BAND February 2012: What Nonfiction Don’t You Like
B.A.N.D., Bloggers’ Alliance of Nonfiction Devotees, launched in July and is being run by a small group of bloggers as a way to promote the love of nonfiction amount bloggers. Each month a discussion question will be put forward giving everyone and anyone the chance to respond. If you are interested in hosting a month do check out the tumblr site and let us know!
Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness hosted the first discussion, asking What’s your favorite type of nonfiction? in July. In August I led the discussion, asking How did you get into nonfiction? In September Cass wanted to know about nonfiction audiobooks, asking if we had listened and enjoyed. In October Ash asked what our favorite nonfiction anthologies were. In November Amanda asked if we read nonfiction to help support a cause. Last month Erin guest hosts from Erin Reads and asked (leave your response on how we determine truth in the nonfiction that we read. Last month Joy asked what books we are using for resolutions or projects. This month Kim is again hosting and has asked:
What is one type of nonfiction you dislike and why? And, as an extra challenge (if you choose to accept it), ask your readers to recommend a book to try!
I’m a bit behind here, only just posting on the February prompt in March, but that is OK because we decided to take a break this month anyway. Do remember that if you’d like to host a month you can express your interest by filling out the form!
This is a difficult question for me to answer. I like, really, almost all nonfiction. The stuff that everyone else finds dry and boring, I just love. As an example, I actually have requested textbooks off Bookmooch because I think they sound really interesting and I didn’t take many fun and interesting courses in university. I know, I am a big nerd (and quite proud of it I’ll also say!).
To be honest, I think at this point my least favorite type of nonfiction reads is memoirs. Although I have read and have loved many, I find it hard to really agree with and believe everything that they are saying. I also have issues with them because I am always cringing at what others being mentioned really think, and how they picture the events. I know that there are multiple truths to every story and event but I can’t help but wonder – what if I was a minor or secondary character in someone else’s memoir. How would I feel? Would I have recourse if I felt they lied?
Another type of nonfiction I am less than enthused about are books written about specific subject matters by non-experts, or books that are clearly and obviously heavily biased with little fact checking. It comes down to the prior question we talked about in BAND of how do you know what to trust – I want experts, I want indexes and references and tons of footnotes or endnotes. A lack of these makes me sceptical and makes me enjoy the book much less.
So now I leave it to you – any recommendations for me?
Have you tried Wild Swans by Jung Chang? That book is amazing! I’d be interested to hear what you think
I’ve not, though it was always on the shelf at home – my mother owns it I believe. For some reason I always passed it by The Book Whisperer!
That’s so funny because memoirs are probably my favorite type of non-fiction. I’d suggest The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose.
Interesting Kathy, we all have our different taste don’t we
Thanks for the recommendation.
Have you tried Simone de Beauvoir’s “Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter”? Even if you don’t like memoirs, you might enjoy this. I’m not a huge fan of memoirs and I liked it a lot.
I’ve not read it Liburuak, but it does sound interesting – thanks!
I’ve played with writing memoir a few times and, yeah, you pretty much have to lie. They are supposed to read like novels and have things like dialogue in them. But who can remember a conversation from August 16, 2009? So, you make up a likely bit of dialogue to spice up the text and make the point. I’ve become so accustomed it, that it no longer bothers me in other people’s work.
I was kind of surprised when I saw that someone refused to read The Happiness Project because they heard multiple accounts from the author about how the project began. I used to tell different stories in response to “Why did you go to library school?” depending on my audience. There are lots of different reasons that play into things like that. As a writer, you choose the most dramatic one and go with that. It never occurred to me that anyone would consider that somehow untrue if there were other reasons and other stories that could be told.
That is what I wonder Joy, how do people remember all of that stuff?!?!? It makes me distrustful
And you are right, there are so many reasons for everything – and those reasons change over time as something else becomes or seems to become more important to you. Or you realize hidden things you hadn’t noticed pointing you to something. Or etc.
But that is all the more reason to read or write a memior; to sort out what is “true.” I just posted a review of Border Passages, by Leila Ahmed, where I discuss this. She uses the process of writing to explore the various “myths” that she has believed about herself and reconsiders them in light of what she now understands. By seeing identity as plural and always shifting, she is able to probe who she has been and how she has changed. All memiors are the past told through the present which means of course there is factual slipage, but that doesn’t interfer with the “truth” of a person’s life or the “truth” of the prespective he or she expereinces. I found trying to write my own narrative really pushed me to explore what really was true about how I understand myself–not to lie. Obviously I am not talking about the fluff about celebrites and politicans that gets called memiors.
That’s interesting Marilyn. I agree that it could be a great way to explore the various ‘myths’ and what not. But the made up dialogue? I dunno about that
There are rarely non-fictions that I didn’t enjoy. The only non-fictions I didn’t like is memoirs by some trashy actors or entertainers.
Yep, with you on that one JoV!!
