by Sarah Statz Cords
Recently a discussion on Fiction-L centered on a poster’s desire to create a display of “readable nonfiction” titles. It made my heart glad to see that numerous people responded to the question with a number of great nonfiction title suggestions. But I’d be lying if the chosen title of the display didn’t rankle me just a bit.
Now, it is no secret to anyone who knows me that I am a diehard nonfiction reader. I read novels too, but they’re a much tougher sell; if, on the other hand, you start a sentence with something like “Hey, I read a great biography the other day…” or “Have you seen this new science book…” you can be sure I’m listening and will most likely add that book to my TBR pile, regardless of subject.
So every time I see the words “readable” or “narrative” in discussions of nonfiction, I feel a bit sad about all of the nuances of nonfiction types and genres that are being missed. To some extent I understand the use of the terms; when dealing with nonfiction, library staff often feel compelled to make distinctions between NF titles that are used almost exclusively for informational purposes and those that can be read more recreationally or, arguably, more as a “story.” But I would submit that most of the “informational” types of NF have their own names: cookbooks. Baby name books. Car repair manuals. Decorating books. Self-Help.
The problem I have with “readable” and “narrative” is not that they are inaccurate labels. Rather, it is that they are so broad as to be useless, and they obscure the glory and variety of nonfiction titles. The Fiction-L list of readable nonfiction titles will be an interesting one–but it may not be a very unified list (I don’t know, for example, that I would suggest Erik Larson’s true-crime history Devil in the White City to the same reader who might enjoy Elizabeth Gilbert’s self-discovery memoir Eat, Pray, Love–and they were both on the list).
As previously noted: I’m completely biased (as only a person who has written two nonfiction reader’s guides can be). I also take my nonfiction way too seriously. As Albert Brooks once said in the wonderful movie Broadcast News, “I grant you everything.” But these are my questions: How can we become more comfortable thinking about NF in terms of both subject areas AND genres (or interest categories, which is what bookstores use)? How can we learn about and promote more specific types of nonfiction? What tools do you currently use to learn about nonfiction titles and their peculiarities? These are the things I want to know–because I think there’s a world of biographies, memoirs, women’s nonfiction, true crime, adventure, science, “big think” (like Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point), “year in the life,” and foodie titles out there–they’re all readable, and they all deserve displays of their own.
I think the economy is driving more and more people to borrow rather than rent or buy. Perhaps asking for dvd suggestions is just a matter of trust. If our patrons can rely on us to recommend good reading, why not dvd’s. RA is a conversation, a two way street, so it pays to listen to the patron too.
I’d also like to think that good collection development in all media accounts for more borrowing too. We can thank our lucky stars our community and board has supported small increases in materials budgets and that donations to purchase materials has been good. Adopted authors where the patron agrees to buy all books by a particular author and read it first, help to stretch the budget. One patron alone donated almost all of our Midsomer Murder Dvd’s, 15 sets in all!
Carol,
I always enjoy the discussions here, and your thoughtful perspective as well. Thank you!
I’m so GLAD to hear people are asking for all manner and format of reading/listening/viewing material. Take that, anyone who says librarians are obsolete! Do you think the uptick in DVD suggestions is due to the explosion of NetFlix and therefore the closing of neighborhood video stores and their (often) expert clerks?
Sarah,
When doing displays these days, I always try to mix it up, including both fiction and non-fiction titles, and all media if I can. Hopefully this appeals to a wider range of readers. Currently my main display is of short stories. This lends itself to the above quite readily as do most themed displays.
As to your question regarding primarly helping fiction readers, I believe we have seen the tides turn. Both sides of the coin or both types of readers are asking for suggestions. Men are asking for recommendation more often than in the past. Readers seems to be mixing it up more, not reading only fiction or only non-fiction. Both genders are asking for audio recommendations, both fiction and non-fiction and all are asking for dvd picks.
Our library has hosted a non-fiction book discussion for approx. 15 years. It is very popular and attracts both male and female participants.
You have given me some things to think about also. I always enjoy your thoughful perspective.
Carol,
You make an excellent point, re: the research/homework/facts basis of some fiction, and how that would make a great display. I hadn’t thought of that!
