Mini Book Reviews: Nonfiction November 2023

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in An American City from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. This post contains affiliate links.

After reading another 'highly-rated' fiction book that I struggled to get through, I decided to jump into non-fiction November again this year. I was inspired by fellow blogger Liz Dexter who cohosts a non-fiction November linkup. I'm so glad I did. To kick off the month, I dug into my library's new releases and was stunned to find Britney Spears' memoir available. Sorry, not sorry, I was curious and it was a surprisingly good read. The Meth Lunches and Hidden Valley Road were both interesting and eye-opening, but very socially relevant. If you didn't love Dolly Parton before, you will after you read Sarah Smarsh's portrayal in She Come By It Natural. For followers of Anthony Bourdain, World Travel makes an excellent supplement to his shows. And what to say about Birdie and Harlow except to warn you to have a box of tissues nearby. What a sweet sweet story!

In The Woman in Me, Britney Spears tells her story in her own words. Told in a conversational tone, she talks about her childhood as a star on the Mickey Mouse Club and her breakout as a pop star. She doesn't hold back. Taken advantage of and gaslighted by just about everyone in her life, it's no surprise that she spun out of control. Treated like a child her whole life, she never got a chance to grow up, and as I read this, I reflected on the almost juvenile tone of the narrative. I kept thinking that I was missing something--why didn't anyone step up to help her, especially with regards to the conservatorship? How did that even happen? Who are these doctors who put her on lithium? What is the backstory? Britney's memoir is just plain sad and should be a cautious tale to any aspiring child performers.

The premise of The Meth Lunches started as an essay about hunger and homelessness in Las Vegas, for which the author won a James Beard award. The book expands on that premise. The author shares her experience with operating a food pantry out of her front yard, which turns out to be a social experiment. Addiction, homelessness, and hunger are pervasive; the author employs a handyman who is addicted to meth--her lunches with him prompted the title of the book. She also fosters and eventually adopts 2 children born to an addict. There is a lot to unpack in this book but it was an engaging and compelling read. She offers her opinion on solutions which include feeding people good, quality food. Her descriptions of the food she prepares made me hungry and also provide a much-needed distraction from the bleak tales she shares. 

When most of us think of Dolly Parton, what comes to mind? Her accomplishments as a country singer? Her voluptuous figure? Her philanthropy? Her contributions to feminism? In She Come By It Natural, Sarah Smarsh focuses on Dolly as a cultural phenomenon, providing insights into her life. I really enjoyed reading her perspective about how Dolly impacted her life as well as that of many other women. It truly amazes me that Dolly has always had a sense of purpose and even though it couldn't have been easy, she never compromised herself to get ahead. Often the butt of jokes, Dolly has a self-deprecating sense of humor and always seems to laugh it off. The author does a great job with this one and I found it an interesting contrast to Britney Spears' story. 

Chef Anthony Bourdain traveled the world and sampled all the food. He was bold and brazen, game to try anything. At the time of his death in 2018, he and his assistant had started working on this book, which she finished on her own. World Travel shares snippets from his travels, quotes, and anecdotes about each stop. Each chapter--and they are brief--highlights a couple of favorite places, including sights and yes, restaurants. There is also information on lodging and traveling. I would call this less a travel guide and more of a window into Bourdain's experiences. There are quotes and anecdotes from him as well as a couple essays from friends and his brother. If you haven't seen his shows, this book most likely won't make sense. I enjoyed reading his thoughts and always irreverent humor, which I could almost hear in his heavy New Jersey accent. 

Bidrie and Harlow is a sweet, poignant, engaging memoir of a young woman who spontaneously adopts a dog and finds a  furry soulmate. Her tale takes the reader through life with the dog as well as her life with her husband and their journey to begin a family. Her writing is so engaging that I had trouble putting the book down. She tells her story with humor, but also with feeling. For me, the story was especially poignant, as a fellow dog lover and infertility warrior. Be prepared to laugh out loud but have the tissues handy. You know how it ends. You don't want it to end. Loved loved loved this one. Dogs are the absolute best. Even when they're pooping in the shower. And as Jessie said, we don't deserve dogs. 

Hidden Valley Road , the true story of a family of 12 children, 6 of whom develop schizophrenia, just blew my mind. The narrative follows the family from the beginning, post-WW2, when the parents were dating and starting their life together. Until the boys hit adolescence, everything seemed normal--as normal as it could be with so many kids. After the symptoms of mental illness started in the oldest and then in the other 5 boys, the mother was determined to maintain a facade of a happy family--as evidenced by the family photos, where all the kids were lined up in order in matching outfits. Along with the details of the family's life and the boys' breakdowns, the author takes a deep dive into the treatment of mental illness over time. I found this just fascinating and also disheartening. Over the years, the care of mentally ill patients has evolved slowly until the study of genetics began to explode. The pharmacologic management has yet to catch up. I could not put this one down. What a great read!

Are you a fan of non-fiction? Have you read any good non-fiction lately? Have you read any of these books?

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics and with the ladies of Fit Five Friday:  Darlene, Michelle, Jenn, and Zenaida.