Nonfiction November is hosted this year by Julie (JulzReads), Sarah (Sarah’s Book Shelves), Katie (Doing Dewey), Rennie (What’s Nonfiction) — is a month-long celebration of everything nonfiction. Each week, they’ll be a different prompt and a different host looking at different ideas about reading and loving nonfiction.
This week’s (Oct. 29 – Nov. 2) discussion is hosted by Julie @ Julz Reads
Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
I’ve read/listened to 18 nonfiction books since October /November last year, most of which seem to be autobiographies/memoirs, be that medical, travel, or political.
What was your favourite nonfiction read of the year?
For the end of 2018 it’s got to be Michelle Obama’s Becoming and Fiona Stocker’s Apple Island Wife. Both are memoirs that I thoroughly enjoyed. Whilst Becoming was published to great acclaim, Apple Island Wife may have slipped under media spotlight but it doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy of that spotlight. It’s a lovely book about a British family living on a small holding in Tasmania and definitely worth a read.
My favourite for 2019 has got to be 21st Century Yokel by Tom Cox, a wonderful book about the author’s observations on life as he lives and rambles around different parts of the UK. I read this for the blog tour earlier in the year and loved it! Then I discovered the audiobook in my library’s digital catalogue, and I listened to it, read brilliantly by the author. It was hilarious both times and spurred me on to pledge for his other forthcoming books through Unbound.
Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year?
Looking back over my nonfiction reads, it looks like it been mostly memoirs. I’ve no idea why, but then as a mood reader I can never foresee what I’m going to particularly be interested in from one month to the next.
What nonfiction book have you recommended the most?
To be absolutely honest I’m not sure, possibly 21st Century Yokel and Becoming as I did love both books!
What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?
I’m looking forward to looking back over my my non-fiction reads and finding some more books to add to my tbr mountain.
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If you’re participating in Nonfiction November, don’t forget to link up your Week 1: Year in Nonfiction posts here with Julie @ Julz Reads
And starting November 1, join the Instagram challenge co-hosted by Julie @julzreads & Leann @shelf_aware_ using #nonficnov The prompts for each day throughout the month have already been posted so you can start planning your posts. 🙂
Secret Library Book Blog 
You got me with 21st Century Yokel! Add me to the list of people you’ve gotten to read it – I didn’t just put it on my TBR but ordered it from Amazon and I plan on reading it this month! Lol. It sounds amazing and perfect for me. 🙂 Apple Island Wife does as well. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!!
Fantastic you’ve mad my day! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 🙂
I don’t read a lot of Non-Fiction, but I did read Becoming and loved it. I want to check out the Apple Island Wife, it looks interesting.
Wow! You’ve got through lots more non-fiction than me. Well done, some interesting sounding titles there.
Thanks I was really surprised by how much I read!
Good luck with the challenge, Nicki💜 I’d hoped to have read more of the genre this year but am woefully behind.
Thanks there are so many books I meant to read this year but I’ve been more into fiction lately, probably needing to escape all the awful things going on in the world.
Same here!
👌
I swear, you always find such interesting nonfiction that I’ve never heard of! I’ve only read Educated and Becoming out of these but Apple Island Wife, Salt on Your Tongue, and the Roald Dahl ones sound amazing!
Brilliant and could say the same about your choices!
I really love how you eat up so many non-fiction books, especially memoirs, throughout the year. I’ve been meaning to add some to my rotation but I always end up pushing them away to read SFF hahah I’m definitely intrigued by Ms. Obama’s memoir that made the rounds around the blogosphere a lot. Thanks for sharing, Nicki!
I did read quite a few memoirs didn’t I lol
Woww!! You have read quite a lot of non-fics this year, Nicki! A VERYY IMPRESSIVE list! And I am most intrigued by Confessions of a Bad Mother! MUST HAVE BEEN A FUN AND REVEALING READ, huh? 😍❤️
And that was only in the first part of the year I haven’t read any since then. Confessions of A Bad Mother was great fun especially as I used love reading the author’s column when she used to write for a British newspaper years ago. 🙂
Oh? She was a columnist then? Oh now I HAVE to read this one! Thank you soo much for sharing, Nicki! 😍❤️
She was when her children were much younger, so this was fun reading about the teenage years.
Ohh 😯! Well, I am glad you enjoyed it! 😊😊
Well done Nicki! 🙌 I must write my post! I always feels like I read more nonfiction than I do because of the amount of histfic I read! For instance, right now I’m going down the rabbit hole of the French Revolution! That counts, right?!?!?! 😂😂😂
Thanks looking forward to your post and more on the French Revolution! 😉
I listened to BECOMING on audiobook and really loved it! There was a wonderful warmth to her memoir. 😊
Yes it was so much better than I was expecting.
Educated is still on my reading list, I just can’t get to it although it really interests me. I’m reading a memoir now so I’m joining, if by accident 😊. Happy reading!
Educated was definitely a memorable listen, in fact I still can’t decide if I enjoyed ut or not.
Wow you’ve definitely read a lot of non fiction! I like my non fiction too every once in a while, although I’ve been slacking this year… I’ve only read 8 so far, but I’m hoping to read at least I’ll Be Gone In The Dark soon. Of your list, I’ve only read Book Love and Educated… Although I’ve been meaning to try Becoming. I hope you will enjoy Non Fiction November! xx
Thanks I’m surprised I’ve read so many! xx
I’ve got Becoming on my TBR for Non-Fiction November and I’m determined to finally get to listen to the audio book. It looks like you’ve read some great non-fiction this year already, I hope there is more to come in the last two months of 2019. 🙂
Becoming is wonderful, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Thank you, I feel sure that I will 🙂
Some of these sound great but not sure if I can get my hands on them. I’ll try!
Thanks hope you’re successful!
I don’t read much non-fiction, but I adored Becoming! xx
Wasn’t it wonderful! xx
21st Century Yokel sounds like great fun. Thanks for sharing your books. I am adding lots of new titles to my TBR.
It’s is a really fun book 🙂
Nice amount of nonfiction! 🙌 I must write my post!
Sorry… I just realized I already commented! 😱
Lots of new to me books here… I LOVE THIS MONTH! My Year in NonFiction
It’s great for discovering new reads!
Becoming seems to be on everyone’s list! I haven’t read it yet, but plan on listening to the audio soon.
I’m really glad I listened to the audio as she reads it herself and it’s perfect.
You’ve read some interesting & varied nonfiction this year. I have added Apple Island Wife to my wishlist; it sounds like my kind of read. Happy reading this November!
Thanks that brilliant! I loved that book and have very happy memories reading it via The Pigeonhole! 🙂
I like the mix of books, a couple of which I think will be going on my wishlist
Please stop by to see my Introduction to NonFicNov
I love Tom Cox! I still haven’t read his latest book, but I definitely plan to.
He’s great isn’t he and his Twitter and Instagram accounts are brilliant too.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Becoming! Definitely one for my to-read pile 🙂
It’s a wonderful book, especially on audio!
I’ve been wanting to read Becoming and Educated. Good selection!
Thanks 🙂