Well what a great question and here at winstonsdad the answers is of course yes ,how do you define literary non fiction now that is a little harder I would think because it can really be books from any form of non fiction .The best i feel range from the english travelogues of Patrick leigh fermor ,Eric Newby and Bruce Chatein ,through to theprose style pieces of Slavenka Drakulic and Andrzej stasiuk with there writings on eatern europe .
But to sum up in one book the best it would have to be Joseph Mitchells up in the old hotel ,which I have rob of robaroundbooks to thank for .Mitchell was a wtiter for the new yorker who wrote wonderful prose on the underbelly of america from the thirties to the early nineties his portrayal of the characters and events he cane across in the less well known parts of new York and America are a fitting testament to his talent to draw the reader in .
I’ve been looking at all these posts to see what everyone says because I’m not a big nonfiction reader myself. I couldn’t really answer the question so I didn’t participate this week. But it seems the answer from participants is a resounding YES! 🙂
maybe get somewhere to start ,I m not huge non fiction reader but these few touched me ,all the best stu
I’m not familiar with Mitchell, but this book sounds very interesting. Thanks for mentioning it!
welcome ,well worth looking up ,all the best stu
He is worth looking up Jo ann ,very beautiful prose style ,all the best stu
Following your theme of travelogues, how about Iain Banks’s Raw Spirit, this i not just about traveling (scotland) but whisky, friendship & a wee smidge of politics, it’s also damned funny. It may or may not be “high literature” but it has been known to have inspired me, just a wee dram.
enjoyed your write up.
Thanks
Parrish
oh misssed that one I like that book ,although as ,my family irish would have to say ti prefer black bush or paddy lol ,all the best stu
That was my pick too!!! At least, it was one of them. Up in the Old Hotel is an incredible book. I cannot believe I only read it for the first time this year. Since I read it, I’ve given it to two people for gifts and I had a long conversation at a coffee chop with a guy who was rereading his dogeared copy for the umpteenth time. It’s a great, great book.
Here is the
link to my post, that has a link to my review of Mitchell’s book. If you have a review of it, please leave me a comment with a link to your review and I will list it on mine.
I’m heading straight to Amazon to add this book to my wishlist. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Here’s my post on literary nonfiction. I’d love to hear what you think.
And if you have read any wonderful literary books
published in 2010, I urge you to nominate your favorites
for The Independent Literary Awards. The awards
include categories of Literary Fiction and Literary Non-Fiction.
Nominations close December 15.
So many blog posts on this subject and a wide range of books thrown up. Never heard of this author but will go look for it.
It is worth reading a great insight into america in the thirties and forties ,all the best stu
Never heard of Joseph Mitchell … sounds interesting.
he is worth checking out ,all the best stu
Love that cover! Enough for me to pick the book!
Here is my Literary Blog Hop post!
very fitting cover for the book ,all the best stu
Thanks for the mention Stu (and for putting the spotlight on Joseph Mitchell – undoubtedly the greatest literary journalist EVER), but I’ve got to say, what a ridiculous question to ask in the first place!!
Warmest regards
Rob
many thanks to you rob for highlighting to me ,all the best stu
This book sounds great! I haven’t read a lot of travel writing but I’ll look this one up.
It is worth reading his prose are wonderful ,all the best stu