Devon Book Club discussion

To coincide with COP26 we are today beginning a 10-day series on books that are about, or in some way related, to the climate emergency. You may want to talk about either fiction or non-fiction and feel free to include any genre or for any age. I'd love to hear your views about climate change and about the books that you'd recommend.

We will discuss the topic live for the next two Mondays on our Twitter community from 8PM, using the hastag #devonbookhour Last Monday, people began to suggest some titles, which I will share as the week progresses. Here are a number to get us going...

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis - Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson, it consists of 60 essays and poems, written by both scientists and non-scientists. All of the essays are by women, from a huge range of different countries, racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, and professions. The book's central theme is made immediately clear: addressing the climate crisis requires inclusive, collective, and radical action.

From E. Annie Proulx, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain, Barkskins an epic, dazzling, violent, magnificently dramatic novel about the taking down of the world’s forests;

A classic from J.G. Ballard from 1962 - The Drowned World a "science fiction" (?!) novel which depicts a post-apocalyptic future in which global warming has caused the majority of the Earth to become uninhabitable. The story follows a team of scientists researching ongoing environmental developments in a flooded, abandoned London;

Greenwood by Michael Christie - an arresting eco-parable Ecological catastophe has led to the destruction of trees … a bleak vision of the future with Steinbeckian cadences

Recommend Bewilderment by Richard Powers, which in some ways reflects the conflict of interests at COP26. Theo, a scientist, has found a way to look for life on distant planets. Robin, his young sob, is passionate about animals. Every night the family pray ‘for all sentient beings’. This passion leads to conflicts - Robin’s greater mission is at variance with his belief in the need to go to school. Conflicts arise at every level. Book is divided into short chapters, ideal for those, like me, with a diminishing attention span.

Jane wrote: "Recommend Bewilderment by Richard Powers, which in some ways reflects the conflict of interests at COP26. Theo, a scientist, has found a way to look for life on distant planets. Robin, his young so..."

You beat me to it, Jane. I would also recommend Bewilderment. A beautiful book that made me laugh, cry and think. Definitely my winner from this year's Booker Shortlist.

Jane wrote: "Recommend Bewilderment by Richard Powers, which in some ways reflects the conflict of interests at COP26. Theo, a scientist, has found a way to look for life on distant planets. Robin, his young so..."
Also The Overstory in which environmentalists stage a protest to save ancient trees, but it's also much more than that. I react to trees in a different way now after reading this book. I've always loved trees, but they now have deeper meaning to me. It's a book that makes you think.

Jane wrote: "Recommend Bewilderment by Richard Powers, which in some ways reflects the conflict of interests at COP26. Theo, a scientist, has found a way to look for life on distant planets. Robin, his young so..."

Thanks Jane - this looks great and I love the multi-generational aspect

A great start to our Climate Crisis theme week, with some great suggestions from members of our community of books that explore the theme, fiction or non-fiction.

Titles mentioned yesterday included:

In non-fiction:
The Man Who Planted Trees - Jean Giono
Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change and Green and Prosperous Land: A Blueprint for Rescuing the British Countryside by Dieter Helm

And in fiction:
Tipping Point
The Song that Sings Us
Dune

Keep them coming folks and please do share your insights on

Do you accept that there is one? Alternative views also welcome

My novel Lifeform Three, which was longlisted for the World Fantasy Award, is set in a time where the sea levels have risen. I really wish I wasn't seeing that aspect of it coming to life right now. Here's an excerpt:

'The sea levels rose. Once, people had liked to live on the coast or by a river, but now the waves came and licked their homes away. The government built flood walls and the population retreated inland. They needed new cities, factories, farms and power stations. Places to live. Bypasses to drive there more directly. Between the roofs and roads, there was no room for countryside.'

I agree with all the praise for Richard Power's Bewilderment but would also like to recommend his previous novel The Overstory. Also, though not cheerful (and rather heavier) but very current I recommend The Premonition: A Pandemic Story. It's almost a history lesson in how the best scientific/medical decisions are made - complete with numerous examples of how the worst are also often the first. The account - towards the end of the book - on how the Covid crisis was first handled in the US is mind-bogglingly terrifying. Still an amazing guide to how the best minds work - when they are allowed to!

Roz wrote: "My novel Lifeform Three, which was longlisted for the World Fantasy Award, is set in a time where the sea levels have risen. I really wish I wasn't seeing that aspect of it coming to life right now..."

Hi Roz - sorry not to reply sooner - been a busy week at work. As you say, sad to have that source of inspiration but important to write about it

DrMama wrote: "I agree with all the praise for Richard Power's Bewilderment but would also like to recommend his previous novel The Overstory. Also, though not cheerful (and rather..."

Thanks Carol - that sounds disturbing but important