Recent Nonfiction Reads
Spring is the biggest publishing season for fiction. This season’s new releases include highly anticipated books by authors like Emily Henry and Minnesota’s Abby Jimenez. I enjoy reading novels, but I think that many nonfiction books make equally compelling selections for your beach bag. I’ve read some wonderful nonfiction books lately that I would love to share.
Four Mothers by Abigail Leonard
Journalist Leonard follows four women from Japan, Kenya, Finland and the US, through pregnancy and the first year of their child’s life. I loved the details of each woman’s story as well as seeing the various types of support they received in each country. For fans of narrative nonfiction, this is a compelling read; I couldn’t put it down.
It’s Only Drowning by David Litt
During the Pandemic, former Obama speechwriter David Litt found himself doomscrolling the news and falling into a depression. To counter this, he took up surfing. I had zero interest in surfing before reading this book, yet I could not stop turning the pages. Litt tells his story of learning to surf, at first googling anything that could go wrong and tracking the local tagged shark population,and eventually traveling the world to increase his skills. Through surfing, he connects to his brother in law, Matt, who has been surfing for decades. Matt and David are polar opposites, and I loved the buddy-comedy aspect that carries throughout the book.
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick
This is the true story of twin daughters, the third and fourth children born to a family during China’s One Child policy. Wanted by their parents, who live in a rural area but are unable to pay the exorbitant fees to local officials, one daughter stays with her parents while the other lives with an aunt nearby. The daughter living with the aunt is kidnapped by local officials, trafficked to an orphanage and adopted by a family in Texas. Demick writes a searing indictment of the One Child policy, detailing many similar cases. Almost fifteen years later, Demick discovers the lost twin and works to reunite the two families. I devoured this powerful, highly readable book in one day.
The Unfamiliar by Kirsty Logan
United Kingdom author Kirsty Logan documents her experiences as a queer person trying to have a baby with her wife. Over multiple years, Logan and her wife experience miscarriages and infertility, both ultimately attempting to carry a child. This is a smart, quick read that was such a treat every time I picked it up. Recommended to those who enjoy motherhood memoirs.
I’m Off Then by Hape Kerkeling
German comedian Kerkeling wrote his tale of hiking the Camino trail through Spain in 2001 (how refreshing to read about life before smartphones.) While some of the inspiring revelations he learned along the way felt a bit out of nowhere, I appreciated reading about his daily travails. Unlike many pilgrim stories I’ve read, Kerkeling eschews hostels for comfortable hotels. He also gives himself rest days and occasionally takes a bus or train. While one purist on the Camino berates him for this, he is hiking the Camino after a time of great stress, and I think he does an admirable job of listening to the demands of his body and making the Camino his own. On this topic, I also enjoyed “Walking with Sam” by Andrew McCarthy.
Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson
The incredible story of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, a French woman who resisted the Nazis in occupied Paris during WWII and achieved a great deal as an Egyptologist, saving many ancient artifacts and prompting UNESCO to start their World Heritage program. She was an amazing, resilient woman and I had two wonderful book club discussions about this book. I will say that this book meanders a lot and is fairly slow to read. Recommended to those who love reading about history.
Katelyn Boyer is the Adult Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library.