Sunday Salon 18 - Non-Fiction Reading

Feels like a long time since I've done a Sunday Salon. In reality it hasn't, but I guess time is just moving so quickly! I've been tossing around ideas for SS lately, and since the Non-Fiction Five Challenge just ended earlier this week, I thought I'd focus on non-fiction.

It's always a little funny to me when people say that they don't like non-fiction. Seems so long ago when I first signed up for Joy's NFF Challenge and was scared out of my wits. I told my husband, "well, I just committed to reading *five* non-fiction books. Ugh!" That was two years ago. This year 25% of my reads have been comprised of non-fiction titles. When I think of non-fiction I still sometimes think of the dry and arduous reads of my grad school days, but there is so much more out there! So many fascinating stories and histories to learn about. These are my non-fiction reads of 2009 (so far):

Walking Through Walls by Philips Smith is the author's memoir of growing up with a father who became involved with mystic healing and psychic experiences during the 1960s in Miami. A fascinating and absorbing coming of age story that will have even the non-believers sitting on the edge of his seat.



The Hot House by Pete Earley is about Leavenworth Federal Penitentary in Kansas. Following the lives of six inmates, Earley provides details about what life is like inside the prison. Definitely not something I would have picked up on my own, but a coworker assured me that I would quickly be engrossed in the intimate details of these six prisoners' lives.


A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle is a travel memoir about the author's buying and renovating a home in Provencial France. For travel and food junkies, this is a great pick, although I'll admit that I felt the author was too removed from the story. Even though it wasn't one of my favorites, it was an interesting read and my book club members all really enjoyed it.


The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is one of my favorite books of the year. Walls' memoir about growing up poor with more or less absent parents was an incredible read. You'll want to cry for Jeannette and laugh with her and ultimately cheer her on through all of her struggles. The writing is also fantastic--not a dry spell in the entire book. Definitely one to pick up if timid about non-fiction!


Catch Me if You Can by Frank W. Abagnale was such a fun read! I'm sure most of you have seen the movie and are familiar with the premise, but if not Abagnale's story is about how he became a con man which made him a millionaire by the time he was in his early twenties. I couldn't believe the cons Frank pulled off, and this one had me quickly turning the pages to see what he'd get into next.


Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is another favorite of the year (still haven't reviewed it, though). Bechdel shares her story of growing up in a home with a father who was incredibly particular and difficult to please. As she enters adulthood, she also comes to terms with her own sexuality as well as finding out that her father is gay. Both a sad and moving story of father/daughter relationships.


The Lost City of Z by David Grann is riveting book about Percy Fawcett, an early twentieth century British explorer, and his obsession with finding the city of Z in the Amazon. Fawcett went missing during his last exploration and Grann makes some interesting posits about what might have gone wrong. Also fascinating tidbits about the Amazon--the world's largest jungle.


The Complete Maus by Art Speigelman. Are you tired of hearing me talk about this one? Another favorite of the year and all time, Maus is in part a biography of Art's father and his survival of Auschwitz during WWII and in part a memoir of Art's struggles to write his father's story. Can't recommend this one enough--mom just read my copy and loved it, too.


Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt is a travel expose with a murder twist. I liked this one so much that I've read it twice! The characters in Midnight are unparalleled and with a setting of Savannah, Georgia, there is so much to be entranced by in this book. The courtroom details can get a little wearing, but with twists and turns you won't believe this is non-fiction.


The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell (no review yet) is another graphic memoir about father/daughter relationships. Sandell idolized her father growing up and for good reason--he was everything and more. But as she starts to piece together her father's shady past, she realizes he might not be the man she thought he was. Not my favorite of the year but others have really enjoyed it.


Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes is in many ways similar to the above A Year in Provence. Mayes' travel memoir about buying and restoring a house in Tuscany, Italy also delves into the finer things in life--history, culture, food, and life. Where AYP was lacking personality, Mayes makes up tenfold. A sumptuous read for those looking to slowly enjoy the simpler things in life.


So there you have it. I've come to realize that I prefer the sub-genre of memoir, but even memoirs aside I've discovered some fascinating non-fiction books this year.

Sunday's Questions:
Do you like to read non-fiction books or does it make you want to crawl in a hole and hide? Have you tried some that you absolutely loved or didn't like at all? Do you think that non-fiction sometimes gets a bad wrap as being dry and boring (and yes, some of it is!!)? If you had to recommend a non-fiction book to someone who was timid of the genre, what would you recommend?

