Thursday, August 25, 2011

Booking Through Thursday - History

Here's today's Booking Through Thursday:

Sometimes I feel like the only person I know who finds reading history fascinating. It’s so full of amazing-yet-true stories of people driven to the edge and how they reacted to it. I keep telling friends that a good history book (as opposed to some of those textbooks in school that are all lists and dates) does everything a good novel does–it grips you with real characters doing amazing things.



Am I REALLY the only person who feels this way? When is the last time you read a history book? Historical biography? You know, something that took place in the past but was REAL.

I honestly can't remember the last time I read a nonfiction biography or history book.  I've read lots of historical fiction, but that's slightly different.  I've also read a number of historical picture books.  The only thing I can come up with as an answer is that I've read children's biographies of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, a number of famous artists, and many famous women since I teach a unit on biography in my second grade class.  So I guess I value reading biography and history, but don't tend to do it as my personal recreational reading.

What about you?

7 comments:

Kate Maxwell said...

I think that some historical fictions can do a pretty good job, if they have been well-researched! I have several non-fiction books on my shelf...but have I read any? I know I should read more biographies... I plan on starting soon...honest! :-)
Here is my answer!

Anonymous said...

I like both but my genre is historical fiction.

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/08/booking-through-thursday_25.html

April said...

I used to read some historical fiction. I've always been mostly a paranormal/ fantasy kind of girl. Never really nonfiction

- April @ From Book to Hooked

Lisa (Lisa's World of Books) said...

I enjoy the historical fiction when the history is right!

Here is my BTT answer.

Anya Millar said...

Some H-non can be good, just hard to find. Most of what I've read is thanks to my one son and his history projects, lol.

Here's Mine: House Millar - BTT

Aine

FBT said...

I like children's biographies because they're always pretty straight to the point. None of all that "He was born on a cloudy day on the first day of spring just as the cows were coming home..."

Meg @ A Bookish Affair said...

I love my historical fiction!