Sometimes you just need to touch some grass, you know? And while surely, actually going outside is the best remedy in such a case, reading a story that is about nature and its glory is, in my humble opinion, the second best option. That’s why I’ve collected a handful of novels in which nature feels like an integral part of the story, and which will make you want to move to the marshes, or go on a hike, or a remote, wild island. Splendid!
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Speaking of remote islands, Wild Dark Shore is set on one. Somewhere between Antarctica and Tasmania, the Salt family has been living for eight years, when a woman appears on their beach, half dead. From the very first page, nature is shown to be dangerous, but also beautiful and giving. It’s one of those books that simply would not work if it were set anywhere else, as the sea and the island are so integral to the story. Wild Dark Shore is also about climate change, and a desperate attempt to save as many seeds as possible for the afterworld (there’s a seed bank on the island that is threatened by the rising sea levels). Charlotte McConaghy is masterful at weaving nature into her writing, and every page breathes with the salt of the ocean and the winds howling across this rugged land. Bonus points for a mystery that is consuming the Salt family a bit more with every passing moment. One of my favourite books of the year so far, and one I would wholeheartedly recommend to almost anyone.
You Are Here by David Nicholls
On a lighter note, David Nicholls, beloved to me and the world as the author of the phenomenal One Day, has written a book about a middle aged man and woman hiking the English Lake District. Marnie and Michael don’t really know each other pre-hiking adventure, but are being deserted by their shared friends, so find themselves wobbling along together. Because the story is written by David Nicholls, You Are Here is full of both tenderness and funny moments. You can’t help but love the protagonists despite their flaws, and ever since I have read this book, the Lake District has been bumped up significantly on my list of places in the UK I want to go. Neither Marnie nor Michael are pro hikers, although Michael has a lot more experience than Marnie, but as they slowly conquer the Lake District together, they learn so much about this environment, and themselves. You Are Here is about middle age, which is a period of life often overlooked in stories, but it’s also about grief, nature, and stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s a heartwarming read, and I would recommend this especially to any fellow lovers of the UK with all its charms and quirks.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
No blog post about nature without Delia Owens’ Where The Crawdads Sing. She has mastered the art of writing about nature to perfection, I truly feel as though I am out there in the marshes of North Carolina every time I read this book. This is a murder mystery as much as a coming-of-age story about Kya who, abandoned by her parents and siblings, has to fend for herself in the marshes. She lives in tune with nature, learns ever more about the local plants and birds, and how to use nature to escape those she would rather not encounter. It’s a stunning story unlike any other I have ever read. It’s sad, but also heartwarming at times, and full of characters that are far from perfect, but always so very believable. Nature is on its every page and it will make you want to book a flight to North Carolina as soon as possible (I may or may not have done that). Where The Crawdads Sing is one of those stories that only increases its charm and magic upon a reread, because there is so much to discover here. At the same time, I very much wish I could read this again for the first time.
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
This is the only book on the list that is non-fiction, although the prose often makes it feel like a novel. The Outrun is Amy Liptrot’s memoir about returning to her home, the Scottish Orkney Islands, after years in London. Addicted to alcohol and in a bad state, she first lives with her mother, and then moves into an even more remote cabin on one of the islands. She gets a job monitoring a species of birds on Orkney, and grapples with her past and the fact that she is now back at home. The Outrun is written beautifully, but it never lets you forget that this is a story of alcohol and drug abuse, and Amy Liptrot is unflinchingly honest about the horrors of trying to escape alcoholism. As she reconnects with the nature on and surrounding Orkney, it becomes apparent how magnificent but also damningly isolating it can be. There are no easy answers, and nature is often shown to be merciless in this memoir. As someone who has grown up rather far away from any large body of water, reading about what it is like to grow up on a group of remote islands was fascinating. Amy Liptrot’s writing makes you feel as though you are right there with her. Obviously, there is a lot of grief and sadness here, but also so much hope and beauty.
There you go, some books in which nature plays a central role and that I love dearly. I hope this has given you some inspiration. Happy reading!
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