Non-fiction November Wrapup

Non-fiction November is a project run by Olive and Gemma on BookTube (the bookish part of YouTube), and I heard about it via Jen Campbell’s channel. Here is the Goodreads page for the project: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/174090-nonfiction-november-2016

This is the first year I decided to participate. I don’t read much non-fiction, maybe one every couple months, but I decided to make a conscious effort to pick up a couple more. I did unexpectedly well! I started six non-fiction books in November. Confession time, I finished two of those in the first days of December but the Non-fiction November and December wrap-up sounded too bulky. Anywhoodle, mere details. It’s the thought that counts, yada yada yada. 

The first book I picked up was Code Talker by Chester Nez and Judith Schiess Avila. Chester Nez was one of the original Navajo code talkers, and creators, of the only unbroken code of modern warfare. One of the reasons for this was because the Navajo language – on which the code was based – was largely unwritten, so there wouldn’t have been an easy way to deconstruct the secret language. The memoir chronicles Chester Nez’s childhood and his years as a Marine. It’s fascinating, and reads like a thriller novel; mainly because my education didn’t focus heavily on the battles in Asia. I gave this memoir 4 stars. It’s accessible and not overly wordy. The book deals with war, loss of life, and racism, so it’s not exactly an easy read, but certainly a valuable one.

Then I read one of my favourite books of the year - Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. You may have heard of this because there is also a film coming out in January. I first heard about this just as the trailer came out and I promptly ordered the book. It seemed important to read the book first in this case. It’s about the African-American women that were working in NACA/NASA, and have largely gone unnoticed in the mainstream coverage of the development of NASA and the space race. It is a beautiful book that follows a few of the women working in NASA after World War II and during the Space Race. They had to work themselves up without the same privileges as others, battling not just gender but also racial inequality. It’s harrowing but wonderful, and deftly deals with the absolutely infuriating casual racism that was running rampant in that era (prisoners of war were served in bars, but not African-American soldiers that fought in the wars). My top non-fiction book of the year.

Then I decided to delve into a celebrity memoir. Is It Just Me? is written by Miranda Hart, who you may know from her TV show Miranda or then Call the Midwife. In this fun book she is in an imaginary dialogue with her younger self, and in doing so offers useful information on, well, adulating in general. It had some great insights and I laughed out loud a lot. It’s a solid three star book – I liked it, but it wasn’t spectacular.

This was followed by a slim adult picture book Lost in Translation. This one shows us 25 untranslatable words from different languages. This is almost a must-read and no doubt a fascinating read for all people who are interested in linguistics, translation, or pretty pictures combined with words ;-). It would also make a great present.

The two books I started in November but finished in December are Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Both were excellent reads. I have forgotten seemingly everything from my high school chemistry and physics lessons, and the Rovelli book was a great refresher. The lessons are brief and meant for the layperson, so they are never too difficult or a trudge to read.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is another memoir. Ms Woodson chronicles her childhood, moving between her life in Ohio, the South, and New York City. It’s beautiful and hard-hitting, and written in absolutely beautiful verse. I cried, I chuckled, and read bits of it out loud. Often.  I would recommend this to aspiring writers, I’m sure they will find a lot to relate to.

And that's it. The main take-away was how much fun I had, and I've found myself paying more attention to non-fiction. I can't wait to continue my adventures in space-related non-fic, for instance. Plus, the Read Harder 2017 challenge is soon upon us and that always helps to expand my reading horizons.

Last Minute [Bookish] Gift Guide - 2016

When talking about holidays or events that include gift-giving, there are two types of people. The ones who are well-organised and have everything purchased, wrapped, and mailed a proper time in advance. Then there are people who discover days before Christmas that they haven’t managed to buy one present. Of course, I am being overly dramatic since there are shops open almost throughout Christmas – at least in my part of the world – but let’s admit it, most of us get our gifts online. Thus, we are dependent on lengthier delivery times that come hand in hand with every holiday. So here’s a handy Last Minute Gift Guide for your bookishly inclined friend, family member or partner.

