All About Books discussion

We've only just begun our non-fiction group reads but it is already time to start nominating for the next round in December/January.

We usually provide a theme for nominations, but we thought that twice a year we would go for a 'carte blanche': a round where you can nominate whatever your heart desires as long as it is non-fiction. We thought since we will read our next winners during Christmas/New Years madness this would be the perfect time to go for our first carte blanche.

Nominations will run for a maximum of two weeks or until 8 poll-contestants are chosen. In order to move into poll a book needs to receive a second vote. So second if you are not nominating!

Here we go!!

I'll kick it off with my nomination of A History of Reading by the wonderful Alberto Manguel who received the 'Prix Médicis' for best essay for this book in 1998.

I will nominate a book I acquired this past summer, Tracks by Robyn Davidson. This is a true life account of a woman's solo journey (with a dog and some camels) across the western desert of Australia.

I'd like to nominate I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza. I enjoyed reading his account of being a english teacher in high school and reccomend you guys check it out.

I would like to nominate Meander: East to West along a Turkish River by Jeremy Seal

Paul wrote: "I would like to nominate Meander: East to West along a Turkish River by Jeremy Seal"

I'll second this. Though I've heard good things of all the other books as well. I've read the Manguel book.

I'd like to nominate Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education. I bought it in a charity shop last year as it would have been one of the group reads for the old group some of us were in. I'd still like to read it as it does look interesting.

I'd like to nominate Schindler's List (my UK copy is called Schindler's Ark) I have been meaning to read this one for a while.

Shirley wrote: "I'd like to nominate Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education. I bought it in a charity shop last year as it would have been one of the group reads for the o..."

This seems really interesting to me Shirley!!!!

Pink wrote: "I'd like to nominate Schindler's List (my UK copy is called Schindler's Ark) I have been meaning to read this one for a while."
Is this non-fiction?

judy and laura: is that a 'second' for the books you've mentioned?

Gill wrote: "Pink wrote: "I'd like to nominate Schindler's List (my UK copy is called Schindler's Ark) I have been meaning to read this one for a while."
Is this non-fiction?"

I am slightly puzzled by that too, since - eventhough it is shelved as non-fiction over 400 times, it claims to be a novel based on true facts. Also I thought that the Man Booker Prize (which it won in 1982) is only awarded to works of fiction?

Jenny wrote: "judy and laura: is that a 'second' for the books you've mentioned?"

Yes!

Judy wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I will nominate a book I acquired this past summer, Tracks by Robyn Davidson. This is a true life account of a woman's solo journey (with a dog and some camels) across the western d..."

Hahaha! I acquired it based on your glowing review! :)

Jenny wrote: "Gill wrote: "Pink wrote: "I'd like to nominate Schindler's List (my UK copy is called Schindler's Ark) I have been meaning to read this one for a while."
Is this non-fiction?"

I am slightly puzzle..."

I think that this is non-fiction the way the Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" is non-fiction. I have had that described to me as "factually accurate fiction"...

Yes, I always have this problem! I particularly dislike sorting fiction books by genre (I even have a mild rant about this in my profile!) and there are more and more crossovers now. I'd like to use the word "Faction", but that meaning for it doesn't exist. Perhaps we should invent one...

Another example was in the recent poll for fiction - "Patterns of Childhood" by Christa Wolf (I have not done a link as this is obviously NOT a nomination!) which sounded autobiographical, so I would have considered it to be non-fiction.

Amber wrote: "I'd like to nominate I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza. I enjoyed reading his account of being a english teacher in high..."

I have a soft spot for books about teachers, and this sounds quite interesting Amber. I would like to second it!

Judy wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Judy wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I will nominate a book I acquired this past summer, Tracks by Robyn Davidson. This is a true life account of a woman's solo journey (with a dog and some ..."

ah yes, no more bright red flask (at least for now!)...

Hhm, I guess Schindler's Ark is sort of non-fiction, but like Leslie says it has fictional embellishments by the author, much like In Cold Blood.

Wikipedia says - "It is a historical novel which describes actual people and events with fictional dialogue and scenes added by the author." Though I know the author worked very closely with a holocaust survivor, who'd been trying for years to convince somebody to write the story of Oscar Schindler.

I don't mind nominating another book if everyone would prefer something more factual. Though the lines often blur between fact and fiction in historical books, or indeed in biographies to some degree.

Jean - I think faction would describe "Oranges are not the only fruit" or some of Virginia Woolf's books.

Pink - you're probably right! Last time I looked it up "faction" did not have another meaning other than eg a political group, but now I've found the following:

A form of literature or filmmaking that treats real people or events as if they were fictional or uses real people or events as essential elements in an otherwise fictional rendition.

(Free online dictionary.)

I can see quite a few "non-fiction" books and historical novels would fall into this slot. So I shall feel free to use this word from now on!

Awesome, elisa. It is a good book. I found it as an ebook in the reads overdrive library software online through my library and it was very interesting. I enjoyed reading tony danza's book.

Shirley wrote: "I'd like to nominate Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education. I bought it in a charity shop last year as it would have been one of the group reads for the o..."

