Nonfiction: It's not just about subject anymore!
The news in new nonfiction:
1. The memoir backlash/and backlash to the backlash. (The New York Times Book Review; Mortenson and the readers who love him; Laura Miller's denial that Mortenson is a liar liar whose pants are indeed on fire.)
2. Big Idea books: Big Business
3. Graphic novels aren't just for novels anymore.
4. More ties than ever, particularly between nonfiction and literary fiction: multicultural issues, women's fiction and history nonfiction/historical fiction.
Literary Fiction Trends
1. Genre-blending (slipstream or magic realism, historical "parallel narratives," etc.)
2. The continuing popularity of historical and women's fiction
3. Fights over men and women literary authors and how they get reviewed; don't forget fights between women authors!
RA Tips for Nonfiction:
1. Try and determine non-subject interests (length, style, amount of "truth")
2. Know your collection and system
3. Wikipedia EVERYTHING
4. Track current events and books discussed in pop culture/media
5. Write down everything and recycle it (publishers call this "repackaging")
6. Find an RA buddy
7. Watch out for "deal breakers," particularly language and sexuality; these are real stories, after all