Book Haven discussion

I love both fiction and non-fiction, but I didn't see any topics like this (I don't think) so I thought I'd add one. Does anyone have any interest in non-fiction books? Any suggestions in that area? I have plenty, but my #1 suggestion I think would be Peter Hessler's Oracle Bones. It's about China, and talks about now as well as ancient times. Really interesting read for someone who wanted to get a feel for the country, in all sorts of aspects (language, culture, history, people, etc.) Written in a great way that is easy to read. He is a writer from the States who lives (or has lived) in China. I'm looking forward to his next book, out this year!

Any thoughts on this book, or other non-fictions?

I read a fair amount of non-fiction, including biography, history, and political commentary. I really like Ann Coulter ... you can't be lukewarm about her, you either love her or hate her ... I happen to love her. I also like Glenn Beck's books, and quite a few others in that vein (Hannity, O'Reilly).

I have at least a half-dozen of the Politically Incorrect Guides (Islam and the Crusades, Constitution, Global Warming, Feminism, The South, The Civil War.

One of my favorite books of all time is The Making of the Atomic Bomb.

I was fascinated when reading Raven, which is about Jim Jones and the People's Temple.

I read very few nonfiction books but when I do they are mostly based around ancient history like Dr. Hawass' Mountains of the Pharaohs: The Untold Stories of the Pyramid Builders or anthropological based. There are few biographies that I would even consider reading but I plan on tackling one of Thomas Jefferson's as well as Ozzy's pretty soon (I like a wide variety of people I guess,lol)

I've pretty much just started venturing into the realm of non fiction for fun. One that I absolutely LOVE is Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. I thought it was a very interesting insight into Iran, as well as a great analysis of some classics. This book is the reason I picked up Lolita, which I ended up enjoying immensely.

I also enjoyed The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream quite a bit.

I've heard wonderful things about The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America and it's up there on my TBR list. I read I Am America: And So Can You! and thought it was only all right. I think his humor is more suitable for a half hour television show than a whole book.

On the nerdy English major side of non fiction I really enjoyed Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation and Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose. I also think that if you like to read and write at all the The Elements of Style is an essential book to read.

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books is on my TBR list for this year. Would you suggest reading Lolita first, or were you happy you read it afterward?

I enjoyed Eats Shoots and Leaves as well. Your other suggestions sound interesting too, will have to check them out.

Michelle and Shadowhawk, those are some great suggestions too. Wish my library had more of those!

I am about to start on Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, who also wrote The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America.

Thunderstruck is about Dr. Crippen. I remember seeing a movie about him many years ago, so I'm looking forward to learning the details of the story.

I just finished Ayn Rand and the World She Made. Wow. It was great.

I have both Thunderstruck and The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America on my bookshelf. Hopefully I'll get to them soon.

Stephanie, I was happy to read Lolita afterwards, but I also hadn't been very interested in reading it until I read Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. However reading 'Lolita' first could enhance the other book as well. You'll have to let me know, which order you read them in!

That's interesting. I have Reading Lolita in Tehran in my TBR. I bought it on the whim since I don't normally read non-fiction.

Lisa Anne wrote: "...I read I Am America: And So Can You! and thought it was only all right. I think his humor is more suitable for a half hour television show than a whole book. "

In total agreement. I was sure it would be great (and was so let down).

Mawgojzeta wrote: "Lisa Anne wrote: "...I read I Am America: And So Can You! and thought it was only all right. I think his humor is more suitable for a half hour television show than a whole book. "

In total agreem..."
Same here..I had to take long breaks from the book in order to enjoy it more. It was good in small doses.

One of my all time favorite non-fiction books that I forgot to mention in my previous post is
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, something about it drew me in. And also a really interesting one is The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession....maybe I've read more nonfiction then I thought.

I go on these non-fic kicks every now and again. Here's a few I really enjoyed:



I thought was frightfully dull - which was sad because I LOVE Erik Larson.

I just like to read. I like fiction, non-fiction, poetry, novels, series, short stories, etc. lol

I am in the process of reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation,Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, and Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye.

Some non-fiction I have read and enjoyed:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, & the Truth about Reality
Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Personal Spiritual Life
Awakening the Buddha Within : Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World
Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories
Coast To Coast Ghosts: True Stories of Hauntings Across America
The Glass Castle

I like subjects such as mythology, psychology, the paranormal, genetics, memoirs, religion, animals, crime... As long as it doesn't take itself too seriously and can hold my attention, it's fair game.

I have Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, The City of Falling Angels, and The Monster of Florence waiting on my shelf right now.

Also, I tend to make long posts (Yes, I am just now noticing this). I apologize. :p

Bonfire,
Great list,I like to read fiction too,I`d probably switch with romance and mystery every other time if I saw more lists like yours.
Your list definitly wasn`t too long for me,keep them coming,please.
Could you tell me if you liked the Coast Ghost book enough to buy it?

Thanks. :) I bought it before I read it, actually. Of course I skimmed through it in the store. I remember thinking it was pretty interesting. I haven't read it in a while, though. I accidentally left it at my cousin's house years ago and haven't seen it since. I guess she enjoyed it too. lol

Anything about any of the plagues.
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Buchman
The Road Less Travelled
Any philosophy, esp. by Nietzsche.
Any of the profiling books by John Douglas (strong stomachs mandatory)
Anything by Bill James, if you're into baseball.
Anything by Bill Bryson and Annie Lamott

Steven Belanger
www.stevenbelanger.com

And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic - Randy Shiltz

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History John M Barry
The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History

Seven Days of Rage by Paul laRosa and Maria Cramer (about the Craigslist Killer)

Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes. It comes out today. I thought it was a really fun, snappy read for anyone who is interested in the origins of euphemisms and why we use them.

We have an area for author promotions.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...

Recently finished The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp Through Civilization's Best Bits. Quite enjoyable romp through USA history.

Terri,

How was Seven Days of Rage? The Craigslist Killer's last victim was in my town, at a hotel down the street, and he's still a topic of shocked conversation around here. I'd love to know what you and others thought of it, and about how accurate you think it was. I hate nonfiction books that are widely inaccurate.

Well not knowing the investigation info since there will of course be no trial, it seemed to be pretty accurate. As true crime can be, it seems sensational at times. It really does seem like we'll never really understand his motives. He hid his dark side pretty well. I felt sorry for his fiancee.

The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us by Sheril Kirshenbaum was a really fun read that was just released a couple of weeks ago. Great for romantics and/or armchair scientists.

i love true crime and biographies. I love Ann Rule. I just finished Lost and Found: The True Story of Jaycee Lee Dugard. (John Glatt)

How was that? She is one strong young woman!

The book was good, but I can't read it twice. anyone did that to my kid, i'd k-ll him.

Generation Kill by Evan Wright
One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick

I *always* recommend those.