I think we’re probably coming at this topic from two different viewpoints, and I must confess I’m so NF-centric I hadn’t thought of yours. Now, I very much believe that some fiction readers will read NF, and vice versa, and that mixing up booklists and displays a bit more between the two than we currently do would be great. I also can’t argue that if you’re trying to get a fiction reader to consider some NF–particularly a fiction reader who likes story-driven fiction–then describing the “readable” or “narrative” aspect of NF is a good idea. (I’ve done the same thing myself, for Sebastian Junger’s “A Perfect Storm.”) Although I might also argue that for nonfiction genres like memoirs, I would focus more on their characters or their lives than I would on the “story,” per se.
My other question, I think, although I didn’t think of it until I read your comment, is about how we seem to assume we are always helping primarily fiction readers. I don’t know if that’s because many of our own reading interests don’t run to NF, or if NF readers are more self-sufficient, but I think I had in mind that real hardcore NF readers might enjoy a nonfiction display that’s a bit more specific than “readable.” For a while I helped a few patrons who were dedicated NF readers, and I just remember it was hard to keep up with them, as they’d already read all the popular and big buzz titles and wanted something a bit more esoteric to sink their teeth into.
And now I’ve babbled too long. But thanks for making me think about this more deeply.
No, but we might call it “fiction that reads like fact” or perhaps well researched so that the history or historical figures are factual. The author does their homework kind of statement.
The other way we tend to describe non-fiction is “reads like fiction”. I think we use these terms to lure in our die hard fiction readers, those who think it takes too much effort to read non-fiction, that non-fiction is boring or too academic.
I find as I grow older, non-fiction appeals more but I still want to be entertained and not feel I’m studying for an exam. If not “narrative non-fiction”, how would you choose to describe it to a reluctant possible convert? I have sold Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson over and over again and though I’ll outline the story quickly and mention a few things like the gained respect for the divers, the respect shown the entombed, the mystery, that it has appeal factors for both men and women, etc., invariably I end up saying the narrative flows and is an easy, exciting read.
Maybe it’s my academic librarian background, but I often think of nonfiction as subject or discipline based. I would prefer to see a display around a nonfiction topic than one necessarily based on readability. One of my next projects is to create lists of “readable” nonfiction in the various disciplines at our college – and there are many books in an academic library that are readable and of interest to the general reader. Even though students might not have enough time to read the book during the quarter, he or she could pick it up at break. Faculty and staff could also read something outside their own discipline areas. Keep up the good fight, Sarah!
Melanie,
I agree that blogs are often a great way to keep track of things we may not personally read as much (or even with things that we do!). I find the Bookslut blog (http://www.bookslut.com/blog) often has interesting NF nuggets, and Rick Roche reviews a lot of NF at his blog, http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com. Anyone else know of any NF blogs?
I never thought of F/NF readers being more social or not as–what an interesting question. Does anyone ever have NF book groups, and are they well attended or not? I LOVE talking about NF so I never thought of being less social about it!
Emily,
Those are great ideas–I’m always a believer in providing lists with both F and NF ideas (I love the Barnes and Noble Authors Discovery program, where they publish little booklets for their picks in both F and NF). I also agree that displays are such a great tool for reaching out to readers, and might be a great way to introduce NF types like Memoirs and “Environmental Writing” to more readers.
I agree that a lot of non-fiction books are excellent reads and should be promoted more!
What about incorporating non-fiction titles into reading lists/book lists? Included non-fiction read-a-likes in displays? With displays you can incorporate other non-fiction media besides books.
I also agree that the Fiction L list will be interesting as Becky is right…there are big differences between the different non-fiction books that are out there.
You’ve asked some very good questions and I don’t have any answers. We really need more blogs like yours that talk about a variety of nonfiction. And it may be we just need more people to talk about nonfiction reading. Fiction readers tend to be more social about thier reading and nonfiction readers are more solitary.
Thanks, Nancy! I’m always glad to hear when a fiction reader comes over to the dark nonfiction side.
Actually, I felt like kind of a jerk writing this article, because making a distinction between fiction and nonfiction, or calling more story-driven nonfiction “narrative” is not really what bothers me. It’s really more the not recognizing that there are many types of nonfiction that are just as specific as fiction genres–you know, memoirs as opposed to big ol’ history books, and things like that. But then again, I know it’s hard to keep up with fiction genres (and genre-blenders), much less taking on nonfiction! What are we poor readers and librarians to do, just to try and keep up?
I am an avid reader of your blog and usually read fiction. But, because of you, I have picked up books that I never would have looked at before. I have also stopped distinguishing between fiction and non fiction when recommending books to my library patrons. Thanks!