With “Non Fiction November” just around the corner, I thought today I will bring you some Non Fiction recommendations. As well as some non fiction books that are on my Reading List.

I first heard about Non Fiction November on Goodreads – here is the Goodreads group https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/174090-nonfiction-november-2016 should you want to take part

1. New.

Earlier this year, I read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s an inspiring book all about finding your creativity and putting it to work. I had never read anything by her before but I’m really glad I picked it up. You can find my full review here. I’m counting this as new as the paperback has just been recently published. (Is this cheating? Oops.)

The latest non fiction book that I added to my TBR was Peggy and Me by Miranda Hart, a memoir about Miranda’s relationship with her dog, Peggy. I attended an event at the London Palladium, where Miranda Hart was in conversation with Mel Giedroyc and all ticket holders got a free copy of the book. I had a really great time watching her in conversation as well as the special appearance from Peggy – I can’t wait to get stuck in.

2. Controversial.

I tend to think of books that are “controversial” as “books that are sensitive to read about”. In the sense of subject matter rather than techniques. This year I read The Time in Between by Nancy Tucker. This is a memoir about the author’s battle with anorexia and bulimia. It’s very hard hitting and Nancy Tucker doesn’t sugar coat anything which didn’t make the book any easier to get through but I am glad I read it.

On my TBR for “controversial” books I have Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do About It… by Kate Harding. Like The Time in Between I imagine this is an incredibly hard hitting book on a sensitive topic, such as rape culture. I picked this one up on a whim in the feminism/sociology section of Foyles and I hope to get to it soon.

3. Important.

I’m going to recommend a three books here for this one. The first is Mind Your Head – Juno Dawson, a guide aimed at young adult readers all about your mental health. With advice from Dr Olivia Hewitt, Juno Dawson has written an excellent guide along with wonderful illustrations from Gemma Correll. I have talked about the book briefly here! Juno Dawson has also written “This Book is Gay”, released a couple of years ago when she was previously writing under the name ‘James Dawson’. This Book is Gay is also a guide aimed at young adult readers but the book is all about the LGBT* spectrum. Even though the books are usually situated in the young adult section of bookshops, I think that anybody at any age can read and learn from them.

And lastly there’s “Reasons to Stay Alive” by Matt Haig. This is a memoir about the Matt Haig and his battle with depression. This is another book that really hit me in the gut, as depression is something that affects more than just a few people in my life. There’s still so much stigma around mental health illnesses/issues. And I hope Matt Haig’s book is a step forward for those who need hope that you can move past your illness.

On my TBR I have three to include in this topic. Firstly is Suffragette by Emmaline Pankhurst, a memoir all about the suffragette movement told by one of the most iconic members of the movement.

Secondly, I have Girl Up by Laura Bates. Laura Bates is the founder of the Everyday Sexism project. She also turned the project into a best selling book. I highly recommend Everyday Sexism but I really want to get to Girl Up, a book all about combusting stereotypes of the female gender.

And thirdly I have The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson. This is a memoir about Maggie Nelson and her relationship with her partner while they are undergoing gender reassignment at the same time as Nelson’s pregnancy. I’ve heard a lot about this book, mostly good things, through Emma Watson’s feminist book club. And I can’t wait to read it.

4. Fascinating.

In April this year, I read a biography on Shakespeare written by Bill Bryson titled: “All The World’s A Stage.” I was influenced to pick this up due to the Shakespeare exhibition that was held at The British Library, which is only down the road from where I work. I found the book super fascinating; there were lots of tidbits about Shakespeare and his life that I had no clue about! The book also includes some wonderful insights into the context of his plays.

And on my TBR I have Eat, Sweat, Play by Anna Kessel. This is a book about being a sporty woman int the 21st century. I used to be incredibly sporty when I was younger, but I started stepping away from that when I began to feel like I didn’t belong in the “sporty box” because I was a woman. The only role model I could choose from was Sporty Spice. But I’m really intrigued by this book as I have heard nothing but great things about it.

If you made it to the end of this post, I congratulate you. And I hope you found some new non fiction books to add to your ever growing TBR.

Until next time,

Hayley.