Last week Trisha posted about literary weaknesses—the elements of a book that will immediately make you interested.
That got me thinking about my own “alarms.” When I started reading Rick Bass‘s latest novel, I knew I had my answer:
- Country music (which I love)
- an Arkansas connection (where I’m from) and a Nashville connection (where I live now)
Rick Bass’s Nashville Chrome is about real-life country music trio The Browns, from south-central Arkansas. They were once the “biggest thing on the American country music scene”—friends with Elvis Presley and admired by the Beatles—but Bass focuses on what happened after their fame went away.
Bass, who is best known for his writing on nature, contributed a behind-the-book essay to the September issue of BookPage on why he chose to write about the Browns. Here’s an excerpt:
As cultural spokespersons for the 1950s, the Browns hold intriguing clues to how we once were as a country: a product of our landscape and our fears and hungers, and of complicated circumstances that could no more hold steady than could a river stop in mid-flow. For a little while, the Browns changed the world—but just because they changed it did not mean they controlled it, or that the world was obliged to stop for them. Of the two sisters, one realized this, and retreated to anonymity with grace, while the other—Maxine, the oldest—burns, and waits still for that river to return. It’s a fascinating story, and I’m grateful to the Browns for living it.
Interested in reading more? Enter to win a copy of Nashville Chrome by leaving a comment with the title of your favorite novel based on a true story.
Also in BookPage: Read an interview with Bass about short story collection The Hermit’s Story.
Just for fun: Watch the Browns perform “Three Bells” on the Grand Ole Opry in 1965.
My favorite true-life novel is Jeanette Walls’ “Half-Broke Horses”. Every chapter made one want to cheer for the self-sufficiency of the heroine, Walls’ grandmother. A great read!
Oh, my goodness…I remember the Browns when I was young, and remember the song “Three Bells”! It brings back memories! I will look forward to reading NASHVILLE CHROME.
The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer
The Family who could not Sleep, a fascinating documentary, kept me reading. Also loved the Browns.
The historical novels of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir depicting, but fictionalizing, the times and people of Henry VIII’s reign are among my favorites. I loved the Browns’ “Three Bells” and “The Old Lamplighter.”
Our book club read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & we all agreed it was the most powerful book we have read together.
Slaugherhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, I just finished reading this fabulous, sad book.
too many to choose just one. I love historical fiction
My favorite non-fiction book is: Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, it was so touching it brought me to tears!
I said in an earlier comment that there were too many to choose just one. On further reflection I think I have to choose Poison Wood Bible
I loved all of Irving Stone’s books. They were considered fiction but they were mostly fact. They used to call the genre faction.
Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Could the subject of Johannes Vermeer’s painting be a young servant girl he was enamored with? Such vivid descriptions of colors and textures; Chevalier projects the novel in your mind’s eye. Seeing the movie after reading the book felt like I was “seeing” it for the second time.
My favorite would have to be The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner.
Brian’s Song by William Blinn is a book based on the true story of Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, two players for the Chicago Bears football team in the 1960s. Sayers overcame life in an Omaha ghetto to become one of the greatest running backs in National Football League history. Perhaps even more important, the book tells of his friendship with Chicago Bears teammate Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer
Loved Girl With a Pearl Earring too!
I JUST LOVE THE BOOKPAGE….Mary B
Dewey the Small Town Library Cat. I really enjoyed this book. Nashville Chrome sounds really interesting.
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. An inspirational story about getting what you want by sticking to your ideals. The only thing better than reading this book was hearing Homer read from it at the Southern Festival of Books! Brian’s Story is great too. Having Gale Sayers sign my copy = awesome!
Of those I’ve read over the last couple of years, my favorite has to be Half-Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. Fabulous book.
this sounds like a really great read
J. Anthony Lukas “Big Trouble” simply the best most wide ranging story I’ve read. A fabulous book about early 20th century America.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Right now novel based on a true story is still What is the What by Dave Eggers.
woops, I meant to write, “Right now _my favorite_ novel based on a true story…”
Congratulations, Alexandra! You are the winner; we’ll be in touch.
Thanks!
It would have to be Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. It left you with a true picture of the living conditions of the poor Irish.
This looks like a great book. My fave is “Thie Iceman” by Philip Carlo.
~Steph
My newest choice is Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne. But it may be different next week.
Seabiscuit – nonfiction that reads like a novel. Fabulous!
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls is my fave because it reads like fiction and keeps me riveted with characters so lively you can’t believe they’re about real family members!
My favorite is a series of novels based on a true story: John Jakes’ Kent Family Chronicles, based on the history of our country!
Hi! The only one that I can think of at the moment would be “October Sky” by Homer Hickam. Superb giveaway!
