The Content Reader

We are nearing the end of November and are already on week 4 in Nonfiction November challenge. This week is hosted by Rebekah @ She Seeks Nonfiction . I find this weekly challenge difficult. Mainly since I read mostly historical nonfiction, and I am not sure it changes anyones world views. I will probably go a slightly different path, so, let's see where I end up.  Week 4:  Worldview Changers:    What nonfiction book or books has impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way?   I went to my book shelves to check out my nonfiction books. I choose three of them that has impacted me. Maybe not changed my world views but the historical events had a great impact on many people. The Sleepwalkers , How Europe Went to War in 1914  by Christopher Clark This must be the most thorough research and writings on the first world war. Mainly centered on the origins of the war. The main event, we are told, are the shots in Sarajevo killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand, h...

  Week 2 of Nonfiction November has started. This week it is time to pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title, or, if you prefer, another nonfiction. Being in the modern time and age you could also pair it with a podcast, film or documentary. The choice is yours. This week is hosted by Rennie @ What’s Nonfiction I always find this theme rather difficult, but this year I found my perfect match right away. It has to do with history, what else? One of my absolute favourite books are A Gentleman in Moscow  by Amor Towles. It covers the years from 1922 when communism was new until 1954, the year after Stalin died. You might see my pairing here. Simon Sebag Montefiore has written an excellent account of Stalin's life and his deeds. It is mostly scary reading. In The Court of the Red Tsar  you get a detailed, well researched account on his life and times. It seems I did not write a review at the time, maybe because it is difficult to summaries everything that was happening...

We have reached the last week of Nonfiction November. It has been a great month, with many discussions on nonfiction, various subjects and inspiration from people with other interests than my own. This week is hosted by Rennie @ What's Nonfiction  and the task is to go through recommendations through the month, and see what ended up on your TBR. In my case, they entered into my list of Wish to Read  I am not entirely sure I will be able to track all of my recommendations, so sorry about that. If you recognise it, please let me know, and I will add your link. The Brontë sisters are a big interest of mine. I love their books, but also enjoy reading about them. I have already read quite a few books, but I am happy to have received tips on some books, of which I was not aware. Lisa of Hopewell  recommended three interesting books, and they all seem different from the ones I have read before. It is always good when an author/expert manages to near the subject from a dif...

This weeks Nonfiction November is hosted by Leann of Shelf Aware . This week we look into how we choose our nonfiction books. Leading us to what makes a book you have read your favourite one. Is the topic important? Is it the way it is written? They way it tells a story? Do you look for a humorous approach, or a more serious one? Leann thinks that picking one of your favourite nonfiction books, is like picking your favourite human. Leann gives us a hint of what could be part of our favourite nonfiction read. Time period – favourite this year or decade Type of nonfiction – is it a big idea book, a how-to book, a memoir, a book aimed at academics or clinicians? Use Case – are you trying to find out how to solve a problem? Do you need a new skills? Is the topic on business, creativity, mindset, relationships, etc? How easy it is to understand and ultimately, how helpful was it? Leann thinks it is hard to rate a book by using stars and numbers. I totally agree. Both as concerns f...

The second week of nonfiction reading is hosted by Sarah's Book Shelves . This is a week of pairing nonfiction books with fiction. From Sarah: "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." Pairing nonfiction and fiction - theme Russia I am still reading the very big and thick book about Stalin: Stalin, The Court of the Red Tsar  by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Excellent, scary and terrifying reading of the situation behind the scenes. Still 150 pages to go. While visiting the library the other day, I saw the book Stalin's Children. Three Generations of Love and War  by Owen Matthews. Matthews tries to find out what happened to his family. His mother is Russian. Her father was picked up one day in 1937, never to be seen again. Her mother was sent to one of Stalin's ca...

My book for this week's beginning and page 56 is from one of my favourite authors; Simon Sebag Montefiore. I have three of his non-fiction books; Catherine the Great & Potemkin , Stalin, the Court of the Red Tsar and Jerusalem, the Biography . The book about Catherine and Potemkin is absolutely fantastic, so interesting. I am reading the book about Stalin for the moment, and Jerusalem will come one of these days. When I found Sashenka, a novel of fiction by him, I just had to have it. I love his writing, so it will be interesting to see if his fictional book lives up to his non-fictional ones. As you understand, I have not read it yet. Book beginnings on Friday hosted by Rose City Reader "Part One - St Petersburg, 1916 It was only teatime but the sun had already set when three of the Tsar's gendarmes took up positions at the gates of the Smolny Institute for Noble Girls.  The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice "She could not understand why th...