In July, I focused on nonfiction books. I do enjoy nonfiction but I prefer fiction, so reading a lot more nonfiction than I am used to was at times challenging. My favorite book was a nonfiction new release: not one I had on my list of themed books to read this month, but one that fit the theme nonetheless.
True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us by Danielle J. Lindemann uses familiar reality shows (Survivor, Real World, The Bachelor) to interrogate our beliefs about ourselves, each other, and society. Reality TV penetrates deep into our culture, from moments from shows becoming viral memes to reality personalities wielding great influence. At the same time, our culture shapes reality TV, albeit in exaggerated ways. We idolize the perfect love story between two conventionally attractive people, so we put the dating process on steroids and give it a million-dollar budget and get The Bachelor. We place the ‘self-made millionaire’ on a pedestal for the proletariat to emulate, so of course we tune in for years to the antics of an obscenely wealthy family that ruthlessly exploits every advantage and privilege that comes their way. We thrive on gossip and rubbernecking, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we love being invited behind the scenes of the worst moments of people’s lives.
I felt the book was engaging and accessible without being overly academic, and though those with a social science background will undoubtedly be familiar with many of her points, those without such a background will be able to understand her argument as well. True Story will likely be most appealing to those who watch or have watched reality TV and so are familiar with the medium, but given the way it pervades our culture, even those who claim to have never watched a minute of reality TV will recognize some references. Besides, as Lindemann argues, reality TV is a funhouse mirror version of society, so there is something of ourselves each of us will recognize in True Story.
Theme reads
- A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America, T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong: five stars
- Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs, Rachel Jeffs: four stars
- White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind, Koa Beck: five stars
- Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe: four and a half stars
- American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption, Gabrielle Glaser: five stars
- Charlotte Beer: A History of Brewing in the Queen City, Daniel Anthony Hartis: five stars
- Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975 (second edition), Thomas W. Hanchett: five stars
- Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic, British Library (for Harry Potter’s birthday month): four stars
- Harry Potter: A History of Magic, British Library (Harry Potter): four stars
- This Is How We Fly, Anna Meriano (Harry Potter): four stars
Others
- Deaf Utopia: A Memoir– and a Love Letter to a Way of Life, Nyle DiMarco and Robert Siebert: five stars
- Home Field Advantage, Dahlia Adler: five stars
- The Taking of Jemima Boone: The True Story of the Kidnap and Rescue that Shaped America, Matthew Pearl: three and a half stars
- The House Across the Lake, Riley Sager: three and a half stars
- Dele Weds Destiny, Tomi Obaro: four stars
- The Change, Kirsten Miller: five stars
- Miss Aldridge Regrets, Louise Hare: five stars
- Joan, Katherine J. Chen: four stars
- Bad Things Happen Here, Rebecca Barrow: five stars
- Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs-Christians Debate, Justin Lee: five stars
- American Royalty, Tracey Livesay: three and a half stars
- True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us, Danielle J. Lindemann: five stars
Moriah Sharpe 