! I am that shallow.
One I’m looking forward to reading soon is Dame Judi Dench’s book on Shakespeare that came out last year. The cover is such an attractive duck-egg blue, a very restful colour but one that stands out among a sea of primaries.
An example of a witty title, is another book on my shelves I should have read by now – Blurb Your Enthusiasm by Louise Wilder, subtitled A Cracking Compendium of Book Blurbs, Writing Tips, Literary Folklore and Publishing Secrets. It’s of course a pun on the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm and works on every level.
I’m just editing this post to add the latest book added to my TBR due to its cover… As I said to Ian in The Bookstore, one of Abingdon’s two indie bookshops, when I bought it – it’s got a womble on the cover… I would want to read this regardless as it fits my favourite topic, but the cover drew me like a magnet with those 1970s swirls – and Mike as a Womble.
I thoroughly enjoyed Blurb. An anorak’s delight!
I feel guilty for not having managed to read it when it was first published. One for the Christmas hols I think.
#Snap! I have the Judy Dench one too, and I think I noticed in the bookshop because of the cover:)
I don’t think it’s shallow to be influenced by a cover. We all are. That’s why publishers spend so much time/money/effort on them. I really cannot possibly add any more books to my TBR – except I’ve just added Blurb! I see you have read War Horse. One of the few books I though that wasn’t better than the film/play.
I miss the good books with boring covers though when browing – I should have shared the latest book I bought based on its cover: Mike Batt’s memoir – it’s all 1960/70s swirls and him in a Womble suit – couldn’t resist.
I’ve not seen the play or film of War Horse so can’t comment. Personally, I don’t suggest children’s books for our book group – but I was overruled on this one. Short write-up to follow soon.
Memoirs, history, popular science, literary criticism and essays are what I tend to be attracted to these days in nonfiction, but a lot depends on mood. And mood definitely includes a cover design, a decisive trigger to me picking up the book! There’s a classic look to the Blurb – the font, the bold but simple design – that might attract be to it, topic almost a secondary consideration…
For me its definately medical & true crime. Best nonfiction title has to be « youll leave this world with your butt sewn shut. » a mouthful but it takes the cake 😂
Oh my! That’s a title and a half – not sure I’d pick it up though… 😀
Ahah thats fair, i enjoyed learning on death and what comes after
It’s not the subject matter – just the ‘gross’ title! In the UK such a book would have a clever pun title rather than be so direct, usually! 😀
Oh ok’ ahah
Interesting to read about your preferences for nonfiction. I would prefer biographies to memoirs, because I always think that people who write their memoirs might not always be open about everything, or be a little bit biased on their own achievement. Probably only in my fantasy. I do read memoirs from time to time.
I think that’s a living v dead thing mostly for me. I do like to hear people tell their own stories though.
I like to think that I won’t turn a book away due to a cover but, if it is appealing, I am more likely to pick it up.
I had to go and look up a Womble – that looks like a fun read!
The Wombles on UK kids TV were so sweet – and they were all about recycling even back then. Batt did the music, and then had a string of hit singles featuring them.
Ooh Blurb sounds really good. I’ll look out for it. I love any and all books about books, writing, publishing, creativity, etc.
I’m a sucker for books about S London, too – I wasn’t going to pick up Fred Sirieux’s memoir till I discovered he moved to Peckham when he first came to London!
I love to read about the 60s. So far, I haven’t found a book that encompasses the decade well for me. I did like recently reading The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon.
It was so different for different groups of people, even up and down the UK, London was another world. Few books could hope to encompass the whole, but there is a series by a chap called David Kynaston which I’ve long wanted to read, going era by era after the war, covering all going on in the UK.