What I’m Reading Now (11/13/17)

You’re getting 2 weeks worth of updates today since I skipped last Monday to host the Nonfiction November (get all the details here!) Fiction / Nonfiction Pairings Link-Up. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this focus on nonfiction reading that I tend to neglect throughout the year!

I also got to meet Tara from Running N Reading, one of my favorite book (and running) bloggers, in person for the first time! She was visiting my town to run our local Half Marathon, so we grabbed tea/cider and froze while we caught up outdoors. She is just as darling in person as she is online and I was so happy to put a name with a face. PS – if you like my book recommendations, you’ll also love hers and should follow her blog!

#Nonficnov Instagram Challenge

I’ve been participating in the #nonficnov Instagram Challenge at least a couple times a week, spotlighting some of my favorite nonfiction in a number of categories. And, let’s be honest, the nonfiction I happen to have in physical book form! Follow me (at sarahsbookshelves) and the #nonficnov hashtag on Instagram to follow along!

The winning post so far is…

Nonfiction November Instagram Challenge Day 2: Favorite Recent Nonfiction⠀ _⠀ ⠀ Does last year count as recent?! Hope so… Hillbilly Elegy was one of my favorite nonfiction books of last year AND one of my overall favorites of 2016! I read it well before it blew up following the election (and accumulated a ton of backlash), so had a cleaner slate going in. I thoroughly enjoyed it as the straightforward memoir it is. And, who doesn’t love a bada$$, trash-talking grandma?!⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ *⠀ #bookstagram #bookgram #booktography #amreading #bookworms #instabooks #bookblogger #booklovers #booklover #bibliophile #biblio #bookaddict #bookaddiction #goodreads #nonficnov @kimthedork @doingdewey @catchmybookbreath @harperbooks

A post shared by Sarah’s Book Shelves (@sarahsbookshelves) on

Hosted by The Book Date.

This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link).

I finished reading…

Forty Autumns, After the Eclipse, Dear Fahrenheit 451


Forty Autumns
by Nina Willner (October 4, 2016)
This memoir about Willner’s German family being torn apart by the Berlin Wall is fantastic. It’s highly readable and the story reminded me a bit of We Were the Lucky Ones, just during a different war. Mini review to come.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

After the Eclipse by Sarah Perry (September 26, 2017)
This memoir is a bit true crime and a bit The Glass Castle. It’s a powerful book, but unnecessarily long. Mini review to come.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence (September 26, 2017)
A welcome delightful and funny read following the intensity of Forty Autumns and After the Eclipse! Mini review to come.

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen


How Reading Changed My Life
by Anna Quindlen (January 1, 1998)
I’m over halfway through this 98 page rumination on the reading life. I adore Anna Quindlen and generally love her ruminations on anything, but this one isn’t working for me. It feels like she wrote it for some term paper…

I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

My Life with Bob by Pamela Paul


My Life with Bob
by Pamela Paul (June 13, 2017)
DNF at 42%. I loved the beginning where she focuses on her reading life. However, she started moving more into straight memoir and talking less about books and reading. I started to lose interest and got annoyed by her increasing lapses into intellectual snobbery.

Upcoming reading plans…

Last Castle by Denise Kiernan

The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan (September 26, 2017)
I’ve been seeing this story about the Biltmore castle in Asheville, NC around a lot lately and rarely turn my nose up at some “behind the scenes of rich people” reading!

was reading…

One Year Ago: I was reading a long, but fast paced book about Hurricane Katrina.

Two Years Ago: I finished an eye-opening nonfiction about women in Afghanistan.

How was your reading week?

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21 Comments

  1. Tara wrote:

    Oooh, I definitely need to add Dear Fahrenheit 451 to my list; I could probably handle that one as another nonfiction choice. Thank you so much for the shout out, Sarah; I’m so glad we could get together this weekend and I wish we lived closer! Hope you have a great week!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s definitely an “easy” nonfiction…I think it would be a good choice if you feel yourself getting burned out of nonfiction.

      And me too!! Hopefully, we’ll be able to do it again sometime!

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  2. Pat @ PFN wrote:

    Since it’s funny, I’d be interested in Fahrenheit 451. I’ll look forward to your mini review.

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  3. Wendy wrote:

    Tara was the first book/running blogger I followed–we go way back!

    I’m reading The Sky Below which is a memoir. I’m reading the Kindle version, which is kind of cool with animation and colored graphics. I’m not about those features, but I won’t deny that it’s fun! The book is a quick, interesting read about a colorful guy.

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I think she was how I found you!

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  4. I listened to the audio version of Dear Fahrenheit 451 last week and loved it! Still on the library hold list for The Last Castle… was hoping to read it this month, but it’s looking pretty doubtful. What fun to meet Tara!!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      So, I didn’t make it through the sample of Last Castle. But, I feel like it’s because I’m getting a little burned out of nonfiction. I’m going to switch back to fiction after I finish my current book.

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  5. So fun getting to meet Tara. I’d love to meet some of my favorite bloggers in person.

    I keep kicking myself to not downloading my ARC of Fahrenheit 451 in time, and now more than ever. I guess I’d better put in a library hold for it. Forty Autumns looks great. I’ve only hesitated because it’s long. Have a great week!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      You will love Forty Autumns..at least I’m pretty sure you will..haha!

      And Tara is one of the only bloggers I’ve met in person!

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  6. I’ve been noticing Dear Fahrenheit 451, and I’m now intrigued by Forty Autumns.

    I read Hillbilly Elegy right after the election…and loved it. I also bought White Trash around the same time, but bogged down early on. Maybe later.

    Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Good to know about White Trash…I’d been considering it as a companion to Hillbilly Elegy, but bogged down is definitely not what I need these days.

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  7. Kathy Martin wrote:

    I don’t usually read nonfiction but The Last Castle caught my eye. Dear Fahrenheit 451 also sounds good. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I actually ended up not getting past the sample of Last Castle. But, I think it’s more because I’m getting burned out of nonfiction.

      Posted 11.14.17 Reply
  8. Amanda wrote:

    Oh I can’t wait to hear about the Last Castle! Love reading about a good blogger meet up 🙂

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  9. Melinda wrote:

    Forty Autumns looks like it would be a fascinating book! I’m going to have to add it to my wishlist!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  10. Renee wrote:

    I’m looking forward to Dear Fahrenheit so I’m glad you liked it. I’m really curious about The Last Castle but I’ll wait for your thoughts:)

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  11. Michelle wrote:

    Oh, I really want to read The Last Castle. I have a special fondness for Biltmore after visiting there for our honeymoon decades ago.

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  12. You’re the second blogger I follow who DNFed Life with Bob. Come see what I’m reading this week.

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  13. Forty Autumns was an incredible story wasn’t it? All that wasted time. I cried so many times reading that.

    I’m glad you loved Fahrenheit 451 – it’s been recommended to me by a friend a couple of times now! I REALLY want to read The Last Castle so I’m keeping an eye on what you think of that one!

    Posted 11.13.17 Reply
  14. Yay, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed both Forty Autumns and Dear Fahrenheit 451. I loved them both and definitely will be pushing them on all the readers I know 🙂

    Posted 11.19.17 Reply
  15. I’m adding The Last Castle, that one looks good!!

    Posted 11.26.18 Reply

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