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

On the Homefront:
I start the second session of cake decorating course tomorrow, so it should be interesting/yummy. I didn't get pictures of Europe finished like I planned, but I hope to have those up soon as well. If only blogger didn't take so dang long to upload! And a surprise--hubby, who had planned to travel Europe for a few more weeks, came home yesterday. I guess travelling without me just isn't as fun. :P

Also, on a crazy whim I started a 100 Mile Fitness Challenge. I'm so excited to have about 15 others doing the challenge with me (yes, even my mom!!). I'd love if you joined us!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt

Title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Author: John Berendt
Published: 1994 Pages: 388
Genre: Non-Fiction/True Crime
Rating: 4/5

The first time I read this book, I’m not entirely sure I realized it was non-fiction until after I finished. Half of me wants to believe that the characters in this book can’t possibly be real, but part of me hopes that they are as colorful as Berendt explains them to be. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an exposé of Savannah, Georgia during the early 1980s. Reporter/writer John Berendt happened upon Savannah during a weekend trip and decided to split his time between New York City and Savannah. Over a period of eight years, Berendt got to know many of the Savannahian citizens as well as their habits, quirks, and deep dark secrets.

The book is divided into two parts—the first half focuses mostly on different people Berendt befriends during his stay in Savannah and the second half of the book turns into a true crime murder mystery as one of the lead characters, Jim Williams, is accused of murder and has a series of trials. Because this was a re-read for me and I've seen the movie several times (it is super boring by the way), I wasn't as interested in William's case this time around. Sure it is fascinating and I think you'll be pulled into the details, but what I got out of my second reading was just how dynamic the citizens of Savannah truly are.

Some of my favorites are Luther Driggers whose hobbies include carrying flies around on string and threatening to poison all of Savannah if he has a bad day; Joe Odem who everyone loves despite the fact that he probably owes everyone a little money here and there; Jim Williams who throws the most luxurious parties in his restored house filled with expensive antiques. And of course, Williams is the central character of the book who causes a stir in Savannah when it becomes known during his murder trial that he is a homosexual--something the refined upper class wasn't quite sure how to handle in the early 80s. My favorite character, is hands down The Lady Chablis. Chablis is a transsexual drag queen who meets Berendt after receiving her monthly shot of horomones. You never know what's going to come out of Chablis's mouth and she loves ruffling feathers everywhere she goes.

One thing I noticed in my reading this time was how much race and sexuality were at the forefront of the story. Everything is very black and white for the Savannahians and I'll admit that reading some of the passages made me a little squeamish because of the backwardness of their beliefs. From what Berendt notes, desegregation was actually a very smooth process for Savannahians during the 1960s. There were no major protests and the whites and blacks had gotten along fine for decades before desegregation. Berendt implies that even though there was no big protest or rebellion or outcry, it is understood that both will have their own societies and there is no need for real mixture between the two races. Now, this book was written 15 years ago and set almost 25 years ago, so I can only hope that things are a little more progressive now.

Do I recommend the book? Without very many reservations. I haven't met anyone who read this book and didn't like it. Simply put the characters are incredibly vibrant and memorable, and that alone makes this a worthwhile read. It's the perfect armchair traveler book and has me itching to make road trip plans out to Savannah. I loved the atmosphere--the southern gentility and charm, a little old world mixed with the new world, and the dark brooding tone of the second half of the novel. Berendt and Williams dabble in a little hoodoo with a woman named Minerva when Williams' murder trials don't seem to be going as planned. All of these things combined with Berendt's rich storytelling capabilities create an exciting and entertaining read. I didn't record my original thoughts on the book, but I think my initial rating probably would have been 4.5 out of 5.

Have you ever read a non-fiction book that felt like reading fiction? Was there a book you read that made you want to visit that locale immediately?



**For a balance of opinions:
CJ from My Year of Reading Seriously
Robin from A Fondness of Reading
Stacy’s Bookblog
Tim from Blogging the Bookshelf

And in case you're curious, yes, I've read The City of Fallen Angels as well.

Catch Me If You Can - Frank W. Abagnale

Yikes—can’t believe I’m a week and a half past the read-a-thon and still have a few reviews I need to get out. I try really hard not to procrastinate because I know if I get behind the chances of me getting caught up might be slim (this is what happened when I kept a written journal). Luckily I’m reading Middlemarch and will be for a few more weeks, so I’ve been able to take my sweet time. I have to admit that it was kind of nice with the blogosphere being so quiet last week, but I’m back at 100% (was dancing and singing in the car this morning…yes, I am one of those people), so now I just have to write my reviews and get caught up on bloghopping. Yippee!


