We love backlist books because we love to bring attention to books that may have been forgotten about. I even did a backlist books challenge back in 2021.
Every Friday on Instagram I have been sharing a backlist fiction book. It is a fun way to bring some attention to backlist fiction books.
We love nonfiction so I recently started to also share a backlist nonfiction book on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Not everyone is on Instagram or spends a lot of time on Instagram, so I decided that it would be fun to start sharing these backlist books each Friday on our site too.
You see new and shiny books all over social media, so we hope that this will bring attention to some books that you may not have heard of.
And the good thing about backlist books is that you can usually find them at your local library or for a great price used.
Today I am playing catch up with two backlist fiction books and a backlist nonfiction book.
We are starting with a book that hasn’t really been forgotten about, but it is a backlist book.
A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles was published in 2016. It seems to either get rave reviews or terrible reviews. Either you love it or you hate it. There does not seem to be a lot in between.
I loved it.
The book starts in 1922 when Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a famous hotel in Russia, across the street from the Kremlin. It then covers what life was like for the Count as he lived over half his life in the Metropol hotel.
I loved the setting of this book and I loved the characters. It isn’t a fast-paced book but it is so good.
Longtime readers will probably recognize this one. When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis was published in 2018. It didn’t get the attention it deserved.
When All the Men Were Gone is based on the true story of a small-town football team in Texas during WWII. This story reads like nonfiction because it is based on a true story.
I loved this book!
It is perfect for football fans, but I don’t care about football and I still loved it. So you don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy this one.
Now for a backlist nonfiction book.
Did you know that they used elephants to help during WWII? Published in 2014 Elephant Company by Niki Constantine Croke is totally different than any other WWII book that I have read.
When Japanese forces invaded Burma Billy Williams and his elephant company went to work. They helped carry supplies, build bridges, and more.
This book is about history, war, and wildlife. If you like WWII books and haven’t read this book it is a good one
Do you have a great backlist book to recommend?
I read A Gentleman in Moscow because of my book club, hadn’t expected to like it. But absolutely loved this story. I found count Rostov quite endearing the way he cared for and always put others before himself. He brought to mind Pastor Chuck Swindolls Attitude Quote. Very uplifting and my top favorite book for 2023.
Endearing is a great way to describe Count Rostov in A Gentleman in Moscow!