Week 8 ~ Assignments 1-4

After reading the two articles on nonfiction readers' advisory and viewing the e-learning video, I chose for my genre assignment:  science (500-600s), memoir (biography/subject area), history (900s) and travel (910s upward).

Titles included:
Science - Packing for Mars by Mary Roach (629.44 R) for someone who enjoys science fiction space travel.
Memoir - Double, Double: a dual memoir of addiction by Martha Grimes (362.292 G) for someone who enjoys realistic fiction about life struggles.
History - Here is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History by Andrew Carroll (973C)  for American historical fiction readers.
Travel - The Unconquered: in search of the Amazon's last un-contacted tribes by Scott Wallace (981 W) for someone who enjoyed Ann Patchett's State of Wonder.

Book Talks

If Anne Patchett's State of Wonder made you curious about the deepest recesses of the Amazon rain forest, try picking up Scott Wallace's fascinating true book, The Unconquered: in Search of the Amazon's last Un-contacted Tribes. Wallace, on assignment for National Geographic, presents his riveting first person account of his search for an indigenous ancient tribe that predates the arrival of Columbus. With its fast paced narrative, compelling characters, and suspenseful tone, you will be gripped by Wallace's amazing journey of survival and discovery.

The consequences and perils of too much alcohol have been played out in numerous fiction books over the years. From Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf to Michelle Huneven's Blame who hasn't wanted their protagonists to learn the hard way. For a real life bottom-to-top story, try Double, Double: a dual memoir of Addiction by mystery writer, Martha Grimes and her son, Ken.  In alternating chapters the mother and son duo revisit their stories of failure, recovery, relapse, and success in their struggle with alcoholism. Candidly written and highly personal, the moving narrative slowly unfolds with bits of humor and plenty of self-evaluation.