Title: Catch Me If You Can
Author: Frank W. Abagnale
Published: 1980 Pages: 285
Genre: Memoir (NF)
Rating: 4/5

I’m sure many of you have seen the movie, Catch Me If You Can, but if not: Frank Abagnale left his tumultuous homelife at the age of 16. His parents had recently divorced and Frank found himself depressed and ready to move on. Over the next few years, he posed as various high-powered professionals—airline pilot, doctor, lawyer, teacher—without even a high school diploma. He began his criminal career by performing clever little capers, in the beginning at his father’s expense, but by the time he was caught he had led a full and adventurous, albiet short, criminal life:

"I was a millionaire twice over and a half again before I was twenty-one. I stole every nickel of it and blew the bulk of the bundle on fine threads, gourmet foods, luxious lodgings, fantastic foxes, fine wheels and other sensual goodies. I partied in every capital in Europe, basked on all the famous beaches and good-timed it in South America, the South Seas, the Orient and the more palatable portions of Africa" (4).

Simply put, this book was fascinating. I loved the movie, but the book goes into so much more depth as to how Frank pulled off his stunts and faked his way into some very lucrative positions. Many of the times he fell into the right place at the right time, but there is no doubt that he is an incredibly intelligent and resourceful man. I was constantly amazed at the detail he put into his cons and how well thought out his fraud crimes were. My husband read this book a year ago, so it was fun to say, "Hey Honey, remember..." and then quickly chat about whatever little tidbit I had just discovered. Great for holding my attention during the read-a-thon!

As for the writing, Stan Redding is the ghostwriter and I'm not sure what that entails or how heavy his hand was, but I was pleased with the detail and description in the book. The style was very easy to consume, but I did have a difficult time understanding sometimes the complicated nature of his schemes, especially when he was involved in complicated bank robberies. It is also amazing to me how trusting people were--or oftentimes just ignorant. Most of these events happened in the 1960s and I think with today's technology many of these crimes could not have been committed with such ease.

I'd definitely recommend this book. It was fast and fun. The information was interesting and the writing was engaging. There certainly was never a dull moment during Frank's short criminal career. I did have to wonder whether all of the stories were true, but I guess it can all be backed up in some fashion. The FBI was investigating Frank for years before they were finally able to nab him (and then he still escaped out of the bathroom in an airplane!). I'm telling you--this story will keep you on your toes!

Finished: April 18, 2009 (during read-a-thon)


So this reminds me--Non-Fiction Five challenge starts on Friday!! If you haven't signed up yet, head over there. I'll put up a Mr. Linky each month, but I don't think I'll keep them sticky. What do you think? This would be a great one for your list, especially for apprehensive non-fiction readers.

The Hot House: Life Inside Leavenworth Prison - Pete Earley

Title: The Hot House: Life Inside Leavenworth Prison
Author: Pete Earley
Date Finished: March 6, 2009 #10
Published: 1992 Pages: 441
Rating: 4/5

I borrowed this from one of my coworkers. Not to be alarmed, but she's a little obsessed with prison books. :) After several months of coercion, I finally gave in and took this one to Hawaii with me. Couldn't wait for the Non-Fiction Five coming in May!

In the late 1980s, Pete Earley was granted permission from the warden of Leavenworth, in Kansas, to extensively interview the prison's staff and inmates for an unprecedented look into one of the more dangerous maximum-security prisons in the nation. Earley focuses on six inmates as well as a couple of guards and the warden over a two-year period of time. He writes about the crimes the inmates have committed, what life is like for them in prison, and how the guards handle the pressure of maintaining peace within the prison walls.

This book is hardcore. I'm not a rubbernecker (HUGE pet-peeve), but this book was like looking at a horrible accident. You just can't look away. I was fascinated the entire way through--learning the stories and what makes some of these criminals tick. One of my roommates in college was a criminology major, so I've heard plenty of stories of crimes pre-arrest, but to learn about what goes on IN the prison was fascinating. There is a fair amount of violence and language in the book, but I didn't feel it was excessive, especially given the topics.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that Earley separated each chapter out by character with a thread of the Cuban prisoner situation running throughout the novel. But, only a partial part of the inmate's/guard's story was told in each chapter, so by the time I got back around to the person, I had forgotten the details. By the end, I could tell you a long list of things that happened, but I couldn't tell you who committed what crime, what happened while that person was in prison, or what happened to them once the book was over (with the exception of a sociopath who spent most of the two years in solitary confinement). I'm not sure if there would have been a better way to present the material, and it could have been because I was on vacation and only reading a little bit here and there, but in the end everyone's story was a little interchangeable.

Do I recommend it? Like I said--it's hard to look away. Isn't everyone just a little bit interested in the criminal mind and how it works? Even just a tinsy bit?

