Why is there less traffic on non-fiction thread than on here?!

[tobee]

Just that really. Does it reflect what you read?

[Sadik]

No, I read loads of non fiction, but don't check/start threads there as there's not much traffic . . .

[tobee]

Ah. Vicious circle! I'd like to see more recommendations/opinions etc.

[Sadik]

Me too :)

[IfItoldyouIdHavetoKillYou]

I've never willingly read non fiction, unless you count cookery books?

[southeastdweller]

I'm the same, Sadik. I don't see any point starting threads on there when I'm only going to get a few replies, if any. I read a lot of non-fiction (mostly biographies) and a lot of non-fiction is read by the others on the 50 Books for 2015 threads so maybe people are deterred for the same reason. Saying that, though, people on the 50 Books for 2015 threads do seem to read more fiction than non-fiction.

[tobee]

Why's that Ifitoldyou?

[Sadik]

I've started non-fic threads in Adult fiction (I know, I know, all wrong), and got plenty of replies, so I think people do read non-fiction, it's just that thing of an underused board never getting much traffic. In particular, I think boards that don't show without clicking 'more' tend not to get passing trade.

'Feminist books clubs' is equally a tumbleweed topic, despite the fact that there used to be loads of book conversation in 'feminism' when it was just one board - and indeed people do still start book threads in 'feminism chat'.

[IfItoldyouIdHavetoKillyou]

Probably laziness. I read for pleasure and entertainment and, no doubt wrongly, I perceive non fiction as hard work.
DH has only ever read History books. I have never in 35 years known him to read fiction.
I have two DC. DC1 (19) hasn't read fiction since Harry Potter when he was about 9 years old. He reads heavy duty Maths / Physics books for pleasure .
DC2 on the other hand reads much more and only reads fiction.

[tobee]

Interesting. I initially wondered if there was a gender divide. But I think that would be a sweeping generalisation. I suppose it's ok to be naughty and post non fiction comments on adult fiction! Personally, I tend to read in binges and each binge tends to be either fiction or non.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I read a lot of NF, but tend to talk about it on the Adult Fiction boards (esp the 50 books threads) because that's where all my bookish 'pals' hang out!

[DuchessofMalfi]

I tend to do the same as Remus. If I read some non fiction then it gets added to my reading list on the 50 books thread, so no need to go over to non fiction to discuss.

I think perhaps MN should just combine the Adult Fiction and Non Fiction under a new title that allows posting of all reading regardless of type.

[Sadik]

Agree, Duchess - it'd be better to just have one adult books board, I think.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Totally agree, Duchess.

[southeastdweller]

I'm also in agreement with Duchess. Seems no point in having that topic on MN when there's so little traffic, despite there being a lot of us here who read non-fiction.

[MsAmerica]

Sadly, I think women read less non-fiction...which leads into negative stereotypes. Even historically, novels were considered "less" because women read them.

Totally agree, Duchess - it's not good to be over-splintering forums.

[Sadik]

Is there a way to report a whole thread to MN? Seems like it might be worth suggesting collapsing books a bit to them.

[RachelMumsnet]

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll put this to the community team and come back to you. Seems like a good idea as we also get frustrated that there's not much discussion over on the non-fiction board.

Interestingly we're considering reviving the non-fiction bookclub where we'll be offering out free copies and asking you to discuss and also getting the author to write a blog post about the book. We trialled this last year with Anita Anand's Sophia, Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary which had a lot of interest. We'd love to hear from you whether you think this is a good idea and if so, what sort of non-fiction books you'd like us to feature. We would consider author webchats (of the non-fiction books) but have found in the past that there wasn't so much interest. Let us know what you think about this?

[Sadik]

Many thanks, Rachel. I'd definitely be interested in a non-fiction book-club. I'm particularly keen on biographies of interesting women, feminism, politics, economics, history up to a point, though up for trying most things.

I suspect for the first couple of those at least there'd be overlap with the feminism board, and there might be people who post there interested in taking part.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes, yes, yes to a non-fiction bookclub! I'm a woman, but read far more non-fiction than fiction nowadays (mainly because my tolerance for bad modern fiction is getting lower by the minute).

Non-fiction topics I'm interested in -
History - especially the Victorians, Edwardians and First and Second World Wars
'Quirky' history - especially medical stuff, murders etc
Exploration - especially anything to do with cold weather/mountain disasters!

Can I recommend, 'Fanny and Stella' as a potential giveaway and discussion book? I thought it was absolutely brilliant, and it's one that I suspect many people won't have come across. Sadik's list below makes me think that she'd be really interested in it.

[Sadik]

YY, definitely would be, in fact I think it's on my 'to read when it comes in the library' list.

[CoteDAzur]

It would be a good idea to combine the Fiction and Non-Fiction topics.

Also re non-fiction book club: I'd be interested but probably won't join if it's just to read books about women.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Cote - 'Fanny and Stella' is absolutely not a book about women!

Here

[southeastdweller]

A non-fiction book club sounds great to me. I enjoy reading memoir's and autobiographies, and occasionally self-help and humour books.

I'd like to recommend as a Giveaway/webchat a memoir/self-help hybrid book called Reasons to Stay Alive, by Matt Haig (out in paperback on 7th January).

Sue Perkins has a memoir out at the moment, and a webchat with her would be popular on here, I expect.

[CoteDAzur]

Remus - I was thinking of "Sophia, Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary" which RachelMumsnet said was the last non-fic book chosen for the book club, not "Fanny and Stella".

I also see the fiction books chosen for the giveaways and web chats on here and have to say that the vast majority of them are women's books, talking about women, and written by women.

I would love a non-fiction book club on MN and really hope that it would not only choose books written by women about women etc. Just thought it needed to be said here, since Rachel has asked what sort of books we would like to read.

I'm interested mainly in:

• War strategy (Ghenghis Khan, Samurai wars, WWI and WWII)
  
• Science history
  
• Cutting edge science: biotech, genetics, Quantum Physics etc.
  
• Biographies of scientists and mathematicians
  
• Exploration, mountain disasters, contact with previously unknown tribes etc (like Remus)

[wiltingfast]

Here too , I read lots of non fiction, WW2 seems to be this year's pursuit but I also love popular science books, eg

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre,
Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond,
anything by Stephen Pinker,
Far from the Tree by Andrew Soloman

and books about iconic businesses or people, eg

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson,
War Paint by Linda Woodhead (about Elizabeth Arden & Helena Rubenstein) or
The Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrough and John Heylar.

Bedsit Disco Queen by Tracy Thorn was also a great read this year though it doesn't fit neatly into the above categories. I just like the book to be INTERESTING .

Am a bit bored of fiction tbh, especially "literary" fiction when IS the new GoT book coming out. Think I might have overdone it in my youth