Fiction Books for the Non-Fiction Lover
Do you find fiction books predictable, with difficult storylines to follow, or plots that are just too unbelievable? Why not turn your attention towards fiction books with a heavy dose of realism, such as well-researched scientific facts and or strong historical bases?
Even if you’re not a fan of fiction, try out this list of curated fiction titles featuring popular non-fiction topics that provide an engrossing read while satisfying your appetite for facts.
For the Armchair Detectives
For fans of true crime, the thrill lies in the process of investigating the crime scene, the arduous investigative work by ordinary detectives, sans superpower or psychic intuition. Journeying into the psychology of a murderer and understanding what could possibly motivate them to commit cruel and gruesome acts gets your brain working overtime with glee.
If you tick all the boxes above, then look no further than The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani. A Goncourt winner (France’s most prestigious literary prize), Slimani was inspired to write this book after reading about a New York nanny who killed the two children she was looking after. Translated from French, this novel goes beyond the who to delve into the why of murder.
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For the Aspiring Capitalist
If the prospect of new business start-ups and rising stock prices are what gets your blood pumping, the idea of reading fiction might feel like a dull exercise. After all, can fiction books teach you to sell products to different people across the world? Or market yourself or your product effectively?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes! A finalist at the National Book Award, A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers revolves around Alan Clay, an American salesman who is sent to Saudi Arabia to sell a hologram to the king. Along the way, Alan has to deal with his company foreclosure and manufacturing outsourcing issues, while struggling to get a grip on his personal finances — all popular topics found in regular business titles. (Ed: the book was also made into a 2016 film, starring and produced by Tom Hanks.)
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For the Space Enthusiasts
You look to the stars and squint at the faintest glimmers, wondering what is out there. You love books on astronomy and look forward to the day scientists announce finding life on other planets. Traditional science-fiction often let you down. Come on, everybody knows that a parsec is a measurement of distance and not time. Can’t these writers get simple facts right?
Revenger by Alastair Reynolds follow the Ness sisters on their apprenticeship on a spaceship as they travel across space looking for ancient technology. Before becoming an author, Reynolds worked for the European Space Research and Technology Centre and has a PhD in astrophysics. With a firm astrophysics foundation, this book is steeped with believable scenarios and technology spiced up by the excitement of discovery and new scientific wonders.
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For the Budding Scientist
You enjoy books ranging from how the laws of physics apply to the natural world to the explaining the behaviour of the simplest organism. You love learning about how science can be used to analyse vast amounts of data and protect humankind from threats we cannot see. You want to know — are we equipped to deal with dangers of unknown origins?
Michael Crichton (of Jurassic Park fame) explores this question in The Andromeda Strain. When a small town in Arizona is suddenly infected by a strange and deadly virus of extraterrestrial origins, a group of scientists race against time to find a cure before it spreads across the world. First published in 1969 (and made into a film in 1971), this book has stood the test of time to remain relevant in today’s world.
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Text by
Adela Lim
National Library Board
