Hi Jeanette,
I haven't read all of these, but I like your choices! Some I've added to my (now huge) "to read" list! I'm going to check out the entire list--and maybe vote on a few myself! Thanks for posting it.
Cheryl

Cheryl wrote: "Hi Jeanette,
I haven't read all of these, but I like your choices! Some I've added to my (now huge) "to read" list! I'm going to check out the entire list--and maybe vote on a few myself! Thanks ..."

Oh Cheryl, I do not often vote on these lists but I'm the unusual female that reads as much non-fiction as I do fiction. And more in proportion all the time. This particular year has been an outstanding non-fiction one. This is just my first 4 "read" pages, so you have encouraged me to add more of my recent favorites. ENJOY! Some of these non-fiction hold priceless knowledge beyond mere fictional expertise.

And also a thank you to MomToKippy for keeping me social and sharing. THANK YOU, Gita.

Thanks Jeanette! I don;t read much NF so if you have some favorite not on there please add and maybe I will find something to read.

I just added some more to the list. I have probably many more 4 or 5 star that are mixed in my "read" inventory. Just picked up two memoirs today that look excellent. 1 from Iran, 1 from North Korean adopted and sent to America. I'll be reading them soon when I return from AZ. Rose Hotel and Under the Same Sky. I only add books to lists if they are at least 4 star by my former reviews. Don't know about these yet.

Thanks for letting me know, Jeanette. Yes, I must say, there have been some excellent nonfiction books published recently. In my (humble) opinion, a good narrative nonfiction book can beat fiction any day! But I'm prejudiced, I guess. When I was working, I was often asked to conduct book talks on nonfiction because most of the staff read fiction. I think I inspired some of them to begin reading nonfiction. It has certainly changed over the years from the classic "textbook" type of writing to the wonderful narrative nonfiction books we're seeing now. Have a great day!
Cheryl

Yes, exactly. IMHO, the non-fiction has improved in the last 10 years by eons. Not that I haven't read some dogs, but over all the style and the factual research content is applied better for interest, tension and readability. Fiction has taken a not as fortunate turn. Although tech has probably encouraged more poor work to be "out there". It used to make me JOYFUL to find students in my college who read non-fiction as a habit. I couldn't bet on it, but I do think for both genders it is getting rarer. Lots of fiction junkies in comparison.

So true!! And if it is that is so sad......

Great comments, Jeanette! I agree on where both genres are going.
I have really loved getting into more nonfiction this past year... I think it's smart to read an equal amount of fiction and nonfiction.

You guys are right. I think fiction is going down the toilet! That's why I read the older stuff. Whenever i try something new it is usually garbage sadly. I will make an effort to try more non-fiction.

I added some more, and might again next month. Only adding those which were better than 3 stars, I had 100 more that were 3 star level but most of those are travelogues or personal memoir. Christ Stopped at Eboli is probably my #1 pick. Lifetime wise. It is a masterpiece. Carlo Levi was a painter, not a writer. But instead of being executed he was sent by the Fascists to exile in Southern Italy. This is his year there. My maternal Grandmother left Sicily at 19 and died at 49. She worked herself to death and had 15 nearly full term pregnancies resulting in Congestive Heart Failure. When she died she was an American citizen, could read and write English had 4 buildings (most of which she had people living in free and was fire bombed in the 1930's for renting to Blacks), 1 Mom & Pop grocery store on Racine Ave. (now is directly across from the Dan Ryan Expressway)and 5 living children. 1 died soon after her at 29 from heart condition obtained in childhood disease aftermath. Her Sicily stories of fruit and having only the pasta (pronounced "basta her way)water to drink after the men ate the pasta- never, never forgotten by me. Carlo Levi's memoir of his year is the closest to my Grandmother's stories. Although Eboli was richer and never as often invaded.

You have an amazing history in your family Jeanette.

Yes, I do. Both sides in different countries in Europe had "interesting" times. And then they came to Chicago. LOL! I do laugh. I had not one ancestor in North America before 1920 and on my German side none until 1933. My Father's family was the real tale. My Great-Grandfather was a noble who married a commoner, my Great-Grandmother. He sat at a piano and played music while she worked in the precious stone factory (Idar-Oberstein, the gem mining town in the Alps)and raised 8 boys and 2 girls. My Grandmother was the oldest. She lived to 99 and lived with me. Her name was Lotta and she was a saint. She had 8 brothers, and 6 were killed in two wars. Her brother was the Mayor and shot by the Nazis in the village square. Her youngest brother was a Hitler youth and strong follower. He died as well. And on top of it I have their picture, Gita- as a family. Taken in 1905 when she was 18. They are all knock down dead gorgeous on top of it. She was the only dark haired sibling so they called her Swartzie. All the rest are handsome movie star looking blondes. She left at 44 when my Dad was 14. Never saw most of them ever again, but we took her to see her sister when she was in her 80's. The first two times her husband tried to get her to the USA and my Dad too- they were refused at the docks in Hamburg. She only weighed about 100 lbs and had asthma. He already had a job at Swifts in Chicago and they finally let her and my Dad in. They were separated as spouses in the process and in the war (WWI) for over 10 years. It would make a good book. I'm thinking about it. She was terrified of thunderstorms. The girl holding the other end of the milking pole with her as a girl got hit and killed by lighting. Lots about Lotta to tell.