Bookworm Cottage Style

With April comes Earth Day, and I’ve got nature and the environment on my mind. Whether you want a better understanding of the human impact of real-life environmental contamination events, or you simply want a page-turning story set in splendid natural beauty, this roundup of eco-literature has you covered. I’ve personally read and enjoyed all of these books!

A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr (1996; 512 pages) // A Civil Action is a real-life courtroom drama about a corporate environmental contamination case outside of Boston. Although it is a work of nonfiction, it reads like a John Grisham novel. I highly recommend this book to fans of John Grisham’s legal fiction, David Grann’s investigative nonfiction, or the film Erin Brokovich.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (2015; 408 pages) // This is a powerful nonfiction book written by a Native American scientist filled with insightful essays on nature, biology, the environment, and being good stewards of the Earth. This is probably one of my most highlighted in books – so many passages stirred something in me. 

What the Eyes Don’t See by Mona Hanna-Attisha (2018; 384 pages) // In this book, Dr. Hanna-Attisha shares her firsthand experience as one of the doctors in Flint, Michagin who discovered the lead water crisis, and then worked tirelessly to bring justice to her patients and her community. This memoir and investigative account is incredibly well-written and page-turning, and would be great for anyone interested in public health or environmental contamination.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (2021; 416 pages) // This incredible novel reads somewhat like Erin Brockovich meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime meets Little Women. In this novel, three adolescent sisters take it upon themselves to investigate an environmental contamination issue in their under-resourced town, where far too many people are facing disability and disease. Whether you have a passion for environmental justice, enjoy legal suspense and cover-up stories, are seeking the perspective of more neurodiverse and disabled characters, or simply love a good story about family loyalty and the bonds of sisters, I highly recommend this book!

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (2020; 272 pages) // In Migrations, a mysterious woman named Franny Stone risks everything for a chance to study the last Arctic terns on their migration south. Franny is haunted by a dark past, and while I don’t usually connect with books that have creepy or dark vibes, I could not put this one down. This short, suspenseful novel is about loss, regret, and the dangers of human destruction, and yet it is also hopeful and beautiful, full of all-consuming passion.

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark (2022; 592 pages)  // Yes, I am recommending this one again after putting it on my February mood reading list too. It’s so good! The conservation of land in rural Maine is a key issue in this story, making it a great fit for this month’s theme. If you need a refresher, Fellowship Point is a really lovely book that encompasses so many of my favorite things in literature: strong friendships; smart, ambitious women; multi-decade timelines; an appreciation for nature; and hints of suspense. The protagonist, Agnes Lee, is an elderly woman with a Jo March level of gumption and self assuredness that I absolutely adored. 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018; 384 pages)  // This book is centered around a naturalist named Kya who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. As a misunderstood outsider, Kya becomes accused when a local murder shakes the community. The book has an incredible sense of place, and the respect for nature is evident. However, I cannot look at this book the same way after reading about the author’s role in an unsolved murder case. 

Celine by Peter Heller (2017; 352 pages)  // This mystery novel is about an elegant older woman detective (we stan a vivid older woman protagonist!) who is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a photographer in Yellowstone National Park. It is fun and suspenseful (though never too scary) with an incredible setting. I hope to read some of Peter Heller’s other eco-mysteries soon!

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (2023; 432 pages) // This eco-thriller is about an anti-capitalist guerrilla gardening group who find themselves mixed up with a reclusive billionaire from abroad over the fate of a plot of land. This book is suspenseful, creepy, cynical, and thought-provoking, and Obama named it one of his favorite summer reads last year.

Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant (2023; 342 pages) // I just finished this investigative nonfiction book, which was one of the NYT’s top 10 best books of 2023. The first 2/3 of the book gives a detailed account of the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Canada and its relationship with the fossil fuel industry. The final third of the book zooms out and explores climate change more broadly, with a focus on the conditions that make wildfires more prevalent. This is such an eye-opening read about the consequences of a warming planet and will definitely inspire you to be less dependent on fossil fuels.

As for me, I’m really curious about The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell, which was the January 2024 Jenna’s Book Club pick and is a novel that seems to have a focus on nature. Any other eco-fiction I should explore?