Non-fiction
Welcome to day 3 of Armchair BEA, I hope you are having as much fun with this as I am! Yesterday, I participated in my first ever Twitterchat, and I loved it. I also checked out the live video-stream from BEA, and while that was fun as well, it was also a little confusing, becuase it is also a live video chat, with lots of people talking at the same time ๐
Today, we are talking about non-fiction. When I first saw this as a topic, I was thinking to myself that I don’t read non-fiction apart from course-books in linguistics, so maybe I shouldn’t participate today. However, it is just not doable for me to not participate, I enjoy myself far too much. So after some thinking, I came up with some great non-fiction books I have read and recommend.
Outwitting the Gestapo by Laurie Aubrac is the story about a young woman who joined the resistance during WWII, and how she and others fought to keep France free, then to try to get the German soldiers to leave. It is quite short, and a quick read, but I was really awed at the courage these people showed, and how civilians helped so much during this war.
Hvis Jeg Forsvinner, Ser du meg Da? Literally : If I Disappear, will you See Me? By Kristine Getz, it is the story about her fight against anorexia, what might have started it, and the people around her and how they helped her get better.
Ethics in Blogging
We are also discussing ethics in blogging, when it comes to giving sources, letting other bloggers knowing where we got an idea from, where the book-covers we use come from and how we feel about plagiarizing.
I have learned a lot in this first year of blogging – I used to think that any photo I could find on google was free for grabs, but luckily, I really hadn’t used many before <a href=”http://parajunkee.com”>Parajunkee’s View</a> had a blog post about this – and now, I either don’t use a google image (if I can’t find out who the picture belong to) or I give credit.
The worst thing that happens among bloggers, in my opinion, is plagiarizing. I have to admit I am actually afraid to read reviews before I write my own review of the same book. I am so scared I’ll have a sentence stuck in my head, and that this sentence isn’t mine at all! I think it’s really important that we all take a stand against plagiarism, we all know it takes time to write a thoughtful post, no matter if it’s a discussion post, a review, a blogtour entry or something else. And one of the interesting things about blogs is exactly the fact that we are all different! We all see things differently, ‘live’ the books we read differently, express ourselves in different ways, and share books with our own, unique voice.
What do you think about these two subjects? Are you a non-fictoin buff? Have you thought much about the ethics in blogging? Ever been plagiarized?
Thanks for stopping by ๐
Ah, non-fiction. I exclusively read non-fiction after my oldest was diagnosed with autism. I couldn’t stop reading research, personal accounts, and behavioral books. I stopped all that in 2009 when I started reading and writing fiction. Now I’ll dive into how-to manuals, but I’ve had enough developmental books for a while.
As far as ethics are concerned, I’m a fan of quotation marks. There’s no need to steal anything. Cite and share and be inspired. That’s how I see it.
Yeah, that’s why it’s so important to cite our sources when we use them!
I can understand why you delved into research when you learned that your child had autism – I have read my fair share of books about dyslexia as well… I didn’t even think to mention those ๐
Thanks for stopping by Robyn ๐ It’s always a pleasure to ‘see’ you!
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Hmm, non-fiction..nope not a reader..lol. I recently read a pop culture book for a blog tour coming up and that is about as non-fiction as I get..lol. It is called Super Pop!
Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win with Trivia, Survive the Wild, and Make It Through the Holidays by Daniel Harmon.
On the ethics thing, I do think plagiarism and it doesn’t take that long to put up quotes and cite. I also didn’t know that any photo on google wasn’t public domain until last year. I mean if it’s there I think it is public…lol.
Happy Reading!
LOL, see, I didn’t find a lot of non-fiction books to add to my list today ๐ I’m glad to know I’m not alone.
Thanks for stopping by Stormi!
I have been plagiarized, and the biggest thing that bothers me is code, when they copy and paste my code it makes me so mad! I work hard formating my pretty stuff. My writing? YES if they call it themselves. I taught at the university level and I busted way to may plagiarists and it is rampant here in the reviewing world. It is very sad.
Non-Fiction?? COOKBOOKS! I read them cover to cover. Also studying women’s history a cookbook from the era is the best place to get a primary source!
See, I didn’t even think about cookbooks! Not that I read a lot of those either, but I own quite a few ๐
People even steal your code? That’s pretty bad! And I thin it’s sad when the copy-pasting becomes second nature, and people don’t even think about the time it takes to write a well-thought out post.
Thanks for stopping by Kriss!
