Nonfiction Books That I (Actually) Enjoyed

Okay, don't come for me. I don't like nonfiction books that much. Sure, they're interesting when you can find a good author and when it reads well. When I do read these kinds of books, I prefer biographies and such that adopt a story-like format...because it's more like the fiction books I usually read. So, for those of you who, like me, lean more towards fiction than not, here are some books that I enjoyed, and I hope you will too.

1. At Gettysburg; Or, What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle by Tillie Pierce Alleman

I got this book when my family and I visited Gettysburg a few years ago. It took me a while to get around to reading it, but when I did, I wasn't disappointed. I was initially pleased by the map at the front of my copy, because I am a sucker for books that include maps.

At Gettysburg tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of Tillie Pierce, as written by herself in later years. She lived at a farm that eventually became a field hospital, right behind Union lines (paraphrased from Goodreads).

It is a short read, only about 120 pages, but if you love history like I do, it is certainly a fascinating account and well worth reading!

“The struggle between human bondage and universal freedom, the desire to destroy this government and dishonor her flag, the cruel hatred of Americans toward each other, no more blurs our fair land.” (At Gettysburg)

2. Hearts of Fire by The Voice of the Martyrs

This book captivated me from page 1, and really put into perspective what it means to be a Christian in places where Christianity isn't acceptable. Hearts of Fire is about eight women in the underground church and their stories of costly faith (that's the subtitle, which I think summarizes the book nicely).

There are a lot of heartbreaking aspects of this book, and I came very close to tears many times. But I do believe that it was phenomenally written and the epilogues at the end of each story left nothing to be desired. I could not put this book down!!

“When the children of God meet, angels also gather to hear the wisdom of God. So it is the duty of every believer, not to praise earthly men or leaders who come and go, but to praise God the Creator and Christ the Savior, who died for us in the cross.” (Hearts of Fire)

3. Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson

For those of y'all familiar with Hidden Figures, either the book or the movie, this book is an in-depth autobiography on the life of Katherine Johnson, a member of the team that put the first American in orbit around Earth. She helped do the math required to send the first man into space and bring him home safely. My grandmother gave this to me, and I ended up reading it three times. I used it for a research paper, and my prior knowledge into Katherine's life gave me an advantage when we read Hidden Figures in school. Her story is fascinating, and I just found the book very interesting. The book flowed well, and read more like a story than a textbook, which I appreciated.

“My daddy always told me, ‘You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you,’ and I have lived my life with that thought firmly in mind.” (Reaching for the Moon)

That's all I have for this month! Y'all have an amazing rest of your summer, and I'll see you when school is back in session!!

Love, Alaina