Also reviewed by: Kari and Laura (incidentally also both coworkers, although not the one mentioned above--this book has definitely made the rounds!) Also, Stephanie reviewed this one.

Bringing Down the House - Ben Mezrich

Title: Bringing Down the House
Author: Ben Mezrich
Date Finished: Dec 26, 2008 #72
Published: 2002 Pages: 257
Rating: 3.5/5

After attempting to watch the movie 21 and falling asleep (not because of the movie...unfortunately I have a tough time staying awake while watching any movie at home), my dad told me he read the book and enjoyed it more than the film. So, instead of renting 21 again, I decided to make this my quick holiday vacation read. And quick it was!

Bringing Down the House tells the true story of Kevin Lewis and a group of other students from MIT who use their math skills to beat the Las Vegas casinos at blackjack thus winning several million dollars. The book was very entertaining and oftentimes a page turner as Mezrich discusses the strategies used in order to win thousands of dollars in a matter of hours and the close calls the group faced as casino managers began to catch onto their scheme (although card counting is not illegal you can be thrown out of a casino).

The characters are colorful and well-developed, although according to wikipedia, many of the events and even characters are exaggerated or even fictionalized. Kind of burst my bubble, especially as I was really excited about this book and kept relaying the events to hubby. It's still a really fun and interesting read--not very deep or thought provoking, but definitely great for a short break from heavier reading.

Woohoo! Year's shortest review. :P I'm still really swamped, but here's to hoping that next week will bring back the slower pace in life. Hope everyone is well!

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

Title: In Cold Blood
Author: Truman Capote
Date Finished: August 17, 2008 # 47
Pages: 343
Rating: 4.25/5

It was difficult for me to read this book without my impressions on the movie Capote coloring my reaction. I was so fascinated by the movie and Capote's obsession with the crime and the killers that I had hoped some of that would leak into his writing, but I saw only one or two places where it could be argued Capote might have written himself into the book. Neither here nor there as this book was just as intriguing as the movie--only in a different way.

In Cold Blood is an in depth look at the horrific slaying of the Clutters, a prosperous and well-loved family, in the small Kansas town of Holcomb in November 1959. Four members of the family, the mother and father and their two teenage children, were tied up and shot with a shotgun after what appeared to be a failed robbery (as Mr. Clutter did not keep any money at the house). The family was found the next day by close friends.

Most of the novel moves back and forth between the two killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, as they travel around the nation after the killing and the slow-moving investigation for a crime that seemed to have no motive and absolutely no evidence. I am guessing that when Truman Capote visited Smith and Hickock several times over their years in prison he was able to get very detailed accounts of their lives because most of the book contains narratives from the killers themselves--how they planned the robbery/murder, what they did after the crime was committed, and how they saw the crime in relation to their own belief systems and who they were.

I don't read a lot of crime fiction or even true crime books, but this book was absolutely captivating--once I got into the meat of the story I couldn't put the book down. First and foremost In Cold Blood is a heartbreaking account of how a family with so much promise was senselessly and brutally murdered for what basically amounted to forty bucks. Second, in the book we get an intimate glimpse at the lives of the killers and their motives. In the end, though, I still don't see any justification for what they did--why or how someone could commit such a heinous crime.

From what I understand, Capote revolutionized the concept of the nonfiction novel. I was talking to my college roommate, who received her masters in criminal justice and who read this book a few years ago, and she mentioned that the book was interesting but only really contained the cold hard facts. I guess that is where I see differently--while the book did contain the grisly facts of what happened, it was also written as a literary work. Capote takes special care in his writing to bring the characters alive but to also create a fitting ambiance for the story. While a lot of the book is contained in quotes from interviews and other documents, Capote's writing aptly captures the setting and attitudes surrounding the story. While this book isn't going to be for everyone (and no--it isn't too gory, considering), I think that the writing and what Capote is seeking to do with this work can be appreciated by many.

Did you read it? What did you think? Here are some other reviews:
Nymeth from Things Mean a Lot
Raidergirl3 from An Adventure in Reading

The Innocent Man - John Grisham; Weekly Geeks #2

Title: The Innocent Man
Author: John Grisham
Date Finished: May 4, 2008
Yearly Count: 24
Pages: 360
Rating: 3/5

[Edited Note: this book is NonFiction--Grisham's only nonfiction work]
In a small Oklahoma town, Ada, in the early 1980s, Debbie Carter was brutally raped and murdered. The police began an investigation into Carter's murder, but they soon found that they did not have any leads as to who the killer was. The police received a tip, however, that Ron Williamson was involved in the murder.

