Hello my fellow bookworms, it is Week 2 of Nonfiction November 2019, a popular, yearly reading event, that celebrates and gets us discussing our non-fiction reading. The event is running across five weeks, with five topics, five hosts, and an Instagram photo challenge, too. For Week 2: (4th to 8th Nov.) we are being hosted by Sarah @ Sarah’s Book Shelves and the topic is:
Book Pairing: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real history by reading a nonfiction version of the story.
Earlier this year, I read the refreshingly new biography, Jane Austen at Home by the wonderfully eccentric and colourful historian, Lucy Worsley. I thought it was a fascinating look into one of my favourite author’s life, through the places and spaces that mattered to her; and it was all done in Worsley’s marvellously enthusiastic style.
While I was reading the above non-fiction, I took part in The Classics Club’s 19th Spin event, which chose Emma by Jane Austen f
or me. So at the same time, I embarked upon a comforting re-read of this utterly charming, witty and slightly farcical classic, about the coming-of-age pains of a young woman in Regency England. Which although completely unplanned made for a book pairing in heaven. Upon finishing the two all I wanted to do was re-read all of Austen’s wonderful novels!
And I was in luck again, because more recently The Classics Club’s 21st Spin event, chose Persuasion by Jane Austen for me!
Now over to you: What non-fiction and fiction would you recommend pairing together? And if you are take part in Nonfiction November 2019 too, please link in your post in the comments, so I can come check it out.
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Wow – this would be a difficult pairing for me as it’s been so long since I read any non-fiction. I used to like to read history and a couple of biogs here and there but nothing like that now for a few years.
Lynn 😀
Lynn, I usually find this topic difficulty too, but this year this pairing just fell into my lap. 🙂
I do enjoy Jane Austen’s writing so love seeing this pairing.
Jade, I am pleased you enjoyed my Austen pairing. 🙂
It would definitely be fun to do a complete fiction / nonfiction pairing with only Jane Austen themes.
Yes Deb, I am always up for more Jane Austen reading! 😀
This is an interesting topic! It’s been awhile since I read them, but what I would pair are the books in the Robert Harris Cicero trilogy with Anthony Everett’s biography, Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome’s Greatest Politician.
Ooo that sounds like a great pairing, Kelly. I haven’t read Robert Harris’ Cicero trilogy, but I have heard good things about it. 😀
As an Austen fan, I really should try to get hold of Jane Austen at Home, as I have seen a few reviews of it recently, and it looks interesting.
Alyson, I really hope you are able to get your hands on a copy of Jane Austen at Home. 🙂
Can’t get much better than an Austen pairing! I have a history of the Spanish Civil War coming up in the new year so I’m hoping to match it with some fiction… if my TBR allows! 😀
Thank you, FF 😀 A history of the Spanish Civil War sounds like it could be really interesting. It is not an area I have read around in non-fiction or fiction, so I can only think of the obvious For Whom the Bell Tolls to pair with that!
Excellent recommendation and it just happens to be on my TBR… 😀
Enjoy! 😀
What a lovely book pairing, especially as you ended up reading them at the same time by accident. I will have to re-read one of Austen’s novels soon – it has been too long since I last read any of them!
Helen, this really was a lovely coincidence and I hope you are able to re-read one of Austen’s lovely novels soon. 🙂
This month I am going to read The Library Book by Susan Orlean, non-fiction about the history of the Los Angeles Public Library, for a reading group. I would pair it with The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, one of my all time favorite novels. It features an ancient library in Barcelona called The Cemetery of Lost Books.
Judy, I have heard good things about The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – I really must read it one day, especially if it has an ancient library in Barcelona called The Cemetery of Lost Books in it! I hope you enjoy The Library Book by Susan Orlean. 🙂