SALT LAKE CITY — Many readers don't even realize that they have fallen into a rut.
Many get comfortable in one or two genres and never think of branching out. If you are in a fiction-rut, then it's time to pull out and read some nonfiction. Not all non-fiction is academic, dry or difficult to finish. These real-life stories are as well written, moving and memorable as the best fictional novels. And it's a wonderful way to learn something new and enhance the reading experience.
Reach up, climb out and grab one of these unbelievably good books:
1. "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson
Imagine strapping on an oxygen tank — life in a bottle — and diving to the undiscovered depths of the ocean. Imagine swimming through the ghostly skeletal ruins of a sunken submarine, moving an inch a minute to avoid stirring up too much silt, and praying that the deteriorating structure around you does not collapse. Imagine risking your own life and watching fellow divers die, all in the name of discovery.
For John Chatterton and Richie Kohler that was life. That was how they uncovered the answer to one of the last mysteries of World War II. This book is their story. It's riveting, beautifully written and quite simply one of the best nonfiction adventure stories out there. Read it!
This one is good for guys.
2. "The Man Who Listens to Horses" by Monty Roberts
One Sunday afternoon a couple years ago, while visiting my parents' house, I was lazily browsing the bookshelves and came across this book. It had been sitting on that shelf since Christmas of 1997, as the inscription from my mom to my dad read, but I had never before bothered to look at it. I turned to the first page and soon could not put it down. I would never have guessed that I would find such depth, such tenderness, and such perfection in the pages of this humble book.
Monty Roberts is the real-life horse whisperer — a man with a rare and miraculous ability to relate to horses. Roberts' gift, afforded by a rare kind of color blindness and hours of careful observation, allows him to communicate with horses and other animals with body language and unique techniques. His journey from rodeo rider to revolutionizing the horse-training world is a gentle, inspirational and unforgettable story.
Absolutely amazing. This one is also good for guys.
3. "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston
If you've been to my blog recently, you may have noticed this book. I read it a few months ago and my book club just finished our exciting exploration of it. I picked it up expecting to find a harrowing survival story, but instead I found a physical, mental and spiritual journey that has forever touched my soul. It's a surprise so deeply human and so beautifully written, that I can't say enough about it.
Ralston was forced to cut off his own arm after it was pinned by a large boulder while he was hiking in a southern Utah slot canyon. The intriguing thing about the story is not that he cuts off his own arm, but the thoughts, emotions and experiences that led up to that incredible act.
This one is also good for guys.
4. "The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" by Ree Drummond
Drummond, a city girl turned rancher's wife, started blogging in 2006. Her humorous observations and accounts of ranch life soon earned her a loyal and large following. One morning, unsure of what to post on her blog, Drummond wrote a short blurb about how she and her husband, known as Marlboro Man, met and fell in love. Readers went nuts, and she wrote more. Soon that one short story turned into a published memoir.
This humorous telling of her love story is a delight to read. I constantly forgot that the story was real. It reads just like a fabulous southern novel.
5. "My Life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme
I find myself in the fiction rut on a regular basis and am always looking to break up my routine with unforgettable nonfiction. What is your favorite nonfiction book? Share your picks on the Comment Board or on the Book Matters Facebook page. You can also send me a tweet at @bookmattersblog.
About the Author: Teri Harman
Teri Harman writes and reads from home amid the chaos of three young children. For more book reviews and book fun, visit her blog at book-matters.blogspot.com You can also follow Teri on Facebook (Book Matters) or Twitter (@bookmattersblog)
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