The Woods Have Never Sounded So Good:
a Look into Nature-Themed
Book Recommendations
By Eve Volungeviciute
A lot of us would say that nature is integral to our lives in a lot of ways, and literature is no exception. There are many narrative techniques of nature being used in fiction; sometimes it’s a peaceful setting for the characters to find themselves again and heal physically as well as emotionally. Other times, it’s a plot device for a bone-chilling suspense read where the protagonists are anything but rejuvenated.
With the impending release of the physical edition of The Green Issue magazine, I figured now is perfect timing to compile yet another list of books, this time themed on, you guessed it, nature. I focused on fictional novels as I feel like non-fiction ones deserve their own list. Without further ado, let’s begin!
Wild Life by Molly Gloss
Set at the beginning of the twentieth century, Wild Life features Charlotte, a single mother who also happens to be a public feminist, which is already a good enough reason to read this book (even in today’s world, there can never be enough inspirational female characters in literature).
The novel seems to have a bit of everything – a sprinkle of historical fiction, a dash of romance, and even a layer of mystery, as Charlotte joins a search party for her housekeeper’s granddaughter, who goes missing in the woods. The experience turns out to be a profoundly life-changing one, making for a quite captivating read.
The Hunter by Julia Leigh
Leigh’s debut novel dives into a narrative about an anonymous agent on a hunting mission in Tasmania, where the last Tasmanian tiger is rumoured to be residing. It has been described as a ‘Tasmanian gothic for the biotech age’ and one can see why.
The author spends the book painting a vivid picture of Tasmanian scenery and its relationship to man, which invited a lot of scholars to interpret the book as a piece of ecological fiction. Whichever way you would like to read it, The Hunter is a novel you don’t want to miss.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Southern Appalachia turns out to be the perfect setting for not one but three different narratives to be explored. One of them is that of Deanna Wolfe, a wildlife biologist whose secluded life is disrupted by a young hunter. Lusa Maluf Landowski is a city girl turned farmer’s spouse who undergoes a journey throughout the novel while trying to adapt to her new identity. Last but not least, Prodigal Summer also touches upon a feud of two elderly neighbours who look after their respective farms.
As it happens in this type of novels a lot, the stories of different characters turn out to be connected in certain ways. The book also highlights those connections to the wildlife that surrounds them, providing readers with some spectacular imagery, all of which makes for a delightful reading experience.
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
What’s a nature-themed book list without a dystopian entry? While there are allusions to the world crumbling in Into the Forest, instead of discussing politics and social justice in-depth, the novel chooses to focus on the relationship between two sisters who are struggling to survive in the countryside once the comforts of modern life disappear.
In this entry of the list, the forest becomes an enemy in a way, as the girls must adapt to survive without relying on high tech advantages our world is so used to nowadays (making readers question how well we would handle a similar scenario). I wouldn’t use this book as an actual survival guide because some choices made by the characters are purely there to move the story along, even if it’s not the most sensible thing in the situation. As a dramatic fiction piece, though, it’s definitely worth a read.
However, it should be said there some quite graphic descriptions of sensitive topics (such as sexual assault), which probably wouldn’t make it suitable for everyone.
Little Heaven by Nick Cutter
This novel has been described in reviews as ‘Blood Meridian meets It’. The plot of Little Heaven is horror at its best; a trio of mercenaries are hired by a young woman to check in on her nephew, who might have been taken to a New Mexico backwoods settlement. Except things aren’t as straightforward; soon after the characters get there, it becomes obvious someone – or something – is lurking in the settlement, and it’s out for blood.
Little Heaven definitely falls under the category of nature-based horror. It doesn’t shy from violence, so those who have a hard time stomaching graphic description, this is most likely not the read for you. For the fans of the genre, it could probably be considered a staple.
Wytches by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Matt Hollingsworth
Wytches is a slightly different entry on this list because it is actually a graphic novel, which, again, might not be to everyone’s taste but I thought to include it regardless. The premise is a fairly common horror setting – a family move to a remote town to escape a traumatic event, only to be thrust into an even more distressing scenario. As the title suggests, there’s a witch-related supernatural on goings that threaten the family’s life.
This particular book has quite mixed reviews from some people, saying it lacks cohesiveness and some characters might be unsympathetic. There are also some comments regarding the drawing style of the comics. However, I am adamant it’s important to form your own opinion on things, so if witches and scary countryside are your thing, don’t be afraid (pardon the pun) to check it out!
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
Sometimes, it feels like Stephen King has a book for every type of list. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon kicks off when Trisha, a nine-year-old girl with a fascination for baseball and Tom Gordon (who she sees as her hero), gets lost in the woods on a family hiking trip. As days go by, Trisha’s starvation and dehydration cause her to start hallucinating, which only makes her wander deeper into the forest.
In classic King style, readers are presented with some hints of supernatural events happening in the woods, but are never actually given an answer on whether it’s all in the protagonist’s imagination. Trisha is also a character we can’t help but root for to survive – all the abnormal story aspects aside, the idea of a child lost in the wilderness is very unsettling, because it’s something that can and has happened. After all, it is reality that can sometimes be the scariest. For me, definitely one of the more memorable of King’s works.
The River at Night by Erica Ferencik
Yet another suspense-filled read on this list, The River at Night focuses on four female friends who participate in adventurous trips every year as a ritual to their friendship. The story is told from one of the women, Wini’s, point of view, who feels like she has to prove something to herself after a divorce, as well as her brother’s death. Only this trip is even more dangerous than the others – white water rafting with a guide who is not exactly qualified for this position. As one would guess, things go terribly wrong and the quartet must figure out how to survive.
The novel is a great example of keeping its readers on their toes, even in the moments where it doesn’t seem like anything bad will happen. It’s also an interesting portrayal (if not somewhat dark) of female friendships, as well as what will humans do for the sake of survival. All in all, a must-read for fans of the genre.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
This book for the most part is just a light-hearted thriller (if you can call one that). It might not leave you with the most profound of thoughts afterwards but, despite that, it’s sure as hell an entertaining read.
The story starts with Nora in the hospital, badly hurt and suffering from memory loss. She starts to piece together the events that got her there. The ordeal begins when she gets an invite to her friend Claire’s hen do. There’s just one thing – they haven’t spoken in ten years. Not to mention the fact Nora has been keeping a horrible secret ever since, which is bound to come out in the isolation of a dark, dark wood.
As with some previous entries on this list, this book has mixed reviews. Some readers point out it can seem a bit simplistic and juvenile, but once again, for the fans of the thriller genre, I’d absolutely recommend this read, if for nothing else than purely its entertainment value, as sometimes those kind of books are just necessary.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
Finishing the list on a lighter note, by recommending an absolute staple in British culture. It’s safe to assume most people have at least heard of Robin Hood – stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Pyle’s book portrays different tales of Robin Hood recruiting merry men, running from the authorities, and other hilarious encounters. In fact, it was Pyle who took the initial steps in changing Robin Hood’s image from a crook to an outlaw hero, which many creative mediums followed afterwards.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is the oldest entry in this article and, while that shows in the language, one can’t deny the power of a good classic.