I appreciate fiction, but I almost always read nonfiction. It’s probably because I typically choose the books on topics I’m interested in, and I want to learn about them. But I also love the way a great nonfiction writer can weave a narrative so strong that it’s just as much literature as it is journalism.
Some of my favorite examples of nonfiction that do this well: Soul Full of Coal Dust, Toms River, Desert Solitaire (Abbey can be problematic, though, so be warned), The Pine Barrens, This Land, and on and on.
I guess I’m kinda stuck in the environment/nature section these days!
I totally get that. That’s a draw that keeps me coming back to fiction occasionally.
I also feel a similar sensation when I read a nonfiction book that examines a super-niche community or issue in depth. It’s not imaginary, but that kind of read can still make me feel like I’m somewhere else.