Tiina
In addition to bookish items – tote bags, jewellery, cute mugs, stationary – nothing beats a good old personalised reading recommendation in the form of a book. Here are five from me that should work for even the fussiest of readers. OK, that’s a lie. Some of these books expect you to get out of your comfort zone, but I promise you it’ll be worth it. Here goes.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. This is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romance. Maybe it’s not your thing usually, but if you like sweet and adorable YA books that strike a great balance between important issues and romance, then this is for you. Just read it. I was clutching this book to my chest for an hour after I finished it. I still think of it. Also includes letters if epistolary stuff is your jam. Warning: might induce a book hangover.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. Yes, it’s a non-fiction. Yes, it’s very science and literally follows mathematicians working for NASA, but it is absolutely fascinating. You get social injustice, you get science, and you get female empowerment. Triple whammy right there. There’s also a film coming out so whoever receives this book is likely to read it right away. If you want to gift someone a non-fiction book but think this is too intimidating, then Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli is a great starting point to science-related non-fiction. It’s all in the title.

Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera. This is literary translated fiction. Do you think it sounds like something that’s a bit of a trudge and difficult to get into? Alas, you would be wrong. This is a slim, almost novella-length, immigration narrative. It is not gut-wrenching, but it deals with injustice and prejudice in a way that’s not likely to make you want to throw the book across the room. The language is smooth and flows absolutely beautifully. Definitely one of the most effortless translations I’ve ever read.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. This memoir is written in verse and an excellent choice for someone who wants a quickish read, but is afraid of poetry. Most poems are accessible and even the most surface-level reading is a powerful experience. This works well for younger readers too. Definitely one of my top reads of the year.

Now something for the comic book lover in your life. Bitch Planet (only one volume out so far) is one of the best feminist reads of the year for me. This sci-fi romp imagines a future where non-conforming women – who are, for example, out-spoken, non-heteronormative, overweight, not conventionally attractive - are sent to a different planet. Want to guess the name of it? ;-) This should be a great read for anyone whose sensibilities aren’t too easily offended.

Coll
For me a good book is one of the best gifts I could receive, no matter what the occasion. I am pretty sure everyone has a book lover in their life and showing them you understand their affinity (obsession) towards books will definitely put a smile on their face. So here are five books that have really stuck with me that I think almost any bibliophile would enjoy. 

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and  Jay Kristoff pretty much blew my mind and is in my top three books I have read this year (it is actually still holding onto the #1 spot). It is science fiction but not the type that would appeal to just sci-fi fans. It is also YA (but not your ordinary YA), which opens it up to a much broader group of readers. The story is amazing and keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat the entire time. Not to mention the phenomenal concept, execution, format, and structure of the entire novel, which adds a whole new level to the story. I feel this book would appeal to most readers and provides a unique and unforgettable reading experience. 

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield is a must-read book, as far as I am concerned. Okay yes, it is a non-fiction book about space but it is so much more than just that. It is written in a way that any person can easily understand and relate to, whether they know about space or not. Also it is so much more than just a memoir of an astronaut. This book will make you look at the world around you and your life completely differently and will give you a new understanding and appreciation of everything around you, even the things you cannot see. 

His Dark Materials Omnibus (His Dark materials #1-3) by Phillip Pullman. Now I say the entire omnibus because it is a series that a person will want to read in one shot, all three books back to back. This is a YA fantasy novel but definitely not your typical one. It is incredibly beautiful, both in story and writing, yet also dark at times with a rather heavy underlying theme. This is one of those series that will stay with a person forever, a world you will miss being in, and characters who will always live in your heart.

11/22/63 by Stephen King is high up there on my loved books list and I do not personally know anyone who has read it and didn’t like it. Put out of your mind the usual thoughts you have of Stephen King and his writing, because this is a rather atypical book for him. It is not horror, first of all. I guess you could say it is a sort of alternate reality historical fiction time travel thriller. (That is a genre, right?) This is a book you could read multiple times and always catch something that you missed in a previous reading. 11/22/63 is a novel I feel you need to own in hard copy when you read it and it is one that you will go back and read many times. It also gives readers a new glimpse into the mind and talents of King.

For my final recommendations I am following in Tiina’s footsteps and going with a graphic novel, V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. Everyone knows this movie, but not everyone knows the book and I think they need to. Now I know not all readers are into graphics, but with V I feel like the fact it is a graphic does not even matter. The language is amazing and it is so well-written, not to mention incredibly intense and poignant. Also it is heavy on the word count for a graphic novel, which is something I really liked about it. I feel this is a book that could be for anyone. 

We would like to give one more recommendation gift for the book lover in your life, the Knock Knock Personal Library Kit. This kit comes with pockets that adhere to the inside back of the book, checkout cards, date stamp, ink pad, and pencil. Not only will this take you back to the old school days of checking books out from the library, but it also is a unique way to keep track of books to lend out and a way to make a book collection like a real library.