This or That Reading Challenge discussion

This: A book about surviving a natural disaster (fiction or non-fiction).
That: A book about surviving a murderer (fiction or non-fiction).

This: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
That: Before the Clock Strikes (Kyle Simmons Thriller, #1) by E.G. Michaels

For this month's challenge I chose This: A book about surviving a natural disaster (fiction or non-fiction), for which I read Inland by Téa Obreht. This book tells a fictional tale that takes place during the very real severe droughts in Arizona at the end of the 19th century. It showcased what families had to do to conserve water, to what ends they had to go to obtain water, and also has a storyline about camels from the United States Camel Corps, that were tried as potential military option in drought areas during the US Civil War. I thought it was well written, as the author does a pretty good job of providing a sense for what it was like at the time under those circumstances. I should note that book does also venture into some magical realism, and the drought is more of a backdrop and catalyst for what is actually happening. Still, an enjoyable read. Solid 4 stars.