To date, my favorite novel based on a true story is “The Poet of Tolstoy Park” by Sonny Brewer. It’s the story of Henry Stuart who is given only months to live with a diagnosis of TB. It is a very touching and inspiring tale that had me riveted to the book until the last page.
I really like any of Phillipa Gregory’s historical fiction novels as she does so much research the pages just jump to life.
Would love to read this story about the Browns.
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
Please enter me in to win this interesting book. I can’t think of a favorite off-hand. One that affected me when I was a young impressionable kid was Hell’s Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. Scared the heck out of me. Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
The Glass Castle
There are just too many to mention since I have to agree with each one listed above. I just love the song “the Three Bells” and should be an interesting story to read.
“Wolf Hall” is a great novel based on truth. I learned so many things about that period in British history while being highly entertained. Who could ask for more?
I loved “Undaunted Courage”, a journal about the Lewis and Clark trek west.
Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo
Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates!
Have met Jim Ed Brown several times and he’s a really nice guy.
My favorite book “based on a true story” would be “Helter Skelter” by Vincent Buglosi.
I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC THE BOOK SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.GENE
BLONDE by Joyce Carol Oates. This is the fictionalized story of Maryln Monroe’s life. She won the National Book AND Pulitzer Prize for this book. It was truly engrossing and amazing.
I truly enjoyed Jeannette Walls book “The Glass Castle”. I heard her speak in person and she was really impressive.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
I loved Three Cups of Tea.
The most recent is Making Toast.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
“Kent State” and “The Day Kenny Was Shot, by Jim Bishop
It would have to be Glass Castle.
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
I agree with Bess – has to be Glass Castle – great read!
A Girl Named Zippy
The Glass Castle by J. Walls…probably to be replaced by Half-Broke Horses.
Black Beauty is my favorite novel.
I love historical fiction so anything by Philippa Gregory. If I had to pick one, it would be The Other Boleyn Girl.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Frightening to think that what happened to this man in post-Katrina New Orleans could happen in America. An absolutely amazing and riveting read.
Currently Zeitoun – the things he endured!
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
Lit : a memoir / Mary Karr.
Autobiography of a Face Lucy Grealy
I, too, like The Other Boleyn Girl. Also, any of those with historical themes such as kings and queens and such. For example, Henry the VIII and King Arthur type books.
The Glass House is real case of survival!
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs Of A Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. I read it after my son did. It was a required reading assignment for his entire high school. Afer reading it,however, I really do believe it should be required reading for everyone who has a conscience.
Devil in The White City
How difficult! Two books come immmediately to mind: “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt and “Marley and Me” by John Grogan.
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
it would have to be “lit”.
I thoroughly enjoyed Carol Burnett’s recent book of her days of entertainment
Never Mind Nirvana by Mark Lindquist
Absolutely loved The Other Boleyn Girl and The Glass Castle.Two of my favorites!
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
I have to say “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova. It left a lasting impression on me, and I think of it often.
Flu: The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It by Gina Kolata was fascinating and helped explain why we’ve never been taught about this chapter in the world’s history.
My favorite novel based on real events is The Black Hills by Dan Simmons. It combined elements of the supernatural with history and the creation of Mount Rushmore.
My latest favorite would be Bonobo handshake: a Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo by Vanessa Woods. Okay – a memoir and not a novel – but it turned out far more more interesting than many novels and with much heart!
The Glass Castle
“Still Alice” by Lisa Genova
“The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers” a novel by Margaret George.
Devil in the White City
I loved the book The Carrion Vine by Erane Elizabeth Scully, who is a local author.
I would also say “The Glass Castle”.
Pope Joan:a novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross about a young woman in the ninth century who was the only female pope in history- until her disquise as a man was revealed and she was almost completely erased from history. Fascinating read.
All The Presidents Men.
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane.
Manhunt by James Swanson!! Wonderful book!
Anything by Harlan Coben
Come Love a Stranger by Kathleen Woodiwiss
The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak
Actually two equally both by the same author but to pick one it would be “Half Broke Horses”
While the actual plot of the novel may not have been true, the novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society was about the very real occupation of the Guernsey Islands by German soldiers during WWII. It was a wonderful novel and you learned a lot about what the residents endured during the occupation.
“Chosen By a Horse”
The Glass Castle. Though I suppose that’s more memoir than novel…
The Bible…. kind of a novel? good stories haha
What immediately came to mind was Daniel by Doctorow! I still think about that book.
I’ve already heard so many good things about this book. I’d love a chance to win. Thx.
~Steph
The Agony and Ecstasy…(Michelangelo) I love this,I’ve re-read many times
“Secretariat” by William Nack and “The Children” by David Halberstam
“Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It?” by David Rehak
“Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi
Stieg Larsson’s 3 novels…just a shame he is gone!
Self-made man : one woman’s journey into manhood and back again, by Norah Vincent. Best book I have ever read about the male gender.