Sounds great!

My nomination is The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary. Want to know something more of the animal world.......

Dhanaraj, had I not already nominated a book myself I'd second this, it is on my TBR as well and I heard it is a wonderful book.

Alright, a little overview on what's been nominated so far:

A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel
Tracks by Robyn Davidson (seconded)
I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza (seconded)
Meander: East to West along a Turkish River by Jeremy Seal (seconded)
Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education by Jane Robinson (seconded)
The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary by Caspar Henderson
My Own Country: A Doctor's Story by Abraham Verghese

Pink, I did some more research on Schindler's List and I see it described as a historical novel based on true facts everywhere (apart from some GR bookshelfs) Since we already have two fiction group reads (I think this one could go into general fiction for December maybe?) I think for fairness sake we should stick to non-fiction here somewhat strictly. Maybe you have another nomination for non-fiction instead?

Wow, lots of these look like excellent reads.
I'd like to nominate My Own Country: A Doctor's Story which is a biography of an Indian doctor working at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Johnson City, Tennessee. I have read his fiction work Cutting for Stone which was incredible and this looks very interesting as well.

If this doesn't win, I urge you to look up Cutting for Stone as it is truly one of the most memorable books I have ever read and one of the reasons I am nominating his biography!

Looks interesting, I'll add it to the overview Heather! 'Cutting in Stone' is on my TBR already, great to hear you liked it so much!

@ Jenny, I saw that you had already marked The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary as your 'To Be read book'. Interestingly it was introduced to me by my friend from the book store. It looked interesting.

Jenny, yes of course that's fine not to include Schindler's List ....it's probably a tricky book to nominate for book club categories, but I'm sure I'll get around to reading it in my own time :)

I've been thinking of what else I'd like to nominate and I've decided upon Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers which I think looks fascinating, though that could just be me!

Pink, that book is AMAZING! I would re-read if it won. I also have slightly weird taste in non-fiction, I love the medical stuff!

Thanks Pink! Your new nomination is exactly the kind of book that makes me go: uuh, interesting, but do I really want to know? Luckily (or unfortunately -depending on the point of view) my curiousity usully has the upper hand. ;)
I'll add it to the list above!

Alright, a little overview on what's been nominated so far:

A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel (seconded)
Tracks by Robyn Davidson (seconded)
I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza (seconded)
Meander: East to West along a Turkish River by Jeremy Seal (seconded)
Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education by Jane Robinson (seconded)
The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary by Caspar Henderson
My Own Country: A Doctor's Story by Abraham Verghese
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Mary Roach has written lots of books at the strange end of non fiction!

I'd like to second A History of Reading - have been meaning to read for a while

Paul wrote: "Mary Roach has written lots of books at the strange end of non fiction!"

I've noticed! I like the look of most of them :)

Laurel wrote: "I'd like to second A History of Reading - have been meaning to read for a while"

Hooray!!

Re Patterns of Childhood. I've read 80pages of it now, and it is written as fiction, not as an autobiography.

Ah! Thank you Gill :)

Judy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Mary Roach has written lots of books at the strange end of non fiction!"

Agree, Paul. I read her latest one this summer. Quite interesting."

Never heard of her. WHat do you suggest?

Very interesting list, my instincts are telling me to sit back on this one as I don't really see any that I am dying to read but I will vote if there is a last minute tie.

Just a reminder that nominations are still open until Wednesday, the 30th October in the morning or until 8 nominations are seconded.

Keep nominating or second a nomination!

So far we have 8 nominations, 6 of them received a second vote:

A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel (seconded)
Tracks by Robyn Davidson (seconded)
I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza (seconded)
Meander: East to West along a Turkish River by Jeremy Seal (seconded)
Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education by Jane Robinson (seconded)
The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary by Caspar Henderson (seconded)
My Own Country: A Doctor's Story by Abraham Verghese
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

OK, last chance to second or nominate. Poll goes up on Wednesday morning.

I'm brand new, but will second The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary. Nice to give some attention to our fellow creatures on the planet :-)

Great nominations so far!

Thanks Julia, I've edited it in.

Thanks, Jenny--what a good group of moderators you all are! :-)

I was looking at the polls wondering why this poll wasn't up. I think I really want this week to hurry up and be over with.

Thank you Julia! We're trying! ;)

Alannah, weirdly enough I was kind of doing the same this morning, in complete denial of the fact that it is me that needs to put it up and me that stubbornly decided to stick to the 2 weeks of nomination time before doing so ;) However the good news: waiting finally got 'The Book Of Barely Imagined Beings' seconded so we now have 6 books to vote on if nothing else is nominated/seconded tonight. Tomorrow the poll will go up and next time we'll probably plan a bit less time for it.

This one is a lighter read, I think. It was made into a film last year too.We Bought a Zoo
If it's too late to be seconded, don't worry - I'll nominate it some other time :)

Jean wrote: "This one is a lighter read, I think. It was made into a film last year too.We Bought a Zoo
If it's too late to be seconded, don't worry - I'll nominate it some other time :)"

Thanks Jean, I've added it you never know, someone might second it last minute!