Five Fictional Books for People Who Love Nature
I was reflecting on the list of books that I’ve read the last two years and realized that my favorites brought me into nature. In some the main characters share my reverence for our natural world. In others they are masters of it in a way in order to survive. Then there’s the character that finds connection to forgotten history through nature.
Where the Crawdads Sing By Delia Owens | At its core this book is a murder mystery but the first 150-200 pages of this book follow a girl who lives alone among the marsh as she comes of age. I’ve had a lot of conversations about this book so I know that some people found this slow and boring. I, however, found it beautifully written and essential to the character development and relationships that were introduced. Definitely read this before the movie - I’m not sure the movie is good unless you’ve read the book first!
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco | This is the first book in a young adult series about a family of witches that need to protect themselves and the earth from the princes of hell. There are detailed scenes involving food, meal preparation, herbal remedies and apothecary. It’s a guilty pleasure read, but entertaining nonetheless.
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw | WOW. Most of the books I’ve read blend together, making it hard for me to remember which plot goes with which title. This one is different. I rea this book months ago and still think about it regularly. It’s a tragic story that’s beautifully told, weaving timelines and storylines, sometimes without you noticing. Most of the story takes place in an off-grid community so there’s plenty of talk of gardening, herbalism, and the woods. Bump this up to your next read!
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant | This is a story of fatherly love and sacrifice that left me sobbing and aching for it to not end. And the sobbing wasn’t caused by what you’d expect. Most of this story takes place in an off-grid cabin where a father and daughter live off the land. The story of why they’re there and of the father’s past gradually unfolds.
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver (or any of her other novels) | First, all of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels have a rich thread of nature to them. My favorites are Prodigal Summer, Animal Dreams, and Flight Behavior. Unsheltered takes place in two different timelines, connected by the main character. The modern timeline features a struggling family both through their finances and their relationships. The main character is the matriarch of the family who simultaneously cares for three generations of loved ones, repairs relationships, and uncovers forgotten history. The past timeline features a botanical artist and biologist who was collaborating and writing with Charles Darwin.
Want more fiction recommendations? Check out this list I put together.
