Literary fiction/nature writing recommendations?

[PotteringPondering]

I read a lot, but almost entirely non-fiction. Would like to read more literary fiction – at the poetic, 'art house' end.

I loved the style of Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson, and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard (though I guess that's more nature writing than fiction).

Any recommendations in that neck of the woods...?

[bibliomania]

Have you tried Kathleen Jamie?

[bibliomania]

If you have Kindle, a couple of her books are in the 99p monthly deals.

[GelatoQueen]

This may be a bit left-field but maybe Reservoir 13 by Jon MacGregor? A girl goes missing while her family are on holiday in a rural village but the book isn't really about this - it is about the village, people's lives and nature. I remember the nature descriptions are particularly vivid / moving

[EthelbertaChickerel]

What about Tom Cox? He generally writes non-fiction but has just published a novel 'Villager' set on Dartmoor, which is excellent.

[heldinadream]

Have a look at this OP.

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Overstory/dp/B07GR9PVHC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HO8DBF4DB5PG&amp%3Bkeywords=overstory%20richard%20powers&amp%3Bqid=1656874603&amp%3Bs=books&amp%3Bsprefix=richard%20powers%2Cstripbooks%2C231&amp%3Bsr=1-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[AcceptAllCookies]

Lanny, by Max Porter?

[Evvyjb]

I was going to recommend The Overstory as well. Excellent.

[IntricateRhyme]

Agree with a lot of the recommendations already made. Lanny is superb, love Kathleen Jamie's writing too. Reservoir 13 is a very good read.

Have you read any Barbara Kingsolver novels? She writes about nature and environmental issues, incorporating them into her fiction. I haven't read Flight Behaviour yet, but believe it weaves the migration of Monarch butterflies into the narrative.

[IceandIndigo]

Absolutely love Kathleen Jamie - although she's non-fiction.

If you like the Overstory, also try Greenwood by Michael Christie. Perhaps also the Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore, The Grassling by Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Hamnet by Maggie Farrell.

Not nature writing, but if you like writers with a more poetic style you might also enjoy Michael Ondaatje, Sebastian Barry, Donal Ryan.

[mimbleandlittlemy]

Second Barbara Kingsolver - both Flight Behaviour and Prodigal Summer are about nature, and beautifully written fiction

Have you read any John Lewis Semple? He writes lots of literary books about the natural world.

[Riverlee]

Was going to suggest Ring of Brightwater,, but that’s based on real life.

[PotteringPondering]

Thanks, everybody. Some great suggestions to follow up.

I'd also be interested in your thoughts on classic fiction, or modern classics, that make you say, 'Oh my goodness, that's so beautifully written'. I'm embarrassingly ignorant on that score...

[anderosonnmj]

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Beautifully written and an interesting story about living in Africa (and other stuff).

[Anothernameforallthis]

Although I didn't like it overall and I wouldn't rate it as literary, Where the Crawdads Sing is excellent, evocative, nature writing.

The Overstory definitely fits in your categories.

Ring of Brightwater is beautiful - and fascinating when read alongside the biography of Gavin Maxwell by Douglas Botting.