Bloggers’ Alliance of Non-fiction Devotees (BAND): August Discussion: How Did You Get Into Non-fiction?
Hi guys! It’s hard to believe a month has gone by already since our very first non-fiction discussion in July. This month Amy is hosting, and she asks us how did we get into non-fiction?
I actually found myself baffled by this question. Um, I don’t remember not reading non-fiction? I was raised very religious, although I’m now agnostic, as most of you know. Anyway, because my parents were religious, I was encouraged (strongly) to read my Bible every day. That combined with the kid versions of the Bible were probably my earliest forays into what is technically considered non-fiction. *coughs, coughs*
My earliest memories of non-fiction reading that wasn’t connected to religion is a toss-up between cats, airplanes, and westward expansion. I was fascinated with all three, although cats probably won. I had an ongoing campaign from when I could speak until the age of seven to get a cat when my parents finally caved. I used to wreak havoc in the non-fiction section of the library taking out every single book on whatever topic fascinated me at the moment.
My love of non-fiction definitely played into my first choice of major in undergrad–History with a focus on US History. These classes consisted almost entirely of reading primary documents, and I loved it. I was also finally surrounded by other people my age who felt the same excitement at reading non-fiction as I did. So you see, I never really “got into” non-fiction. I was born that way. Haha.
Check out the non-fiction books I’ve reviewed and discussed since the July discussion:
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Opinions of a Wolf 
Very cool! I wish I had found the joy of nonfiction earlier 🙂
😀
Oh, yes, the Bible. I guess I didn’t count that as an early nonfiction experience, probably because of the (mis)categorization. Also, it wasn’t something I really enjoyed reading – it was more like my mom telling me I couldn’t read what I wanted until I read the same number of chapters in the bible.
Your cat stories made me remember something I left out in my answer – I loved, loved, loved reading anything about horses that I could get my hands on. I had “The Encyclopedia of the Horse,” which covered everything from breeds (partial to the Arabian myself) to training and grooming tips. I couldn’t get enough!
Man, you should’ve heard the uproar from us secular folk in one of my librarianship classes when we were told the Bible had to be categorized as nonfiction. It was kind of hilarious. Your mom was way stricter than my parents were! The same number of chapters? Oy. Although, I was required to read the Bible in its entirety one year of middle school……
It’s so wonderful when kids get fascinated with something factual, yeah? My nephew is currently obsessed with how construction vehicles work.
I’m with you! Born that way…. (cue the Lady Gaga…)
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born to be brave! 😉
I’m jealous you got into nonfiction so early. I don’t think I really hit my stride with it until I was in college and then afterwards. I was definitely not born this way 🙂
It’s been so interesting to me to hear the different nonfiction experiences! I’m glad you came around to it eventually. 😉
I was really into nonfiction as a kid too, although I became more conscious of it when I got older.
Yes! As a kid it was just learning shit. As an adult it’s wanting to know more about certain topics. At least that’s how it’s worked for me, lol.
Fun answer. Put in my mind an image of a cat piloting a plane flying westward. Oh, wait, I guess that would be fiction.
I really want to read a nonfiction book about cats and airplanes. I BET IT EXISTS.
I FEEL CHALLENGED TO FIND THIS BOOK
It’s funny, I’d never thought of the Bible in terms of non-fiction or fiction. The sacred texts of the world’s religions just seem to exist outside of those binary categories in my head.
I only took one history course in college and it was on Women in England from 1500 to 1700. I did a paper on women in Protestant denominations, and I really enjoyed reading their writings from that time as I was doing the research. It does make history more alive.