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4. Russia

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them (Elif Batuman)

Shorter essays about people who engage with Russian literature, including the author herself. Stories like organizing a Russian literature conference in California, or her summer study in Uzbekistan, or the history of the Ice Palace. Interesting read, although I didn't always like the author's personal attitude.

https://www.amazon.com/Possessed-Adventures-Russian-Books-People/dp/0374532184

replied to Dr. Zalka Csenge Virág's status

replied to Dr. Zalka Csenge Virág's status

6. Human relationships

The Divorce Colony: How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom on the American Frontier (April White)

In the late 19th century, traveling to Sioux Falls was the easiest way to get a divorce - after only 90 days of residency. So the city's largest hotel turned into a "divorce colony" of women (and some men) waiting for their freedom. The book is an awesome read, full of personal stories.

https://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Colony-Revolutionized-Marriage-American/dp/0306827662

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7. Movies, cartoons, television

Are You Not Entertained?: Mapping the Gladiator Across Visual Media (Lindsay Steenberg)

Really fun read with all the gladiator stuff coming out this year. The author explores the gladiator as an archetype, and the arena fight as a trope, across various movies and TV shows (even outside historical movies, e.g. Hunger Games, Gamer, Fight Club etc). Lots of good insight into gender, nostalgia etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Not-Entertained-Gladiator/dp/1350120073

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8. Mental health

Medical Muses: Hysteria in Nineteenth-Century Paris (Asti Hustvedt)

The book explores the heyday of the study of "hysteria", through the lives of three women who were exhibitied in Paris as model hysterics. Sometimes very dark and sometimes amusing, the author goes beyond trying to diagnose them, focusing on the cultural context of "hysteria".

https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Muses-Hysteria-Nineteenth-Century-Paris/dp/0393025608

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10. Addiction

Repülős Gizi, a tolvajok királynője (Bodnár Gizella)
[Flying Gizi, Queen of Thieves]

The autobiography of the famous Hungarian thief Bodnár Gizella (Flying Gizi). An honest and fascinating read about addiction, living through the entire 20th century as a woman, struggles, poverty, and life in prison. Being a talented thief is the least memorable thing about this woman's story.

https://www.libri.hu/konyv/Repulos-Gizi-A-tolvajok-kiralynoje-16.html

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11. Hoaxes and secrets

Sultan of Zanzibar: The Bizarre World and Spectacular Hoaxes of Horace de Vere Cole (Martyn Downer)

Known mostly for the infamus Dreadnaught Hoax (feat. Virginia Woolf) Horace Cole was a fascinating figure in the early 20th century. A real life trickster as well as a tragic figure whose world changed drastically due to historic events. Downer does a great job with this biography, giving a realistic picture of him.

https://www.amazon.com/Sultan-Zanzibar-Bizarre-Spectacular-Hoaxes/dp/0948238461

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And finally
12. Farkasvölgy

(The last category in the challenge is always randomly selected for everyone)

I read a collection of primary sources about the history of Budapest's XII. district. It started at the Ottoman Wars, and went all the way to the Communist Era, with court records, newspaper articles, personal diaries, letters, and other interesting contemporary sources. Great local history publication.

https://www.antikvarium.hu/konyv/hegyvideki-olvasokonyv-655153-0