Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This is the first nonfiction book that I recall reading. My parents were great fans of journalist John J Gunther. "John Gunther was an American journalist and author whose success came primarily through a series of popular sociopolitical works known as the "Inside" books, including the best-selling Inside U.S.A. in 1947." (wiki)
When I was a child I loved looking through his "Inside" books. They were filled with photos.
The book mentioned above, Death Be Not Proud, is about his son Johnny who died at age 17 of a brain tumor. It's a very good book.
Just a couple for now. I'll come back later on with more. I'm a non-fiction person too. Oh, and I agree re: Bill Bryson. Everything I've read of his was enjoyable.
Both of these are by Erik Larson.
In the Garden of Beasts
The Devil in the White City
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. I'm seeing some great possibilities already.
Couple more Erik Larson:
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
Recently got on a New Orleans kick:
Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist
The Great New Orleans Kidnapping Case: Race, Law, and Justice in the Reconstruction Era by Michael A. Ross
The Lost German Slave Girl: The Extraordinary True Story of Sally Miller and Her Fight for Freedom in Old New Orleans by John Bailey
And while I'm on a roll here, William Least Heat-Moon's Blue Highways is a great "road trip" book. He concentrates on the little-known roads and byways (the blue lines on the map), obscure small towns and the experiences and people he encounters in out-of-the way places in America on a 13,000 mile road trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlow
For animal lovers I also recommend The Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson. It's about training and working with a search and rescue dog.
Just a couple for now. I'll come back later on with more. I'm a non-fiction person too. Oh, and I agree re: Bill Bryson. Everything I've read of his was enjoyable.
Both of these are by Erik Larson.
In the Garden of Beasts
The Devil in the White City
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. I'm seeing some great possibilities already.
I forgot about Erik Larson - I just read both the above books and they were excellent. He also wrote a FANTASTIC book about the first Galveston hurricane called Isaac's Storm. I thought In the Garden of Beasts was his best book but Isaac's Storm was riveting as well.
Oh, I LOVE Bill Bryson and that particular book is one of my all time favorites. It's the first Bill Bryson book I ever bought and I bought it because it had me laughing OUT LOUD in the aisle of Barnes and Noble and I felt that if it was that good standing up in a store, I'd surely enjoy it sitting at home in comfort. Which I did.
If you liked that book, Lost Roses, you might also really enjoy this one:
Just Kids by Patti Smith is one of the best books I have ever read. I didn't expect to like it and had no idea who Patti Smith was. But, it grabbed me immediately and I could not put it down. Then, I was depressed because I had such a good time reading it and then it was over.
Just Kids by Patti Smith is one of the best books I have ever read. I didn't expect to like it and had no idea who Patti Smith was. But, it grabbed me immediately and could not put it down. Then, I was depressed because I had such a good time reading it and then it was over.
I am a fan of her music, but didn't expect to love this book as much as I did.... and I agree, it was a bit feeling when finishing it. She is making it into a tv show for Showtime
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
feeling when finishing it. She is making it into a tv show for Showtime 
