Devotion by Hannah Kent

In Prussia, in the 1830s, Hanne is a nature-loving girl on the brink of womanhood. Her family are old Lutherans, and the practice of their religion is banned, so her town sets out to emigrate to South Australia via a harrowing sea voyage. This is the interesting historical setting, but the heart of the book is a love story between Hanne and another young girl, Thea. A love for nature, the nature of love, and how nature is involved in love; it has supernatural elements, is deeply atmospheric, poetic and lyrical. Perhaps I am a touch old and jaded, but while I found it evocative and beautiful most of the time, occasionally the girls’ consuming passion became wearisome to me. For lovers of language, love, nature, and history.

The night watchman by Louise Erdrich

I think this is my first Native American book, and I found it a beautiful, moving, deeply compelling story of a fight for identity and rights, life’s hardships and wonder, love and hope. Based on Louise Erdrich’s own grandfather and his work defending the Chippewa people against an “Emancipation Bill”, it is also about Pixie, who wants to be called Patrice, as she tries to find her way as an adult, and those in their vibrant community. A glorious sense of place, culture, spirituality, strength and heart.

Double blind by Edward St Aubyn

I won’t lie to you, this was probably a bit too clever for me, but somehow I didn’t mind. Francis, whose job is to rewild a property in Sussex, meets Olivia at a conference and they become lovers. Olivia’s friend Lucy returns to London after some years in New York to work for the super-rich Hunter on one of his scientific projects before receiving some unexpected news that binds them all together. The settings are glorious, the characters engaging, sometimes over the top, and the language complex and lyrical. Richly detailed, Double Blind ruminates on the environment, the brain, genetics, and relationships, and is darkly humorous, thought-provoking, touching, and marvel-inducing.

Double blind by Edward St Aubyn

I won’t lie to you, this was probably a bit too clever for me, but somehow I didn’t mind. Francis, whose job is to rewild a property in Sussex, meets Olivia at a conference and they become lovers. Olivia’s friend Lucy returns to London after some years in New York to work for the super-rich Hunter on one of his scientific projects before receiving some unexpected news that binds them all together. The settings are glorious, the characters engaging, sometimes over the top, and the language complex and lyrical. Richly detailed, Double Blind ruminates on the environment, the brain, genetics, and relationships, and is darkly humorous, thought-provoking, touching, and marvel-inducing.

Raft of stars by Andrew Graff

Two boys are on the run from a small town in Wisconsin. The story builds as we follow them through the wilderness. But the story is more than that, the lives of those who are searching for the boys are also explored. A beautifully told story that made me care and hope for everyone’s happy ending.

The clockwork dagger by Beth Cato

A steampunk adventure/romance. Octavia has an extraordinary gift as a healer and on her way to a town needing her help she discovers there are threats on her life. Who can she trust? Quite a different read for me, but good to be immersed in a different world – a blend of science, nature, magic and belief.

The river by Peter Heller

We meet Jack and Wynn on their outdoor adventure. They realise a forest fire is burning towards them. To add to the tension a man approaches them claiming his wife is missing. So not only do they have to deal with outrunning a fire, there are added complications. There is a steady tension throughout the story, but was not as big of a thriller as I hoped it might be. It is a story with a strong sense of place and descriptions of canoeing and wilderness.

A life on our planet by David Attenborough

This book one of the most important books I have ever read. I have only just finished it but I am starting back at the beginning to read it again. Some of you will have seen the accompanying film that has also just been released.
There have been many books, articles, conversations, all of which are based around the stability of our planet. What makes this book, for me, stand out amongst the rest? I guess, like so many of us, ever since watching David Attenborough’s Life on Earth series, I have held him in high esteem. He is now 94 and has devoted his life to teaching us about our planet. He has earned our respect. So when I read his witness statement and vision for our future, I trust him. His book is about the decline of our wildlife, our biodiversity. It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake and how, if we act now, we can put it right.

Ring of bright water by Gavin Maxwell

This is the true story of Gavin Maxwell’s time in a remote cottage on the coast of Scotland, and of the animals he loved, particularly two otters. He paints a beautiful picture of the wild landscape, and the creatures who live in it. Life with otters sounds amusing, but I don’t envy it. I suspect that It’s because I am not a person who prefers the company of animals to people. I found this fascinating, but I didn’t really warm to Maxwell, and far prefer the nature writing of Gerald Durrell.

Ghost species by James Bradley

Four and a half stars for this stark, beautiful, and all too plausible work of climate fiction. Set in remote Tasmania, in the near future, scientists are brought together to resurrect long extinct species. Kate Larkin works on bringing the Neanderthals back to life, but when Eve is born, she finds herself questioning the project. It’s about humanity, trauma, connection, loss, fear for the future, and a glimmer of hope. Though it feels very real, it has a haunting, dream-like feel, and though I finished it some days ago, it is staying with me.