Devon Book Club discussion

Back from Iceland for a couple of weeks, before heading off on phase 2 of this Summer's travels. Partly inspired by the landscape of Iceland but also by the enthusisam for nature writing amongst our community, I'm excited to be launching a new theme week on books and writing relating to the natural world and to wilderness.

There are so many to choose from and I'm keen to hear from you about books you'd recommend and also from writers who would like their books or writing featured in the coming week.

To start the week I'm delighted to feature Michelle Werrett, one of our regular contributors.

Michelle writes about the countryside of Devon and Exmoor, which is her home; of moorland, farmland, woodland and the lanes that wind between and, especially, of the hedges and rivers that stitch the landscape together.

Her book, Song of the Streams published by Medlar Press is about the rivers and streams of Exmoor – their history and wildlife, river conservation work and fly fishing. you can find more details here https://www.medlarpress.com/code/book...

Exmoor rivers and streams appear little changed since Claude Wade described them in his 1903 book of fishing memories, yet the numbers he and other long-ago writers reported catching are unbelievable today. Those streams must once have held an astonishing abundance of fish. The author sets out to fish where Wade fished, to cast the same flies on the same pools, to explore how fishing the streams of Exmoor might compare with fishing them over a century ago, whether those streams have changed and how they might be faring today.

This book is for all who share concern for the wellbeing and conservation of our rivers and streams as well as those who are entranced by the rise of a trout to a well placed fly.

Michelle regularly writes for @ExmoorMagazine and Fallon's Angler and sometimes elsewhere and you can find more about her and her writing on her website https://michellewerrettruralwriting.w...

and an occasional blog and links to some published articles, here: https://michellewerrettruralwriting.w...

A story of how hedges link generations of people across time and link people to nature across the land, is published by Little Toller Books on their online journal:  https://www.littletoller.co.uk/the-cl...

Michelle's work as a farm conservation advisor also features in a story of farming and fishing on a Devon stream, The River Batherm, published by The Wild Trout Trust in their annual journal, Salmo Trutta:  https://dulavx8rjuiml.cloudfront.net/...

As you can see Michelle is an enthusiast for our countryside and rivers. As well as celebrating her writing we are talking about arranging an autumn walk on Exmoor with Michelle and other members of our community to enjoy friendship in nature. Watch this space for details.

As we start our theme week, focusing on wilderness and the natural world, I've had an interesting conversation with L.R.Hay who has shared detaisl of her book, That Woman's Girl with me.
She tells me that, aAlmost like an extra character, wilderness features heavily in That Woman's Girl, her retelling of the Jesus story with 10-year-old outsider Kat as the main character. The twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim (featured by Poppy Henson in her cover illustration) dominate Kat's dysfunctional home in Samaria – but she's a habitual runaway, heading up the inhospitable Jordan valley to see her friends and fellow thieves in Gadara.
Defiant and streetwise, Kat thinks nothing of taking shortcuts past open tombs cut into the vast cliffs below the city, and even across barren expanses of rock, plunging into a world of glaring sun and delirium. The vast, bleak landscape highlights her life: brittle, vulnerable and alone.
But the desolation is set off by softer landscapes, in this story of journeys. Kat's new friend Sitara has travelled the Silk Road, sailing warm oceans and rivers, passing glorious cities. This encourages Kat to new vistas and experiences, camping on the lush Mount of Olives at Festival time in Jerusalem, or picnicking in wide-open spaces by the Sea of Galilee. The lake stretches into the distance, melting into sky, and the wilderness dust clogging her heart washes away in cool water.
You can find out more about Lynn here https://www.whisperingstories.com/the...
I love how this theme is already beginning to connect to interesting and varied themes and ideas.
I'd love to hear more from you all about books you love in this theme.