Week Eight: Nonfiction

Assignment 1

Read the following:

• Borderlands: Crossing between Nonfiction in Readers’ Advisory
• Reading Nonfiction for Pleasure: What Motivates Readers?

Assignment 2

View this E-Learning video produced by the Maryland State Library Resource Center.

Assignment 3

There are plenty of narrative nonfiction titles to be found in History, in the 970s. From this genre, I chose The Feud: the Hatfields & McCoys, the true story, by Dean King for the historical fiction fan.

For the Chick-Lit fan, I chose from the Biography section: Paris in Love, by Eloisa James. It is catalogued as a Biography, but kind of a travel piece.

For the Mystery or Thriller fan, I recommend a True Crime selection, which can be found in the 360s and I chose Manhunt, by James Swanson, which is also historical.

And, for someone who likes books like The Kite Runner or The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, from the the 305.5 area, a story about poverty and class issues in Behind the beautiful forevers: life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo.

Assignment 4

I would recommend Paris in Love by Eloisa James to a customer who had read all of Jane Green's books and wanted to try something new. Like Green, she is witty and insightful, and gives you a peek at her trials and tribulations during her year living in Paris with her family.

It is in a conversational format and includes her children's difficulties in their more stringent Parisian school, the beauty of Paris, an enduring marriage, and recovering from her bout with breast cancer, all with humor and grace. All in all, she is a likable heroine.

For a customer who was a big Daniel Silva fan, I would recommend Manhunt, by James Swanson. Like Silva's books, it has a compelling style and a fast pace.

It is the story of the 12-day chase for Lincoln's murderer, and goes into great detail, from his fleeing the scene of the crime to the hunt for him throughout Maryland and Virginia. It is full of suspnse with a compelling writing style.