Nature Inspired Adventure Books for Outdoor Lovers
Escape Into an Adventure Book
As an avid reader and adventure seeker, I’m always on the search for the next book to devour. I especially enjoy books set in the great outdoors. While camping, I’ve been known to stay up late reading into the wee hours of the night, even while the dew sets in around me and the night creeps in.
Whether you enjoy an audio book for the drive, chilling in a hammock, reading by the crackling fire or just want to escape a mundane day until your next big adventure, here are some thrilling books to enjoy.
This list of nature inspired books includes fiction, non fiction and memoirs about the great outdoors.
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Fiction Books Set in Nature
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy's
Despite facing growing hostility from locals, Inti Flynn travels to Scotland with a team of biologist, attempting to reintroduce 14 gray wolves into the Scottish Highlands. As the story unfolds, learn about her torrid past and her twin sister’s secrets that caused them to flee from Alaska. Add in a love interest and a dead body, the stakes continue to grow higher in Once There Were Wolves.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
Based on historical events about the life of a remarkable midwife from 1789, Martha Ballard. Despite being marginalized by society, Martha fights for justice and digs into the mystery surrounding the death of a man found frozen in the ice. A thrilling historical fiction story, The Frozen River , is based on events and diary entries by Martha Ballard. Lawhorn writes about the beauty and fierceness of Maine along the Kennebec River, as she shares the compelling story of an unsung heroine who fights for truth and justice when women were treated unfairly.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Bill and his friend, Stephen, set out on the Appalachian Trail with over packed backpacks and over weight midsections. Despite their lack of knowledge and experience, Bill continues on sharing his experience in this hilarious books about persistence and stick-with-it-ness and the merits of being able to laugh at ones self on the trail. A Walk in the Woods, captures all the feelings, mishaps and wins you experience, especially when first venturing into the realm of backpacking or camping. My husband and I listened to the audio book on the long car ride on one of our first backpacking trips together.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
In the year of 1920, Jack and Mabel are facing the hard life on a homestead in the Alaska wild. One winter night as the snow begins to fall, they shape a child of snow. To their surprise, the next morning they find a young girl living in the woods. A beautiful tale woven by Eowyn Ivey, filled with vivid descriptions of nature, hardships and hope in The Snow Child, facing the challenges of homesteading in Alaska.
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
A mystery set in the marshes of North Carolina, Delia Owens, crafts a story about a young child, Kya Clark, who survives on her own for years after she is abandoned by her family. When she finally begins to seek out connections in the community, she soon becomes prey and find herself in the middle of a murder trial. Where the Crawdads Sing is a masterly crafted tale set in the middle of deep swamps of North Carolina, filled with rich imagery of the natural world.
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
A young girl, Emmeline, and her father live on a isolated island, where she explore the natural world around her through her senses. Yet each year, she is drawn to the mysterious scented bottles and the unusual machine in their cabin that her father refuses to explain. When tragedy strikes, Emmeline eventually enters the real world, where she discovers secrets of her past and who she really is. Filled with rich description and sensory language, this story will take you on a journey into the wilds. The Scent Keeper may just be the next book to awaken your senses.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Set near Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan, the heroine, Daunis Fontaine is a biracial, unenrolled Ojibwa tribal member, who has never felt that she had a place to be truly accepted. After tragedy hits her family, Daunis sets aside her dreams to care for her mother’s fragile health. Although after meeting Jamie, a new hockey recruit, she dares to hope her life is turning around. When she witnesses a murder, she must go undercover to help her community. In this coming to age story, The Firekeeper’s Daughter is filled with suspense. As the web of lies begins to untangle, Daunis must discover who to trust as she learns secrets that threaten to tear her world apart. Interspersed through the story is rich symbolism of the Native American culture nature themes including the sun, fire, crows and butterflies.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
At the age of 22, Cheryl Strayed’s life feels out of balance and anything from what she expected, so she sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Her journey will take you on her struggle, triumphs and moments of bravery. The story of Wild might just catapult you to set out on your own life-changing adventure.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Set in Alaska, get a box of tissues ready. Ernt Allbright, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed man. Impulsively he uproots the family to Alaska, where he plans to live off the land. As winter approaches and Ernt’s mental state declines, thirteen-year-old Leni, and her mother must survive on their own.
Nonfiction Books with Nature Themes
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
At the age of 24, Christopher Johnson McCandless ventures into the Alaskan wilderness alone. Inside of a depilated bus, his body is found by a hunter. Into the Wild tells the moving story of what happened in that four month span in 1992. After reading the book, make sure to watch the movie, it’s exceptionally done.
Memoirs
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
In this entertaining memoir, James Herriot shares about his adventures as a veterinarian in Yorkshire. The book is filled with both hilarious mishaps, inspirational and often heartbreaking stories of working with animals for years. Herriott dives into both human nature and the members of the animal kingdom.
Closing Thoughts
There are truly few things in life that are as wonderful as getting lost in a book. Once you finally have your campsite set up and want to unwind after an adventurous day of hiking and exploring, escape with one of these outdoor books on the list, especially one featuring a grand adventure or vacation.
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