Just getting into non fiction. Must be my age… Going back to reading about linguistics, language and culture a lot (back to my uni days). And books on health issues, psychology and self-help. Also on photography and history. Something I’d never have done in my 20s. And really enjoying it! :0)
I read a lot of books about linguistics, but that’s because it’s part of what I’m studying…
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m definitely not a non-fiction reader because it is very hard for me to get into them but I hope to read more of them in the future!
Yes! What’s the fun in sounding all the same? Our difference is what makes our blog stand out among the rest. Fantastic post Lexxie ๐
Exactly, and in real life, I’m sure we are a little different as well ๐
Thanks for stopping by Charlotte.
Outwitting the Gestapo sounds like something I would really like, thanks for mentioning it!
I love nonfiction and I especially seem to be drawn to works about WWII.
I hope you’ll like it Jennifer ๐
Thanks for stopping by.
“actually afraid to read reviews before I write my own review of the same book” I no longer do this! I actually refused to write a review for a book I loved dearly because I made the mistake of reading someone else’s review a day or two before I finished the book and when I went to write mine, all I could think of was theirs. So on GoodReads, I just rated it a 5 star and said I loved it.
Exactly, and I don’t want to take the chance that something like that would happen.
Thanks for stopping by Ashley ๐
I’m much wiser about using pictures as well. I never thought much about ‘stealing’ them, but I’m so thankful for all those helpful articles from bloggers!
Exactly, I really thought at first that whatever images I found using google search were free for grabs. I’m very happy I learned very early that this is not the case ๐
Thanks for stopping by Mel.
Great post! I am not much of a non-fiction reader myself either but I do really like True Crime novels. I am like you and I don’t read reviews before I read and review the book myself. I would never want to accidentally use someone else’s words. Plus, I can actually discuss the book with them if I have read it. ๐ Happy Friday!
I dont’ think I’ve read any true crime novels, I’ll check out your post to see if there are any I want to add to ma TBR ๐
I know, I am so happy to discuss books with other bloggers – even if we don’t necessarily love the same books.
Thanks for stopping by Chelsea ๐
I’ve seen many people (including myself) who said they don’t read reviews of books they’re reading or planning to read before they’ve written their own reviews. I just feel like it’s safer that way.
Exactly, I don’t want a cool turn of phrase to get stuck in my head until I think I was smart enough to come up with it myself ๐ And I prefer to play it safe – it has been very sad to read about different plagiarism scandals in the blogging world this past year.
Glad you found some non-fiction to recommend, I’ve been enjoying that more lately. I’m with you on not reading too many reviews on a book (if any) before I write my own. I even give credit for design features I learned from another blogger and always trying to give credit where it’s due. I try to support and promote other bloggers because that’s what makes this book blogging community so great! Here are my thoughts on ethics and useful links I’ve found to help decipher what I need to do and some non-fiction suggestions. Happy Friday and keep up the good work from your friendly ABEA cheerleader today!
I agree, the fact that we support each other is part of why the community is so great! And it’s really neat that you give credit even for design features. If I ever learn any I will make sure to do the same ๐
Thanks for stopping by Tanya ๐ It’s so nice to get to know you!
This is a great post, Lexxie. I’m definitely going to check out your book recommendations as my oldest daughter and I have a fascination with WWII history. Along those lines, one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s an incredible journey. I also loved Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
As for blogging ethics, I, too, try not to read reviews right before I write my own. I learned a lot from Parajunkee about what I could post and not post and to make sure I’m giving credit where it’s required. ๐
Thank goodness for Parajunkee and Nose Graze! Those bloggers have both taught me a lot!
Unbroken is a book I think I’ll read one day ๐ Thanks for stopping by Brandee.
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but I will occasionally pick up a memoir, a biography, or historical non-fiction.
I think blogging ethics comes down to just trying to do the right thing: asking permission, giving credit, being considerate. That said, sometimes bloggers do come up with similar ideas. I try to research new ideas, but sometimes I’ll see later that someone is doing something similar and unless I know they read my blog, I don’t assume that they stole my idea — or vice versa. I try to assume the best of people ๐
You can find me here: Jen @ YA Romantics
It’s true that it’s completely possible to come up with similar ideas, without copying anything at all. And I think it’s great that you assume the best of people ๐
Thanks for stopping by Jen ๐
Non-fiction is currently taking over my nightstand. I just posted about it today, as a matter of fact. I go through spurts of time when I really crave non-fiction, and I’m smack dab in the middle of one of those times now!
I agree Lexie. I try not to read reviews of a review book until after I’ve read the book and written my review. Sometimes things do stick in your head and you don’t even realize it. I can’t read blurbs either for the same reason.