This week's question is:
Is there such a thing as literary non-fiction? If so, how do you define it? Any examples?
I absolutely agree that there is literary non-fiction. There are so many a fine example that I find to be truly absorbing narratives that are based on fact. It need not be a dreary and deathly boring overview of something true that's happened -- it can be wildly fun, engaging, and capturing the spirit of education and adventure.
Below are my my favorites that are more current and what I would place in my literary non-fiction category.
What do you think?
A Moveable Feast...Read my review of my favorite Hemingway by clicking here.
The City of Falling Angels...Berent's quirky characters amidst the Venetian waterways and alleys.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil...My favorite Berendt work, and made my visit to Savannah, GA that much more alluring.
The Devil in the White City...Chicago's World Fair of 1893 and H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who preyed on the innocent women who traveled to Chicago. I hear there is to be a movie soon, with Leonardo DiCaprio set to play H.H. Holmes
Happy Reading!
Coffee and a Book Chick
I agree - why can't non-fiction be literary?
ReplyDeleteErik Larson does write some compelling nonfiction, doesn't he?
ReplyDeleteI loved City of Falling Angels as well, such a wonderful story of Venice that really felt like a novel. Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil is on my to-read pile.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you & like your choices too!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Devil in the White CIty. It was compelling and very detailed.
ReplyDeleteI like your choices, and would add How to Cook A Wolf by M.F.K. Fisher.
ReplyDeleteWell Literary non-fiction... sounds good :) and readable.. and not so boring :)
ReplyDeleteI will definitely put these in my wishlist and see if they make me read more non-fiction ;)
Devil in the White City is on my "want" list!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these, but I agree (see my post) that non-fiction can be literary. It does depend what it's about, though. A how-to type book is unlikely to be literary, whereas biographies and travelogues are much more likely to be literary.
ReplyDeletehttp://leeswammes.wordpress.com
Leeswammes (Judith)
Yes! Read all of these and absolutely agree! Totally forgot about A Moveable Feast--great example.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked The Devil in the White City, I'd also recommend The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale. Have you read it? The murder takes place during 1860s in London, so the author pulls in a lot of details about the authors of the time (Braddon, Dickens, Collins).
I have a copy of The Devil in the White City on my bookshelf and have been meaning to read it for years. It looks like a fantastic book...
ReplyDeleteI do like Berendt's work!
ReplyDeleteHere is my Literary Blog Hop post!
I think any of David Sedaris' work would be literary non-fiction, as would literary travel writing and literary essays. Great answer to this question, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI loved A Movable Feast when I read it, but the others are all new to me. Oh goodness! I'm emerging from this blog hop with a mountainous tbr pile! :)
ReplyDeleteHello thanks for stopping by I am one of your newest followers. I saw the movie of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" I will have to check this out . I will have to add City of Falling Angels to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on Devil and the White City-I was thoroughly engrossed from page one to the end. And I hadn't heard about the movie-I'm super excited now!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Fine, well-written nonfiction can be literary. My favorite is probably MY FATHER'S PARADISE, by Ariel Sabar. A treasure!
ReplyDeleteYou've listed 4 of my fav (or at least fav nonfiction) books as examples! Great post.
ReplyDeleteNot read any of these & my TBR is now being used by the space agency, as it's cheaper to clamber up it ,than it is to build rockets.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Parrish
I couldn't get through Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil, but Devil in The White City was awesome! I learned so many things about Chicago that I stll remember today. It's funny, I thought I didn't like nonfiction, then I read my friend's posts and I see how many nonfiction works I did in fact enjoy. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteGolly I hope that Berendt has found some new story to write about in a place full of great characters.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to read The City of Fallen Angels.
ReplyDeleteI really, really want to read A Moveable Feast!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that there is such a thing as literary nonfiction. Of your picks, I've only read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but the other three are all either on my list or already on my shelves! I'd say The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks would qualify as well.
ReplyDeleteHow could I have forgotten Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? I loved that book, and really need to check out his new one! A Moveable Feast has been near the top of my tbr pile for months...
ReplyDeleteI think Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect for Devil in the White city, don't you? Can't wait to watch that!
ReplyDeleteI'm DYING to get my hands on A Moveable Feast.
ReplyDeleteNever read any of these. Good suggestions
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuffs you have here. This is my first visit here.
ReplyDeleteGreat examles of literary non fiction. Sadly, I haven't read any of the titles though. I need to read Devil in a white city.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Good examples of literary nonfiction, I think. I love this kind of writing. Sadly, textbook-ish nonfiction has ruined many people from reading nonfiction...perhaps from reading altogether!
ReplyDeleteHere's my post on literary nonfiction. I'd love to hear what you think.
And if you have read any wonderful literary books
published in 2010, I urge you to nominate your favorites
for The Independent Literary Awards. The awards
include categories of Literary Fiction and Literary Non-Fiction.
Nominations close December 15.
Forgot to mention that I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteI might even go as far to say that nonfiction should be literary! :) Oh, A Moveable Feast would be way up there on my list too!
ReplyDeleteI've never got on with Hemmingway so I ought to try A Moveable Feast. Adding it to the tbr list!
ReplyDeleteI've never got on with Hemmingway so I ought to try A Moveable Feast. Adding it to the tbr list!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read in the garden..I remember watching the film and really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoyed the Devil in the evil in the white city, I had to read it as part of a book group which is when I get most of my non-fiction reading done.
Sorry that I'm not replying from home where I can see the book-shelves, but what about the many books written by Oliver Sacks who makes the subject of neurology something engaging and intriguing for non-medical readers like me. I'm thinking of "The man who mistook his wife for a hat", "Awakenings" (which was made into a complelling movie). Anyone who thinks it was far-fetched should work where I do (with intellectually disabled young adults). Also "A leg to stand on" and "An anthropologist on Mars". I know there are others but memory fails me.
ReplyDeleteAm adding your titles to my newest list.
I second Midnight in the Garden and I alos have his other one you mentioned, the one that takes place in Venice. Haven't read it yet though.
ReplyDeleteSeabiscuit is another great non-fiction book. Liked it much more than I thought I would.
Hey! Just thought you might be interested in checking out my latest book giveaway at amandarosetew.blogspot.com!
ReplyDeleteThe City of Fallen Angels sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteA movie of The Devil in the White City? I just finished reading the book and will have to consider whether I could stomach watching some of those scenes.
ReplyDeleteI liked the movie of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil!
I definitely think there is such a think as literary nonfiction. Your suggestions are great! I will have to check them out. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteoh why did i not realize that it was the same author of midnight in the garden of good and evil who wrote the city of falling angels....man oh man i've got to get that book! and erik larson - whew! I had no idea a movie was in the works! I can so see DiCaprio as Holmes!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Berendt had another book besides Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which is such a good book. I will be on the lookout for it now, since literary nonfiction is my favorite genre!
ReplyDeleteFinally blog with usable informations.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award here: http://baffledbooks.wordpress.com/2010/11/27/in-which-i-get-a-shiny-award/
ReplyDelete