Williamson was once a star athlete with a promising future, but after he sustained an arm injury, he slipped into a steady decline. He began drinking and was arrested several times for various crimes--some he committed, some he did not. The police began building a case around Williamson for Carter's murder--but he wasn't formally arrested until years after the murder. It seems as though the police were desperate and under immense pressure to solve the crime and exaggerated the little evidence available.

It is difficult for me to write my thoughts on this book without letting my feelings get in the way. I found myself angry at the police and the DA for charging Williamson and his friend, Dennis Fritz, for a murder they did not commit. The crime scene did not yield much evidence and in a time without DNA testing much of the evidence was circumstantial. Things were omitted from court, shady character witnesses were used, and neither man had a strong defense lawyer.

This book opened my eyes to the many injustices that occur in the legal system--it is not perfect and innocent men were put on death row (there are a total of five innocent men discussed in detail in this book). Williamson suffered from severe mental disabilities, and his condition throughout the story angered me and saddened me--especially as his mental condition was not presented in court during the time of his trial.

Overall I believe that Grisham did his research and presented a compelling story. The way that the story was told, however, was at times muddled and confusing. For the first 100 pages, numerous characters enter the story and it is difficult to keep track of them all. Grisham inserts small paragraphs in the middle of his narrative that have little relevance and the only purpose for them seems that he just wanted to get the information out there. While the information was usually interesting, it was distracting and made the book have a jumpy feel. Bottom line - a fascinating story that could have used a heavier red pen.

They reviewed it too:

Joy at Thoughts of Joy
Becca at The Inside Cover

***********************
WEEKLY GEEKS #2

To be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed by the idea of including links even though I really like the idea. I will do a google reader search for books that I write about (starting with The Innocent Man) and include what I find. If I somehow miss you, please leave me a comment and I'll revise my post to including your link [not to be snarky, but it won't really thrill me if ALL you leave is your link!! *evil little laugh*]. Another great resource to find out about other blogs that have posted on the same book, Natasha from Maw Books has created a wonderful website that contains numerous books and their blogger reviews: Book Blogger Book Reviews.

To find out more about this week's Weekly Geeks--click the link above to take you directly to the post.

Happy reading! :)

Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich

Title: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
Pages: 221
Date Finished: June 27, 2007
Rating: 3.75/5

I really don't want this review to turn into a rant about politics or economics or really my personal beliefs, so I'm going to try and be brief (and to the point--*try* being the operative word). I think its difficult, though, to read this book and not have some sort of emotion invoked--whether because you agree with what Ehrenreich writes or because you disagree.

The basic premise of this book is whether or not low-wage employees are getting by with what they earn. The simple answer is "No." In order to test her theories or ideas, Ehrenreich goes "under cover" in three different cities with a list of rules about what she can spend, what types of jobs she can take, and where she can live. She spends about a month in each city, and has about six jobs throughout the book: Maid (x2), Wal-Mart "associate," Waitress (x2), and Nursing Home Aide (I feel like I'm leaving something out).

I found Ehrenreich's narrative easy to read, partially because of her humor (although sometimes potentially offensive) but also because she really gets down to the nitty gritty about her experiences. What I found interesting, though, is that until the last chapter ("Evaluation"), all of the pertinent statistics and facts are hidden away in the footnotes. I am generally a lazy reader and sometimes glaze over footnotes (or sometimes don't read them at all if they are endnotes). I am guessing she chose to do this as to not break up her narrative, but I think a lot of what she is REALLY getting at could be lost to readers (lazy ones at least). In many ways, though, what she writes in the main narrative is scary enough--the living conditions, the managers, the physical effects, the working conditions, etc., etc. In one particular poignant moment, Ehrenreich shows how difficult it is to actually receive aid or help (in terms of housing, food, medical, etc) as she is passed from one agency to the next (all basically dead-ends). I think the book could have used a little more of this than anecdotes from her jobs (although informative and entertaining).

Recommendation: While this book was relatively enlightening for a young, middle-class, white, educated reader (yes...me--although I have had my share of "roughing it" as a Sonic car-hop, telemarketer, and retail scrub to pay my way through school), I felt let down at the end when she didn't give any calls for action. So people aren't getting paid enough--what do we do about it? Raise the wages? Well, what repercussions will that have? Will the cost of living increase causing a circular effect? I'm not an economist, so I really don't know, but I wanted to find this out. Bottom line--perhaps everyone should read this book, but I'm not sure what difference it would make.

*picture from www.greens.org.vt.edu/livingwage/ndcover.jpg