Nonfiction November, Week 3: Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings

I'm enjoying  Nonfiction November, as I always do!

This week's topic is Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings, and this week's host is Liz at Adventures in Reading, Running, and Working from Home:

This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. Maybe it’s a historical novel and the real history in a nonfiction version, or a memoir and a novel, or a fiction book you’ve read and you would like recommendations for background reading. Or maybe it’s just two books you feel have a link, whatever they might be. You can be as creative as you like!  

So, I  looked through my many years of book reviews here on the blog and found two books, by two highly acclaimed and talented writers, that pair perfectly together (links are to my reviews):

 

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson is the compelling, horrifying true story of the American ambassador (and his family) assigned to Berlin in 1933. They had front-row seats to the rise of Hitler and fascism, but the world around them changed gradually so that they didn't realize just how dangerous things were. It's fascinating to read about the ambassador's wife and children, just trying to live normal lives, when we know what is coming.

 

Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz is a YA novel with a very similar set-up. Michael O’Shaunessey's father is the Irish ambassador to Germany during WWII (the Irish were neutral in the war, so they were allowed to stay). You get some of the very same settings and tone, as this nice family is stuck is in the midst of a changing Germany, living among Nazis.This fictional tale includes plenty of historical details, including Michael's required participation in the Hitler Youth at school, but it's also an exciting spy thriller, as his parents are actually smuggling information out to help the Allies, and Michael gets involved.

Both of the excellent books are wonderfully written, filled with fascinating historical facts, and compelling, suspenseful stories. In fact, if you don't normally read YA but enjoy historical fiction, Alan  Gratz is a great place to start; all of his novels are outstanding.

 

Can you recommend any nonfiction/fiction pairings?

I would love some book recommendations! 

  Let me know in the comments below.