BAND — Bloggers’ Alliance of Nonfiction Devotees — is a group organized to promote the joy of reading nonfiction. We are “advocates for nonfiction as a non-chore,” and we want you to join us. Each month, a member of BAND hosts a discussion on their blog related to nonfiction.
I was so excited when I was offered to host the May BAND topic. I started dabbling a bit more consistently into non-fiction in early 2010 and discovered I really enjoyed it. It seems as I get older (*insert GROAN here*)the more I find myself fascinated with true stories.
Non-fiction covers everything from memoirs, to facts about anything…bugs, wood, planes, homes, historical truths, you name it… you can read about it…
HOWEVER…
what I would like to offer up as the topic this month is what are those topics in non fiction reading, that you almost hate to say out loud that you enjoy reading about.
I have two that come to mind, one I don’t mind saying out loud… the other even disturbs me a bit. 😛
The first is, I am fascinated with everything to do with the Titanic. Not just now that we are on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy… but I always have been. In a way, I feel bad about this because it is about a tragedy… but I am drawn to it… the ship, the facts, the people on board… I can not get enough about reading non fiction about this…
A Night To Remember
Titanic Survivor by Violet Jessop (on my wish list!)
The Story Of Titanic as told by Its Survivors
Voyagers Of The Titanic
The second non fiction topic that I hate to admit I like to read is true crime. Yup. There was a time when an Ann Rule book was the first book I read each year. I admit, I haven’t read one in a few years now, but I am still drawn to the topic for some reason even I can’t explain. I am oddly interested and baffled by what causes people to act in such ways. Some of the true crime I have read in the past:
Heart Full Of Lies
The Stranger Beside Me (Ann Rule’s recap of her friendship with Ted Bundy when he worked the Crisis Hot Line with her, before he was discovered to be a serial killer)
Green River Running Red
Every Breath You Take (the first Ann Rule I ever read, about a woman whose husband would not let her go – an obsession that was so frightening that she (Sheila Blackthorn Bellush) knew he would eventually kill her and had told a friend to have Ann Rule write her story if he did succeed in killing her). He succeeded.
Thanks for letting me play in the BAND! 😀
Do you have any non fiction topics that you are a little reluctant to admit you enjoy reading? It can be anything… books about ants, the human brain, bed bugs, Salem Witch Trials, Undertakers, fashion, rock star memoirs…you name it! Spill it! 😀 Feel free to write your own BAND post and link it back here.
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Book Journey 
I love true crime, too, Sheila, but also celebrity memoirs. Yes, a guilty pleasure.
But not the Kardashians kind of celebrity; more the actors like Sissy Spacek (just bought her memoir). Or writers. Love reading writers’ memoirs.
I would agree with that Laurel, Robb Lowe, Tina Fey, both were awesome! And uh yeah, since I have never watched the Kardashians nor do I have any desire too…. I would pass on that one 😀
I usually read about WWII or the Holocaust. However lately it’s mostly the Financial Crisis of 2008 that I’ve been reading up on. Not sure why we are drawn to tragic events…..
The Holocaust is also a very interesting (and horrifying ) topic. NIGHT broke my heart.
Oh, let’s see.. I love nonfiction topics on:
– True Crime (I also love the true crime TV shows, especially the ones on the ID channel)
– Gardening/Natural Health
– Mental Health (I really enjoy reading about psychiatric disorders which kind of explains my true crime enjoyment. I love the psychology aspect of it.)
Allison
http://www.wellreadreviews.com
Maybe thats it… the disorders, I wonder what makes people that do those kind of things tick…how do they think that is right… how do they justify it in their mind…
Good question! I’ll have to think about this one a little bit before I answer. True crime comes immediately to mind, but I’m not sure I hate to admit I love that. Hmm…
I dont know why that bothers me to say it out loud Kim…. it seems, gruesome…. so many great books out there and I am drawn to a true crime read 😀
I’m with Laurel–celebrity memoirs are definitely my nonfiction guilty pleasure (and one of my preferred audiobook genres, too)!
Nice. I have found quite a few I enjoy as well Florinda 🙂
I used to read a ton of true crime when I was in college, but it started to freak me out. 🙂 The closest I’ve come in recent years is Dave Cullen’s Columbine, which was terrifying.
I guess my nonfiction guilty pleasure would be weight loss memoirs. Keep hoping I’ll find that magic pill!
Oh I forgot to list Columbine – that was quite the read which I also highly recommend. It is a hard read, but again… something about me wants to know.
I love reading memoirs of celebrities and even just regular people and books about running. Every few months I read a new non-fiction running book. Not a how to run, but someone who runs who shares how running has changed their life or how they trained for a marathon and what they encountered along the way. There was a time when I also read a lot of history of Scotland when I started the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, but i’ve gotten a bit away from that.
Books about running? Nice!
Not a topic I’m reluctant to admit I enjoy, but in non-fiction I love stories of survival. Fell in an ice crevasse while climbing Mt Everest? I’m all over that. Currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. She walked the entire Pacific Crest Trail in an effort to “find herself” again. Astonishing to me was that she started this huge backpacking trip never having backpacked before! Crazy, stupid thing to do but I’m liking the book so far.
I like those too Angie – the “against all odds” books… Into The Wild for one 😉
I was addicted to true crime books for a few years. My aunt and I traded them 🙂
I don’t know why I am a little embarrassed about that…. obviously many people read them… 😀
Hey! My post on this topic is here. Great discussion!
Thanks Julie 🙂
Hello I found your post for May through the BAND blog, what a fun topic! Here are my thoughts: http://smhasty.blogspot.com/2012/05/band-may-discussion-topics-you-hate-to.html
Yay – glad you liked it 😉
I really enjoy this post! It was hard to think about books that I hate to admit I enjoy! Here are my thoughts: http://smhasty.blogspot.com/2012/05/band-may-discussion-topics-you-hate-to.html
I finally finished this one. Great topic Sheila!
http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2012/05/may-band-discussion-the-topics-you-hate-to-admit-you-enjoy/
Fantastic Kim! I checked out your post – I think you brought up excellent non fiction reads that I too hate to admit I need to read 😀
For some reason the Mr. Linky isn’t working for me, so here is my link : http://amckiereads.com/2012/05/29/band-may-2012-nonfiction-i-hate-to-admit-i-enjoy You have some great topics, I love that you read so much about the Titanic!
Sorry about that Amy – I may have set the dates wrong. I enjoyed your post!