≡ Menu

Nonfiction November Week 4: Reads Like Fiction

The last week has been a a rough one. I had work or plans outside the house every night of the week, which has left me woefully behind responding to comments and visiting other Nonfiction November participants. I hope this week is better.

For those who need a recap, Nonfiction November is a month-long celebration of all things nonfiction. Each week, we’ll have a different prompt and a different host looking at different ideas about reading and loving nonfiction. This week our newest host, Rennie from What’s Nonfiction, has a totally new topic for us to discuss:

Week 4: (Nov. 19 to 23) – Reads Like Fiction (Rennie @ What’s Nonfiction): Nonfiction books often get praised for how they stack up to fiction. Does it matter to you whether nonfiction reads like a novel? If it does, what gives it that fiction-like feeling? Does it depend on the topic, the writing, the use of certain literary elements and techniques? What are your favorite nonfiction recommendations that read like fiction? And if your nonfiction picks could never be mistaken for novels, what do you love about the differences?

This topic is exciting to me because it opens up the chance to talk about my favorite type of nonfiction, narrative nonfiction or creative nonfiction. Here’s a quick definition of that genre from Lee Gutkind, who founded an entire literary journal around the form:

The word “creative” refers to the use of literary craft, the techniques fiction writers, playwrights, and poets employ to present nonfiction—factually accurate prose about real people and events—in a compelling, vivid, dramatic manner. The goal is to make nonfiction stories read like fiction so that your readers are as enthralled by fact as they are by fantasy.

I’m a sucker for good storytelling, so when nonfiction can present a true story in a way that has the same vivid characters and dramatic story arc as a great novel, I’m know I’m going to love it. I especially love creative nonfiction that isn’t memoir, books where the author has dug deep into a story and knows so much about that person, time, or place, they can make it feel like you’re right there. 

So, what books would I recommend for great narrative nonfiction? I’m glad you asked! One of my best posts over at Book Riot – 50 great narrative nonfiction books– is on exactly that topic. The list isn’t nearly comprehensive, but it’s got most of the books I recommend when people are looking for nonfiction that reads like fiction. I’m a little obsessed with that list – I agonized over what to include and how to organized it – but I’m so happy to have it out in the world.

Since I published that list last fall, there have been many additional examples of creative nonfiction published I’ve got two lists of suggestions in this post. The first five are books that I read this year and would recommend:

  • Bad Blood by John Carreyrou – The reporting in this book is stellar, and the way he builds the case against Elizabeth Holmes and her company is page-turning.
  • The Feather Thief by Kurt Johnson – This is another true crime book without much violence, about the theft of rare bird feathers from a natural history museum.
  • The Library Book by Susan Orlean – If you love libraries, this book is essential reading. The overall narrative is a little weaker than some of these other books, but her storytelling in each chapter/essay is perfect.
  • The Personality Brokers by Merve Emre – I’m fascinated by personality testing, so of course I was going to read a narrative history of the Myers-Briggs test. The narrative is a little slow, in placed, but I liked it a lot overall.
  • I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – I’ve talked about this book a bunch, but that’s ok. It’s one of the most genuinely creepy and extremely empathetic true crime books I’ve ever read, despite that fact that it’s slightly unfinished.

And the second five are books that I haven’t gotten to read, but are high on my TBR:

  • Rising Out of Hatred by Eli Saslow – This is the story of the reformation of a young white nationalist, and the impact his hateful views had on a close-knit college community. I haven’t read this one yet, but I heard the author speak about it and I know his writing is excellent.
  • The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum – This is the newest addition to my TBR, the story of how one chemist led the fight for food safety regulations in the United States. The author is a former professor of mine, and also the author of one of my favorite historical science books, The Poisoner’s Handbook.
  • Boom Town by Sam Anderson – I didn’t know I wanted to read a narrative history of Oklahoma City until this book came out, and now I definitely do!
  • Amity and Prosperity by Eliza Griswold – The story of a single mother who turns into an environmental activist after her children become sick following an energy company’s arrival in their small town.
  • Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope – I weirdly love business nonfiction (especially when jerks finally get what is coming to them), and so this one made it on my radar. Basically, it’s the story of a financier who helped Malaysian government officials scam the people of that country through a corrupt development fund.  

Whew, that got long! Meet me in the comments to share some of your favorite narrative nonfiction books – I promise to be more responsive than last week!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Sarah's Book Shelves November 19, 2018, 6:26 am

    Boom Town is on my TBR too! I’m thinking I’ll listen to it on audio.

  • Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf November 19, 2018, 2:57 pm

    Ohh, I’m going to check out Rising Out of Hatred, and also The Library Book. Narrative nonfiction is the best!

    • Kim November 25, 2018, 10:27 am

      I hope Rising Out of Hatred is great. I think Eli Saslow is such a wonderful writer, but the subject has me apprehensive. I probably just need to sit down and read it!

  • Angela November 19, 2018, 7:41 pm

    I’ve been seeing The Library Book pop up a lot this month, so that’s definitely gone on my TBR!

  • Jeanne November 20, 2018, 6:49 am

    Your recommendation of The Library Book has moved it to the forefront of my very occasional urge to read nonfiction!

    • Kim November 25, 2018, 10:24 am

      I hope you like it! The narrative isn’t as strong as in some books — for me, it felt more like a collection of essays than a full book — but I really loved it.

  • Debbie Rodgers @Exurbanis November 20, 2018, 5:10 pm

    Thank you so much for such a clear explanation of what good narrative nonfiction is! I always feel so uneducated when talking about my reading, and this post encapsulates what I knew – but didn’t know.

    I’d already put The Library Book on my TBR this month, but I’m so glad to know it will read so well.

    • Kim November 25, 2018, 10:25 am

      There are lots of different definitions, but I like going back to Lee Gutkind because he’s one of the writers who really helped define it and set it apart as different from other styles of nonfiction.

  • BuriedInPrint November 23, 2018, 3:55 pm

    I’ve heard a couple of interviews with Orlean about the library book (the NYT Book Review and maybe the other was The Guardian?) and the whole process sounds fascinating. She’s someone whose books have interested me before but, now, now that there are books involved? Irresistible!

    • Kim November 25, 2018, 10:26 am

      Right? She’s so great and interesting, it was fun to have her turn her attention and focus to something I love as much as books and libraries.

  • Jade @ Reading with Jade November 27, 2018, 3:51 am

    The five books that you’ve read and would recommend all sound equally interesting in their own right, and I actually have a couple of them on my TBR already.

  • Rennie November 27, 2018, 6:12 am

    It’s my favorite type of nonfiction too, especially as you said, on a topic where the author has done the deep dive and can provide so much information about it that you end up wrapped up in the world of that story. I’m glad you were excited to talk about it and thanks for sharing so many excellent suggestions and a handy dandy definition! Your Book Riot list for this topic looks amazing, I can’t wait to comb through it.

    • Kim December 2, 2018, 11:10 am

      That Book Riot list is probably the one that best represents what I read and love to read, I had so much fun putting it together.

  • Debbie Rodgers @Exurbanis November 28, 2018, 10:09 am

    I haven’t read The Library Book yet but it’s very high on my TNR list!

  • Katie @ Doing Dewey November 30, 2018, 11:16 pm

    Other than The Personality Brokers, I’ve read all your new additions to your list and second the recommendations! There’s been a ton of great narrative nonfiction this year 🙂

    • Kim December 2, 2018, 11:10 am

      Yay, I’m glad to see the seconds on the list! It has been a great year for narrative nonfiction.