NONFICTION NOVEMBER Week 2: Fiction/Nonfiction Pairing
NONFICTION NOVEMBER is being hosted this week by Sarah at Sarah’s Book Shelves. The prompt is to pair one of our nonfiction reads with a fiction title.
Fortunately, one of the few nonfiction books I read in the past year was The Crown: the Official Companion, Volume 1: Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and the Making of a Young Queen.
I don’t know how many of you have watched the Netflix series The Crown starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith but I was in love with it. I suspect most viewers felt the same, as it has a 90% rating at RottenTomatoes.com
The Companion book contained many photos of the series, but also of the real-life royals. It also provided history for each episode about the political and personal disasters taking place at the time. Although we googled the events as the show progressed, I found many things in this book that I had not previously known.
Reading the book greatly enriched my understanding of the time period and of the challenges facing the Queen and Winston Churchill, and I wish I had read it concurrently with watching the series.
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My fiction pick for this is a book I read in 2016 titled The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. It had originally been recommended by Shannon of River City Reading.
It’s a chick-litty romance which is not something I usually read, but I was intrigued by the royal connection. It features all-American Rebecca (Bex) Porter, who goes to Oxford and falls in love with the guy across the hall, who just happens to be the heir to the British throne. It was sort of based on William and Katherine, but would make great reading now in light of Harry & Meghan.
There are the meetings with “the family”, procural of the queen’s approval, the protocol, the protocol, and more protocol. If you’re a fan of the Duchess of Sussex and her handsome husband, I’m pretty sure that you’ll really enjoy this book.
So, tell me, are you a royals watcher?
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The Crown was just so beautifully shot. I often do other things while watching shows, but never with that show. I didn’t want to miss a thing. And, yes, I inherited a habit of royal-watching, but I am not as loyal to my generation of royals as my ancestors were, not even close!
I love to watch the royals, Marcie, but I’m not as loyal to it as my step-mom, either. I wonder why it dilutes with generations?
Love The Crown! So well casted, but I think that Smith will be able to play Prince Harry if they ever do a movie about the young generation. I’ve wanted to read The Royal We; it ‘s good to get reminded.
The family resemblances in the British royal family are remarkable, aren’t they, raidergirl? If viewers could get over thinking of Smith as Philip, he might well play Harry.
Well, my husband and I loved The Crown on Netflix. We are eagerly awaiting the new season. I guess my fiction pairing would be The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennet.
Judy, I heard the new season has different actors to represent the aging of the Queen and Philip. I’m sad about that because I Love Claire Foy.
Yay! A terrific pair. I have LOVED The Crown (it was in fact the reason I got Netflix!) and I thought The Royal We was good fun.
Thanks, Kate. We feel the same about both books!
Oooo, nice pairing! I’m not a royals watcher in the British sense but I’ve had my eye on the Japanese emperor this year. He’ll be abdicating, which is not really done, so the newspapers have been commemorating his last this and last that for months now. I’m excited for the changeover – there’s sure to be a lot of pomp to go with it!
Kazen, I’ve often thought that, of course, the British Royal Family is not the only one in the world and it would be interesting to widen out. Why is the Japanese emperor abdicating? That’s a big deal! I need to do some research here – thanks for pointing me in that direction.
Nice pair! I watched the first season of The Crown after it premiered: the cinematography and set design were so impressive, especially for a Netflix show. I’ll have to consider reading the companion book once I have the chance to catch up on the second season of the series.
Thank you, Michael. The Crown really was an impressive show in numerous ways, wasn’t it?
Welcome to Exurbanis!
Those are great pairings! I’m not very big into the Royals but do love seeing all the stuff about the weddings and hearing of the traditions, etc.
Thanks, Iliana and welcome to Exurbanis! The weddings do really seem to attract people’s attention, don’t they? I can remember getting up early to watch Charles & Diana, oh so many years ago. That started off a tradition of watching all the British royal weddings.
I never watched The Crown, as I am terrible at keeping up on TV. But I’ve heard it’s excellent from people who are interested in that sort of show. 🙂
It really is excellent, Rachel. I don’t watch much TV either, but I made an exception for this.
I haven’t watched The Crown, but I am being more and more tempted all the time. And it’s not because I don’t think I’ll like it – it’s the opposite. Once I start, I probably won’t be able to stop! Do you think it would be a good one to watch with teens?
There are only two seasons so far, Naomi, so you can get only so consumed. 😉
Yes, it would great for teens – especially if they’re into history and/or royals!
I haven’t watched The Crown or read either of the books you describe – but they look a very good pairing!
Thank you, Margaret. I liked you pairing too. I read The Daughter of Time 50 years ago, and I’ve put The Sunne in Splendour on my TBR list. I think your remark that it is “probably the best historical novel that I’ve read” is not an idle assessment!
Definitely a royal watcher, although on a small scale I would say – I’ve never actually read any books about the royals though. Great pairing!
I’ve read only one or two books about the royals myself, Jade. On the other hand, we could give a new one to my step-mom every year and she would be thrilled.
interesting pairing. Here’s my post: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/11/07/nonfiction-november-2018-book-pairings/
Thanks for stopping by, Emma. 🙂
LOVE this pairing! I am totally a royal watcher. I loved The Crown, and The Royal We was such a fun book!
I’m so glad you agree, Angela – it means a lot since you’ve read The Royal We.
I adore The Crown and will so miss Claire Foy this year. I wish they could have just aged her. I’m usually not big on anything royal, so liking The Crown so much was a very pleasant surprise.
I agree Susie – aging in movies is done all the time. Why couldn’t they keep Foy???!
I’m not a royal watcher but both books sound good so I might become a royal reader.
The nonfiction book won’t be as interesting unless you are watching/have watched ‘The Crown’ on Netflix, Vicki. But The Royal We Will likely bring you a few smiles.
This is a great pair! I loved The Royal We, it was so charming. I watched a bit of The Crown, but got distracted with some other shows. I should get back to it, and definitely would enjoy this book along with it!
Thanks, Kim! 🙂
I think I’ll suggest to my daughter that The Crown could be our next show!
I’d love to know what you both think of it!
I am a bit of a royal watcher, and am rather enjoying the current Victoria series. A little bit soap opera but not overly so. I haven’t watched The Crown though am sure I would like it.
I should put Victoria on my watch list, Sue. I didn’t find The Crown to be soap opera-like but I think it’s easier to take ‘artistic license’ when it’s history that’s not in living memory – like Victoria’s reign