My son devours memoirs by heavy metal musicians. He fins it very inspiring how they have overcome their various additions and are much better/happier people now that they are clean. His most favorite is Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx.http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Heroin-Diaries-Year-Life-Shattered-Nikki-Sixx/9781416511946-item.html?ikwid=nikki+sixx&ikwsec=Home
He has read it many times and recommended it to dozens of friends. Also enjoyed Slash by Slash.
Yes that is a good point Heather, thanks for the link! I did enjoy the Marilyn Manson biography I have to admit!
I’ve been reading fewer memoirs lately, I think. I’m not sure why, since I do like them, but I think part of what you’re suggesting (about the veracity and certainty of the book) does play a part. I guess I also haven’t run across any memoirs lately that seemed really different or fascinating.
I think the type of memoir plays a big part too Kim, especially in the different and fascinating area. I’m more likely to enjoy a memoir that talks about a culture or place that I’m unfamiliar with, or that explores some types of social issues. Celebrity memoir, not so much – and they seem to be more popular these days.
I hate cheap cash in bios of newly dead stars and also memoirs of z list celebs or people to young ie bieber’s etc ,all the best stu
Yeah, those are definitely ones I avoid too Stu!
I don’t like nonfiction that uses a lot of technical language, or that relies heavily on the higher sciences. Ditto for books about math. But it’s weird, because my husband loves those kinds of books!
That makes sense zibilee. I sometimes like works with technical language and what not, but only if it gives enough background to understand, or includes a glossary, or is a topic I know a bit about already. Else it’s hard to follow. Interesting that your husband likes them, good that he reads, even if different books than you
I do like memoirs because I like knowing more about people. Of course, some are duds… but I have listened to some good ones this past year too like Things I Only Tell My Friends, Bossy Pants…. gah… I know there are more.
Glad to hear it Sheila! Definitely a type of books that most people seem to enjoy.
Thanks. Somehow I missed the Febraury question and it is a good one. You helped me see that what I dislike most is simply non-fiction that doesn’t live up to its own purpose–not to be fiction.
And I totally disagree about memoirs, but that is another post.
Off to write about what I dislike. Such fun.
I’m just glad I wasn’t the only one that missed it Mdbrady
And yes, non-fiction that is too fiction-like, good way to describe it!
I am posting my dislikes here because I din’t know where they belonged.
1. The non-fiction that I dislike most is that which is poorly done; sloppy, pretentious, and falsely claiming to be totally objective. The non-fiction I dislike most is that which fails to live up to the basic definition of the genre, that it accurately described a reality that exists outside the author’s and the reader’s heads. In defining history, Natalie Zemon Davis said “History is the imagination held in check by the facts.” I say that applies to all non-fiction. We may argue over what a fact, but non-fiction must be involve the discipline of conveying something concrete and at least in part verifiable. I most deeply dislike non-fiction that contains and validates what are clearly lies.
2. I particularly dislike autobiographies and memoirs that are nothing more than fluff about celebrities or politicians and filled with staged dialog. They are nothing more than advertisements and about as trustworthy. Perhaps I dislike them so because many of my very favorite books are well-crafted autobiographies and memoirs in which authors probe for the truths in their own lives and provide me with insight into people who differ from me.
3. I also dislike non-fiction that makes a fetish of being “objective.” The claim of “objectivity” has been overused to deny pain, conflict, and passion. Our knowledge about a subject remains shallow if we exclude what it felt like to be there or to be the subject of an experiment. Devotion to factual evidence does not mean rejection of all emotional response on the part of author or reader. It simply requires that emotion comes out of the facts being studied, not the emotion creating the “facts.”
In addition to my dislikes, there are categories of non-fiction which simply don’t whet my curiosity or offer enough reward to be worth the trouble. Here are some of the categories I usually ignore.
Anything technical, jargon-filled or overly specialized
Fluff about celebrities, politicians, high society and travel
Most how-to-do-it manuals, including how to be a better person
Anything about crime and torture and war
My recommendation is Ahmed, Border Passages. Of course. My review is on my blog.
Really interesting to read your responses mdbrady!! Especially love what you say about the importance of subjectivity. Interesting to think on. You’re welcome to post on your own blog and link back to Kim’s original post too, btw
Hmm, tough questions. I don’t read all that much non-fiction and what I do read is mostly essays. One of my favourite styles is the lightly fictionalised autobiography (see most of Hunter S Thompson, Colette or Amelie Nothomb). So recommending a straight memoir is hard. I think my favourite of recent years was “Margrave of the Marshes” by John Peel and Sheila Ravenscroft, but that might well be because Peel was such a key part of my youth.
I’m not bothered by subjectivity, because all writing is subjective anyway, but I do need a good writer rather than just a “down the pub” account of a life.
Thanks for the recommendation Kate, those who have influenced us or been a part of our lives are usually great reads. Good point that everything really is subjective in the end! and you are right too that a good writer is a must to make the read worthwhile.