What non-fiction books would you recommend ...

[heatherblue]

... for someone who likes Olivia Laing and Rebecca Solnit?

[lljkk]

Does that mean you like fiction with feminist themes?

[Dottierichardson]

OP have a look at these:

Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett
Hotel by Joanna Walsh.
Suite for Barbara Loden by Nathalie Leger
Things I Don’t Want to Know by Deborah Levy
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson
Fierce Attachments by Vivien Gornick
Notes from No Man's Land by Eula Biss
Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles
Sheila Heti's novels (autofiction)

[lljkk]

Those are fiction & OP asked for non-fiction ?

[Dottierichardson]

lljkk Are they now? Have annotated for you, happy now o pedantic one?
Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett - mix of fiction/non-fiction
Hotel by Joanna Walsh - - NON-FICTION
Suite for Barbara Loden by Nathalie Leger - NON-FICTION
Things I Don’t Want to Know by Deborah Levy - NON-FICTION
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson - NON-FICTION
The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson - NON-FICTION
Fierce Attachments by Vivien Gornick - NON-FICTION
Notes from No Man's Land by Eula Biss - NON-FICTION
Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles - mix of fiction/non-fiction
Sheila Heti's novels (autofiction)

[lljkk]

That's weird, Amazon says Suite for Barbara is fiction.

This says Things I Don't Want to Know is a book of short stories (SS are usually a form of fiction).

Hopefully OP is happy with the selection, anyway.

[Dottierichardson]

Oh I get it you're a gf, Deborah Levy will know doubt be surprised to find her autobiographical work is made up, it's a response to Orwell's Why I write from a feminist perspective! And the link you posted makes that clear and I quote:
blending personal history, gender politics, philosophy, and literary theory into a luminescent treatise on writing, love, and loss

Suite for Barbara Loden is an experimental biography/film critique with fictionalised elements i.e. it mixes genres but is predominantly non-fiction. In that sense it has an affinity with Olivia Laing's approach.

[Dottierichardson]

OR maybe in your rush to discredit other posters, you just didn't read the site properly - extract below. It says that the Deborah Levy book I cited is to be published 'simultaneously' with another of her books which are short stories. 'Simultaneously' means at the same time. IN other words she published two books at the same time, she's a prolific writer: one, which was the one I recommended, is non-fiction, the other which I DIDN'T recommend is short stories. This is not AIBU we do not snipe at or seek to discredit other posters, so be civil, stop sniping, recommend a book of your own or bog off:

"To be published simultaneously with Black Vodka, the Man Booker Prize–shortlisted writer's new collection of short stories, a shimmering jewel of a book about writing.

Blending personal history, gender politics, philosophy, and literary theory into a luminescent treatise on writing, love, and loss, Things I Don't Want to Know is Deborah Levy's witty response to George Orwell's influential essay “Why I Write.” Orwell identified four reasons he was driven to hammer at his typewriter-political purpose, historical impulse, sheer egoism, and aesthetic enthusiasm-and Levy's newest work riffs on these same commitments from a female writer's perspective. "

[junebirthdaygirl]

Educated by Tara Westover is my recommendation.

[heatherblue]

Hi all, yes I am specifically looking for non-fiction, lots of these suggestions do look interesting and I do also read fiction so nothing's being rejected out of hand and there's no need for acrimony. Olivia Laing mostly writes about artsy subjects and I'm not necessarily looking for feminist or even female writers, just quoted those two because I like their style, deep but not heavy going. Will look into all these suggestions, thanks :)

[marilynmonroe]

I am I am I am by Maggie o'Farrell

Broken and betrayed by Jayne senior (about the Rotherham scandal)

Can any mother help me by Jenna bailey

The wicked boy by Kate summerscale

The secret barrister by the secret barrister.

These are a few that I have read recently.

[qumquat]

Romantic Outlaws - can't remember the author but it's a joint biography of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley and it's absolutely amazing.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

You might like The Wild Other by Clover Stroud - a memoir of growth, travel and adventure in the midst of personal turmoil. Very readable.

[stilllovingmysleep]

Junebirthdaygirl recently I read Educated and had been looking forward to it, but in fact didn't enjoy it at all, I didn't think it was well written...

[vivalafrida]

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot - about the author's recovery from alcoholism in the Orkneys.

In The Days of Rain by Rebecca Stott - about the author's family's experience of belonging to the exclusive brethren. Fascinating.