Anybody else only read non-fiction? (novels, best, history book, characters)

[doglover29]

I love non-fiction. I was an English major in college, and read many of the classics, but since college (which was a good 10 years ago) I've probably read only a handful of novels. I just can't get into fiction anymore.

I love non-fiction and read a variety of subject areas. What are some of your favorite subject areas?

[Thyra]

I have not been able to read fiction for years, either...I read European History. Alot of people read historical fiction, I figure if I'm going to spend the time reading, I might as well learn something that interests me ! And all history books are not dry and boring!

[Visvaldis]

I've read very few novels. Non-fiction is my favorite category. I like to read about European history as well as American history.
Also, I like to read books which use fictional characters to present ideas, such as "Also Spoke Zarathustra" by Nietzsche and "Steppenwolf" by Herman Hesse. In most of my books I underline sentences and write comments in the margins.
Of the fiction books I prefer strange works such as those by Kafka or the short stories by Bukowski.

[Marlow]

I love fiction but also read non-fiction--mostly political biographies and American history.

[Mathguy]

One of the best I've read.....

There is a book (older) called The Way of the Gladiator that looks at the Roman games and circuses from a historical setting. It also takes some minor liberties by telling some stories based upon written accounts as to what went on with some of the games, the gladiators etc.

It is a stunning read....and I will warn you....they don't pull any punches and the book will disturb you greatly at some times. (They describe how you train lions to view people as food and how they'd do "plays" like the story of the minotaur starting out with how um.....a 1/2 man 1/2 bull would be created with an actual breeding demonstration.)

As distrubing as the book is at times, it's fascinating and gives you an unvarnished look at that slice of Roman life. You'll come away with the sense that perhaps things DO get better over time.

[Mooseketeer]

I read a lot of History , Archaeology and Anthropology book, some science books and quite a few travel books ( not guides). I also love Biographies.

[Hungry For Cheese]

I wouldn't waste my time reading fiction. If I wanted that I'd watch a movie and save the time and money. I prefer non-fiction like financial, business, economy, history or pretty much anything I can learn and use in life.

[RDSLOTS]

I read almost any, and every, thing I can get my hands on. I have read so much over the years until it has just about spoiled reading a lot of fiction these days in that I can generally tell you, before I have finished the first chapter, 'where' the book is headed, and how it will conclude. Same thing with movies. Amazes me that it seems to 'amaze' my friends that I can do that, but I seem to recall a quote somewhere along the line about there being no new stories?

For me, there is a difference between a good writer and a good storyteller, and sometimes I get frustrated because I expect good writing from good storytellers, and they are not the same.

Nonfiction appeals to me, too -- historical works, biographies. I find I will become interested in a subject, for whatever reason, and then have to read everything I can get my hands on. I often like to read the biographies/autobiographies of authors I like or admire. For example, after teaching Elie Wiesel's Night for years, I went on to read his other books -- fabulous writing and such insight into his character.

Because I actually like Shakespeare, I enjoy reading about him -- fiction or non -- the time period, Elizabeth I, politics, the New World, explorers, and so on and so on. . . one things leads to another. Alison Weir writes a good biography, and I just finished Margaret George's historical novel done as Henry VIII's autobiography (with notes by his fool, Will Somers). Looks like it may have been some of the premise for HBO's The Tudors.