SPONSORED: “Great Reads” is a regular roundup of books that the Orange County Public Library System thinks you should peruse that month.
“You can’t come back to something that is gone,” Richard Powers wrote in his exquisite ode to trees, The Overstory. In the pages of books, we can find the knowledge and the hope to make every day Earth Day. Here are some that the Orange County Library System staff has chosen for Bungalower readers.
EUROPE: A NATURAL HISTORY
BY TIM FLANNERY
A world-renowned scientist takes us through the natural history of Europe starting 100 million years ago through present day. Written in a lively manner, Flannery’s narrative explores the way the continent has evolved over the course of time spotlighting major events that not only shaped the land but also affected living organisms.
NO BEAST SO FIERCE: THE TERRIFYING STORY OF THE CHAMPAWAT TIGER, THE DEADLIEST ANIMAL IN HISTORY
BY DANE HUCKELBRIDGE
Hucklebridge traces the haunting story of the Champawat Tiger that terrified Nepal in the early 1900s. Beginning in 1900, the Champawat Tiger began hunting humans; over the next seven years the beast’s kills rose to an astonishing 436 human lives. Desperate to end the terror, Jim Corbett, a legendary hunter, was tasked with hunting down the beast and succeeded. Hucklebridge also touches on how the experience inspired Jim Corbett to turn to conservation with a mission to save the Bengal tiger and its habitat.
ZEN AND GONE
BY EMILY FRANCE
When 17-year-old Essa goes on a weekend spiritual retreat with her new crush Oliver, she expected nothing but a rejuvenating and relaxing experience. When she discovers, however, that her younger sister got lost in the wilderness while trying to follow them, she and Oliver must put their Zen-like plans on hold and put everything on the line in order to save her. Part meditation on the beauty of nature and part environment-based thriller, Emily France’s newest YA offers a one-of-a-kind outdoor adventure.
SPROUT LANDS: TENDING THE ENDLESS GIFT OF TREES
BY WILLIAM BRYANT LOGAN
Logan is no stranger to the mysteries of nature and the gifts it can give everyday people. His newest pro-nature discourse gives wonderful examples for those looking for ways to better incorporate caring for nature into their everyday lives, and also provides a detailed account of the ways both mankind and trees have intersected throughout history. With a little time and patience, Logan shows the reader multitudes of ways in which people of all backgrounds can live fuller, healthier lives when taking the time to care for the world around them.
EAT A LITTLE BETTER
BY SAM KASS
Chef Kass, former chef and senior food policy advisor to the Obamas, operates under the premise that our grand schemes for personal change often fail because the goal is perfection. He proposes we start small by making slightly better choices tomorrow than the ones we made today. It’s these micro-adjustments that will positively change our lives and impact our planet. He includes a cornucopia of recipes, but the bigger takeaway is a sense of empowerment.
PRODIGAL SUMMER
BY BARBARA KINGSOLVER
Kingsolver’s novel explores the wilds of southern Virginia in all its glory. During one particular summer, we explore the lives of Deanna, a forest ranger, Lusa, an entomologist turned farmer, and Nannie an organic orchard grower – all nature advocates in their own way. Kingsolver, who has a degree in biology, weaves and interweaves their narratives in lyrical fashion while underscoring their dependence on the environment.
