Antonia~ A few books being published this week that I am looking forward to reading

Finding the Mother Tree: Uncovering the Wisdom and Intelligence of the Forest by Suzanne Simard

I have always had a great love for nature and trees were a great passion of my late grandfather who knew the names of the trees we would see on our walks, reminding me regularly that a monkey puzzle tree was in fact called Araucaria Araucana… something I still to this day forget.

So, when I saw the release of a Simard’s book following the story of how she discovered the hidden language of trees during her forest service I knew this was a book I would be pre-ordering this month. Thanks to Simard’s work we now know that through an immense web of fungi, at the centre of which lie the Mother Trees, trees are able to communicate underground. I am very excited to begin reading Simard’s journey to discovery and learn more about the planet’s forests.  

This understanding of trees is something that fascinates me as prior to Simard’s work the myths surrounding communication between trees can be seen in our culture. Most notably in Narnia Mr Tumnus makes the point to say “even some of the trees are on her side” expressing this unique perspective that trees communicate.

If you enjoy reading books on trees, I would highly recommend The Overstory by Richard Powers; The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben; and The Oak Papers by James Canton. Additionally, Judi Dench’s documentary from 2017 ‘My Passion for Trees’ is a wonderful exploration of the trees communication network.

Birdsong in a Time of Silence by Steven Lovatt

Do you find yourself sometimes sat in your garden listening to the birds? For me during times of stress or reflection I head outside to sit and listen to the variety of birds in my garden, from blackbirds to red kites the skies above are filled with life. When I heard about the publication of Birdsong I couldn’t wait to find out more.

In this new book Lovatt explores how during the silence created by lockdown the songs of birds became a prominent part of our lives. Reflecting on what these sounds mean to us and exploring the natural history this book is a collection of the reawakening brought on by the strangest of springs. If you enjoy learning about nature and the effects our lives can have I would highly recommend adding this to your March bookshelf.  

She Will Soar: Bright brave poems about freedom by women

Poetry is something I have strived to read more of over the last few years. Poetry is the perfect companion for busy lives as you can dip in and out at your own leisure, without the need of one more chapter to find out the ending… something I struggle with due to my impatience.

I tend to steer myself towards nature poems and those that provide escapism and comfort when selecting poetry collections and anthologies. However, poetry is an incredible tool for many poets to express many themes surrounding courage, hope and resilience. These poems can be the most inspiring and can stay with you long after you have read them. This week She Will Soar is being released filled with innovative and bold modern voices to immerse the reader. Consequently, I have decided to purchase a copy to read on publication day this Thursday and considering it is filled with the voices of Carol Ann Duff, Christina Rossetti and Hollie McNish (to name a few) I am sure this will become a quick favourite.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

I find that I am always drawn to debut novels, especially if they take place on or near the sea.

This exciting novel from Armfield, who previously wrote the short story collection Salt Slow, follows Leah after she has returned from a deep sea mission that went wrong. Returning to her wife Miri the effects of what happened have stayed with Leah upon her return. Covering themes of love, loss, grief, and life in the deep sea this incredible fictional story is not one you will want to miss if you are a fan of horror and mystery.

You can request these titles here.