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Green/Nature female-centered books

27 replies

WeeFae · 12/01/2022 18:00

I have recently really enjoyed fiction about women who use nature to heal/wisdom/self-awareness such as The Red Tent, Hamnet, Witch Light, etc.

Any recommendations?

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WeeFae · 12/01/2022 18:00

Preferably historical too but open to modern.

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DoneAdulting · 12/01/2022 18:02

Have you read Where the Crawdads Sing?

byvirtue · 12/01/2022 18:09

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman is good it’s the prequel to Practical Magic.

LittleDiaries · 12/01/2022 18:10

Have you read Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman?

highlandcoo · 12/01/2022 20:09

Maybe slightly different to what you're looking for OP, but Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver is good, with a climate change theme.

Polecat03 · 13/01/2022 11:46

Slightly different than your brief but an amazing story that does fit into your themes still - The Overstory by Richard Powers. I think it won some big prize (Pulitzer?).

WeeFae · 14/01/2022 07:43

I have read Crawdads but wasn't a fan. WIll check out the other recommendations, thank you!

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sunkendreams · 14/01/2022 07:49

Non fiction, but have you read If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie? Amazing book, arguing the case for a "heroine's journey" to counter "the hero's journey" and very much rooted in the environment. The short retellings of myths and legends included with every chapter were beautifully written. She released a book of short stories along a similar theme a few years ago - fairytale retellings and the like, but I haven't got around to reading it yet.

Freebus · 14/01/2022 18:22

Surfacing by Margaret Atwood, its quite abstract though.

IceandIndigo · 14/01/2022 19:51

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

WeeFae · 15/01/2022 14:58

@IceandIndigo

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Loved Year of Wonders!
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WeeFae · 15/01/2022 14:59

@sunkendreams

Non fiction, but have you read If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie? Amazing book, arguing the case for a "heroine's journey" to counter "the hero's journey" and very much rooted in the environment. The short retellings of myths and legends included with every chapter were beautifully written. She released a book of short stories along a similar theme a few years ago - fairytale retellings and the like, but I haven't got around to reading it yet.
Sounds perfect, thank you.

Thanks to all the other posters for all the recommendations also.

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RamblinBoy · 15/01/2022 15:21

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi was my favourite book of last year.

I loved Crawdads though!

Saucery · 15/01/2022 15:38

The Wolf Border, by Sarah Hall

123ZYX · 16/01/2022 08:08

You could try The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman's Walk in the Wild to Find Her Way Home by Katherine May. It's biographical, rather than fiction.

Her fiction book The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club is a very easy read that would probably also fit what you're looking for. I read it expecting it to be the standard of a free chic lit kindle book, but found it to be much better than I was expecting.

CinnamonSweet73 · 16/01/2022 09:59

Not fiction but you might like The Outrun by Amy Liptrot?

IntermittentParps · 17/01/2022 12:03

Non-fiction, but Finding the Mother Tree, Suzanne Simard. About how trees communicate with each other using networks of fungus.
Also about how she was challenged/shouted down/ridiculed in the earlier days of her work, and it interweaves her own family story too.
Some of the science did go over my head, but I really enjoyed it.

The Salt Path and the follow-up The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn. About her and her husband, not her alone; he is diagnosed with something debilitating and life-limiting and at the same time they are financially screwed over and lose their home and livelihood, so
decide to walk the South West Coast Path. The writing is not always wonderful, I'd say, but there is some good vivid nature writing in there, and certainly a theme of learning/healing.

In fiction, maybe also (a bit more witchy than just nature) Philippa Gregory's novel The Wise Woman, and the Frances Gorges Trilogy by Tracy Borman. The latter are quite heavy on court politics as well as nature and witchcraft. Good reads though.

Rotherweird · 17/01/2022 18:02

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is absolutely brilliant, and historical. About a

WeeFae · 18/01/2022 08:18

Thank you for all these amazing suggestions!

@Rotherweird, I am interested in the part of your post that seems to have disappeared haha

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PersonIrresponsible · 18/01/2022 12:22

Can I shamelessly plug my own book - I'm just starting to get great reviews from people I've never met which is helping my confidence no end!

In the year we don't talk about, I was forty-sob-sob-sob something, fat, funny and in my fourth year of recovery (alcoholism).

So I am not someone who you'd bet could walk from Mexico to Canada alone. Previously, I had hiked from the sofa to the fridge and back (also alone, sometimes with a small domesticated cat for company).

Along the way I mastered living in a tent, perfected the art of discussing politics whilst staggering up hills three times higher than Ben Nevis, sang "God Save The Queen" to a pair of Bears, told a mountain lion to piss off and observed my boobs and butt deflate.

Then I came home and ate my body weight in cake, and wrote this book:

www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-You-Ever-Taught-Me-ebook/dp/B096FYV6J9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3O2EOEKMFPZSM&keywords=everything+you+ever+taught+me&sprefix=everything+You+Ever+Taught%2Caps%2C190&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1642506302&sr=8-1

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 22/01/2022 19:40

Not sure if this is the sort of things you are looking for but in fiction I really like Stacey halls. And for non fiction, Kate humbles books are great!

purpleplan · 25/01/2022 14:15

Sarah Moss? Her books are quite disturbing, which you might not want, but they usually have a history/archaeology element, nature and female solidarity. Some of Michele Paver's books might also fit the bill.

Congratulations on your book, PersonIrresponsible!

Corsirosenthalbox · 29/01/2022 23:44

Nan Shepherd
The Magic Mountain
Non fiction, beautiful prose

Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Sunset Song
Set in the early years of the 20th century. North East Scotland. Don’t be put off by the dialect. The protagonist, Chris Guthrie, is a mind blowing character with a unique voice and a profound connection with the land.
Her story continues in the sequels Cloud Howe and Grey Granite

rumred · 11/02/2022 12:46

Maria Turtschaninoff the red Abbey chronicles.
Excellent woman centred, historical and a bit magical.

pointythings · 15/02/2022 17:26

If you don't mind a side-step into science fiction I would recommend Grass by Sheri Tepper, and if you like that one, you should also read the sequel, Raising the Stones. Tepper's work is very strongly female driven, highly recommend.