Week
2, 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.
This week I decided to give a sampling of the nonfiction and fiction books I read this year about Africa. The countries of Africa are full of beautiful and heartbreaking stories. There is so much adventure, lots of poverty, and a fair amount of laughter in these books.
Nonfiction. I read Beryl Markham's memoir of life and aviation in Africa, West with the Night and Trevor Noah's memoir of growing up in South Africa, Born a Crime.
Fiction: I read the first three books in Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, and Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing.
I've heard great things about Trevor Noah's book and Homegoing. Did you like them?
ReplyDeleteYes, I liked them both. Homegoing was a rather ambitious and well-executed novel. Noah's book was serious and funny in equal parts and well-written.
DeleteI have to admit, I was not a fan of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, in part because it felt more like a folk tale than the cozy mystery I expected. I loved The Poisonwood Bible though! Such beautiful writing. And I'd love to read more about Africa, so thanks for sharing your list.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I'm not sure The No. 1 series should rightfully be classified as mysteries. "Folk tale" is an interesting characterization. I think I know what you mean. I have trouble determining if they're historic or current. They seem oddly old-fashioned, but that might be a cultural thing.
DeleteI really liked The Poisonwood Bible until the end. The long, sad, post-Africa part of the book spoiled it for me. I would have preferred the story end while the girls are still girls. I think the story got confused and veered from its true meaning in those last few chapters. Still, beautiful book, which make me want to try more of her novels.