Nonfiction November 2024 - week one

End of October and time flies. We are already into Nonfiction November. I am behind with everything for the time being, but I will try to catch up. So here is my post for week one, hosted by Heather at Based on a True Story. The first week's meme is:

Week 1 (10/28-11/1) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction.

What books have you read?

I have read 21 nonfiction so far this year in the following genres. Many books in Swedish so I make a short summary

History

• From IX to V. Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World by Vicki León

• Romarrikets undergång by Dag Sebastian Ahlander

• Augustus by Eva Queckfeldt

• En sommar med Homeros (Un été avec Homère) by Sylvain Tesson

• Undsättningen, Det danska fälttåget till Kristianstad 1678 by Stefan Persson and Jimmy Juhlin Alftberg

• Sveriges stormaktstid by Dick Harrison

• The Teutonic Knights by William Urban/April

• Boktjuvarna, Jakten på de försvunna biblioteken by Anders Rydell

• Garibaldi: frihetskämpe och folkhjälte by Sven Wikberg

Three books about the Roman Empire, still a favourite topic.

One book about Homer and his influence on the author Tesson. Great book.

Two books about Swedish history; one local history and one of Sweden's 'glorious' 17th century.

One book about the Teutonic Knights.

One book about the Book thieves, the hunt for the lost libraries during WW II.

One book about Garibaldi, the freedom fighter for an independent Italy. In connection with my visit to his home in Sardinia.

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Biography - Memoirs

• Tankar efter en pandemi - och lärdomarna inför nästa by Anders Tegnell

• Vi drabbade samman med våra ödens hela bredd : författarparet Moa och Harry Martinson by Ebba Witt-Brattström

• Orden som formade Sverige by Elisabeth Åsbrink

• Övergivenheten by Elisabeth Åsbrink

• Det är inte jag, det är du, Att göra slut med Gud av Rosi Hageberg

• The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig

Anders Tegnell's book about the pandemic and how the health authorities dealt with it, interesting read.

Ebba Witt-Brattström's biography about two of our greatest authors and their love/hate affair.

Two books by Elisabeth Åsbrink; one on how certain words and expressions formed the way we think of Sweden, one on mother and grandmother and how their lives influenced hers, and not always in a good way. Åsbrink is one of my favourite authors.

Rosi Hageberg and her dealing with a religious upbringing. A very personal and touching account.

Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday where he remembers a world that is lost.

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Travelling by train

• Rivieran inom räckhåll, Med tåg till de bästa upplevelserna i södra Frankrike by Kristina Svensson och Maria Unde Westerberg/May

A hands on book how to travel by train through Europe. Advice on how to book tickets, where to go and what to see. And ... a few funny anecdotes on the way.

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Philosophy

• The Discipline of Desire by Ryan Holiday

• Lessons in Stoicism by John Sellars

• How to be a Stoic - Epictetus/Seneca/Marcus Aurelius

• Handbok i livets konst (The Handbook) by Epictetus

• Filosofi på 30 sekunder edited by Barry Loewer

Yes, I got into Stoicism this year. Trying to live a little bit more like the stoics, learning how to deal with people and the world around me. Also added a philosopical book that easily explains the different ideas of the philosophers. It did not make me any wiser. I find reading these different philosophies just make me confused.

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What were your favourites?

My absolute favourite was Un été avec Homère (A Summer With Homer) by Sylvain Tesson. This is a book I could always keep with me, and look up when I need to. Absolutley wonderful.

The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig also made a big impression on me. Not only the things he writes about, but how he writes it. The letters and words just fill the pages and you go with the flow.

Have you had a favourite topic?

As always history is my favourite topic. I could refer 11 of the 21 books I read as history, although a couple ended up under Biography/Memoirs.

Is there a topic you want to read about more? 

I always tend to be drawn towards history, but am also interested in biographies. In a way I guess it is a little bit like history. Travels, cooking and creative stuff are also genres I enjoy.

What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

Interacting with all of you who are interested in Nonfiction. I hope to get inspired to go outside my comfort zone and find new interesting topics to read.

Thank you to all the hosts for keeping up this challenge. I am looking forward to see what you all are reading.