Earth Day Inspired Books

April is the month for a number of celebrations related to the our earth and the natural world. National wildlife week is from April 4-9, Earth Day is on April 22, Arbor day is on April 29, and the whole month is National Garden Month.

Those of you who have been following the blog, know that my partner and I are doing a joint monthly theme read where we alternate picking a book (for each of the 12 pre-determined themes we selected), read said book together, and discuss the book. This month it was his turn to pick a novel for our earth day/natural world theme. It was not a choice about which I was overly enthusiastic (more to come on that later) although it was certainly a creative pick. While he was busy trying to kill me with his book choices, I was browsing my shelves and gathering inspiration from the Litsy community. Here are some selections we recommend to get you in the mood for earth day celebrations.

Fiction recommendations

• Overstory by Richard Powers. I loved this book which was shortlisted for the 2018 Booker Prize and won the Pulitzer in 2019. It’s an epic novel that explores our relationship with nature and trees, told through 9 main characters. You can read our panel reviews by clicking on the title. Recommended by me (Jen).
• Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Yes, we have a Richard Powers thing going on, but no one writes about climate change and nature like Powers. this book was also shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. It’s a book about our place in the cosmos and the relationships between inner and outpace. Recommended by our blog panelists.
• Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. A fantastic book about the implications of climate change. It feels fearfully close to our reality. And there’s a great love story too. Blurb and recommendation by Litsy friend, BarbaraBB.
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Perhaps an odd choice since it’s a post-apocalyptic novel but it makes you think about survival in a world destroyed by potential environmental disaster. It’s a heart-breaking story about a man and his son trying to survive in a world where everything has died or is dying.

Nonfiction recommendations:

• Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman. Dykman describes her 10,000+ mile bicycle journey following the monarch butterfly migration from Mexico, through the US to Canada and back. In addition to being an epic journey, it’s a love letter to the natural world, a recognition of privilege, and a call to action for those wanting to do something for our planet. Blurb and recommendation by Litsy friend, ImperfectCJ.
• Living More with Less by Valerie Weaver-Zercher & Doris Janzen Longacre. Longacre and other contributors offer suggestions for how we can build stronger communities and help heal the environment through practices of sustainable living. Originally published in 1980, updated in 2010. This one is written from a Mennonite perspective, which might not work for some readers but as a non-Christian myself, I still find the information and insights inspiring and actionable. Litsy friend, ImperfectCJ.
• Miracle Country by Kendra Atleework is a moving and unforgettable memoir of flight and return, emptiness and bounty, the realities of a harsh and changing climate, and the true meaning of home. For readers of Cheryl Strayed, Annie Dillard, and Rebecca Solnit, this is a breathtaking debut by a remarkable writer. Blurb from publisher, recommended by me.
• Fen, Bog, & Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and its Role in the Climate Crisis by Annie Proulx. This book is a deep dive into the history of our wetlands and potential consequences we will face with their destruction. The book was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker.
• The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. I’m not much of a non-fiction reader but I really enjoyed this book. It’s probably why I can no longer eat octopus. There are some problematic elements (the author gets too close to ascribing human emotions and interpretations to animal behavior) but it’s a beautifully written and engaging read that showcases the intelligence and creativity of Octopuses.

I hope we inspired you to pick up one of these books! We want to hear from you. What books do you recommend? Have you read any of our recommendations? What did you think?

For those of you dying to know which book my partner picked for our joint read, stay tuned. I will be posting an update with my review. Let’s just say it’s a book from one of my least favorite genres.