NONFICTION NOVEMBER 2019: Week 2
We’re into week 2 of Nonfiction November: Book Pairings (if you need an introduction to Nonfiction November, please visit the original post on Julie Merilatt’s blog JulzReads. This week, I hope to be early enough to get my name in on the link-up, hosted by Sarah at Sarah’s Bookshelves
Since I didn’t read a great deal of NF this past year, I have only one real pairing – and not an original one at that. Way back in the spring when I was eagerly waiting for my turn to borrow Jennifer Robson’s The Gown from the library, one of the bloggers I read recommended the nonfiction book My Wedding Dress: True-Life Tales of Lace, Laughter, Tears and Tulle edited by Susan Whelan and Anne Laurel Carter. Unfortunately, I didn’t record who it was who mentioned this book; if it was you, please let me know so that I can give you credit, because it was delightful.
The editors, Canadian writers themselves, issued an invitation to a number of women writers, all with links to the Canadian writing scene, to submit an essay about their wedding dress. Amazon describes the book thusly:
“These are intimate stories about relationships; not just those between men and women, but between women and their mothers, friends and children. And, of course, with their wedding attire – a relationship that is sometimes simple, sometimes complex, but always fascinating in what it tells us about individual lives and aspirations.”
But don’t be put off by the lace and tulle: this book contains a wide variety of wedding dresses, some not dresses at all, and covers a lot of different types of weddings ranging from very traditional to not-even-close. Each essay is accompanied by one or more photos submitted by the author.
I loved every story – every one, I say.
I did read The Gown later in the year, but I was disappointed by it.
Would you have a story to tell about your wedding dress?
P.S. The links are affiliate links so I will receive a small percentage of any purchase you make after clicking through from this blog.
Personal essays about wedding dresses definitely appeal to me — thanks for spreading the recommendation 🙂
I’m falling behind with the weekly prompts but will try to review more nonfiction than usual this month.
Funny, Rebecca, I think I’m okay with the prompts, Rebecca but I’m not actually reading much nonfiction this month. I guess we’ll balance each other out.
I love this idea – the nonfiction definitely looks more appealing than the fiction to me.
I definitely enjoyed the nonfiction more, Lory.
Excellent pairing! I want to read both now.
But if you can read just one, make it My Wedding Dress!
I love this! My Wedding Dress sounds fabulous!
Erin, it tied for my favourite NF book of the past year. I really did enjoy it.
Welcome to Exurbanis!
Since I got married twice I would have two stories to tell about wedding dresses. Let’s just say that an hour before my first wedding I was sewing up a rip in the dress. My about-to-be new mother-in-law helped me find the second dress. Even though I did not like her much at the time, nor did she like me much, it was sweet of her to do so. I was on my period and was terrified I would bleed through on the dress while I was trying it on. (I didn’t.)
Judy, at least two of the essays were by women who had been married twice. Those circumstances provide interesting insights and comparisons!
I can see why you’ve paired the two of these books – nice!
Thanks, Jade.
We had starting making plans for our wedding when I learnt I was pregnant, and because I didn’t want to be 8 months along we reorganised everything for the next available date at our desired venue which was less six weeks away (24 years ago this week). I was lucky, I had already bought the material and lace for my wedding dress, and I found a dressmaker who could make it. It was a fairly simple two piece design in a goldish cream. It’s in a box in my cupboard in case my daughters are ever interested.
Thanks for sharing your pairing
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Your dress sounds beautiful, Shellyrae! Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
Oh, I’d enjoy My Wedding Dress too. Being both lazy and sentimental, I was thrilled when my mother’s dress, made by her mother fit me. It was a lovely non-OTT dress (and as she married in mid June and me in late May, it was the right season). Did many in the book wear their mother’s dress?
How lovely, Sue! My mother wore a navy blue suit; I wanted a white dress, so that was not an option for me.
There was at least one woman in the book who wore her mother’s dress. It’s wonderful for both mother and daughter, I think, when it can happen.