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Reading fiction is a one way to escape today's harsh reality. However, sometimes you can also do that with a non-fiction book as well. From my experience, this is particularly true of travel books, which take us to locations both known and unknown, and see them through the eyes of another. In this travel diary by Roz Morris, we get all of that, and so much more, including large doses of humor. You can read more about what I thought of this book in my review here (which includes a cliffhanger for a future blog post as well). https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2017/09/16/the-guestbook-spy/
  
Accessible for middle school readers (0 more)
My classroom library is somewhat lacking when it comes to non-fiction. I often have a difficult time finding non-fiction that is engaging for a middle school audience.

While I think that this will interest my students, as an adult reader, it's a bit lacking in depth.

I like the bite-sized chunks of information and the bold illustrations of each woman profiled in the book. The biographical information is just the right amount for this age group.

What I really objected to was the attempt to provide life advice from each woman. After each biography, the author imagines a modern real life question readers might have and then attempts to answer that question as the woman who was just profiled might. The whole thing feels incredibly contrived and, at times, not even loosely connected to the woman who was just profiled. I think I actually cringed with some of them because of how cliche and didactic they are.
  
Normally, I love journalists writing non-fiction, but this was awful. I was completely annoyed reading this book, thank god it was a short one. It tells the story of the 'last hermit', and the guy was just not likeable nor compelling. By midway, I didn't care why he decided to be a hermit. That's when I should have stopped reading. But, I didn't. Overall: woof. I'm never reading anything by Finkel ever again.
  
Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea
Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea
Michael Tougias | 2006 | History & Politics, Natural World
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
[Fatal Forecast] by [Michael J. Tougias] was a very well written account of a prediction disaster on George's Bank. Unfortunately when we learn to rely on technology and the people in charge decide to cut corners lives can be lost. That is what happened with this storm. The fishermen did not get an accurate forecast because two bouy's were not working.

I really enjoyed this book and it gave me my non fiction fix.
  
A Spy Among Friends: Philby and the Great Betrayal
A Spy Among Friends: Philby and the Great Betrayal
Ben Macintyre | 2015 | Biography, History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you're looking for a non-fiction book that reads like fiction, this is definitely a must-read.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
  
The Fateful Year England 1914
The Fateful Year England 1914
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Read as a text book (0 more)
This was picked for my book club, I really really tried my hardest to enjoy reading it, but for all my best efforts I had to give up. I aren't a great lover of non fiction books anyway unless it is something I really enjoy learning about. But the way he has written it was far too textbookish for me and I found it too hard to keep my concentration on it.
  
The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, #4)
The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, #4)
Jean M. Auel | 1990 | Fiction & Poetry
4
6.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
For the most part this book is quite interesting. The general story line is engaging however in between dialogue there is a lot of description about the settings which sometimes go on for several pages. Too much information, in my opinion. It makes the book boring and long to read. Sometimes it was like reading a text book, a non-fiction book about pre-historic times. I ended up skim reading quite a lot of the novel.
  
Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts
Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts
J. K. Rowling | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
7
8.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
A short non-fiction ebook that draws comparisons from the magic written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series to the historical myths and folklore from which it's based. Invisiability, transforming into a creature, and warding off evil are just a few of the topics you'll find in this book.

I found this to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter who are interested in Mythology and Folklore.