It’s a really good anthology - and I’d be interested to know whether you think there might similarly be a space for a book about nature writing and mental illness (specifically *not* about ‘how nature helps your mental health’, but really engaging with severe mental illness and the disability that causes - which I know from Louise she wasn’t able to include within Moving Mountains). The area of ‘nature and mental health’ has been so extensively covered, but often with the same, sometimes quite Pollyanna-ish, approach. There ought, I think, to be interesting things to say about the still-highly-stigmatised area of severe mental illness in the context of nature writing. (Happy to share more thoughts if that might be interesting.)
Hi Kate, I think there is but like you I do worry some can be quite Pollyanna-ish. Some of the ones I've read are The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith, Wintering by Katherine May, The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, Earthed by Rebecca Schiller, A Flat Place by Noreen Masud and The Clearing by Samantha Clark (I'm sure there'll be others).
This looks gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to reading it myself! I'll also add it to the list of books by Nature Directory authors (Louise is listed), which you can find here, if you're interested. :)
It’s a really good anthology - and I’d be interested to know whether you think there might similarly be a space for a book about nature writing and mental illness (specifically *not* about ‘how nature helps your mental health’, but really engaging with severe mental illness and the disability that causes - which I know from Louise she wasn’t able to include within Moving Mountains). The area of ‘nature and mental health’ has been so extensively covered, but often with the same, sometimes quite Pollyanna-ish, approach. There ought, I think, to be interesting things to say about the still-highly-stigmatised area of severe mental illness in the context of nature writing. (Happy to share more thoughts if that might be interesting.)
Hi Kate, I think there is but like you I do worry some can be quite Pollyanna-ish. Some of the ones I've read are The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith, Wintering by Katherine May, The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, Earthed by Rebecca Schiller, A Flat Place by Noreen Masud and The Clearing by Samantha Clark (I'm sure there'll be others).
This looks gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to reading it myself! I'll also add it to the list of books by Nature Directory authors (Louise is listed), which you can find here, if you're interested. :)
https://ourhome.substack.com/p/natures-bookstack-under-construction
Ooooh that is an amazing list, thank you so much for sharing!! May I recommend new writers?
https://katherinemay.substack.com/ (Wintering)
https://elsewheres.substack.com/ (Another Way to Split Water)
https://thenaturelibrary.substack.com/ (The Beach Today)
https://wildwomansalons.substack.com/ (All My Wild Mothers)
https://mzharrison.substack.com/ (Seasons books)
Thanks for these, will update the listings next time I work on the directory, which should be in the next few days. :)
This sounds like a brilliant anthology, and one I hadn't heard of. Adding to the (long) reading list!
Oh hope you enjoy!! Truly amazing!