I’m thinking spring, even though there is snow on the ground and my apartment is freezing. Some people would say I’m in denial. 
Most of the country is stuck in the throes of winter, and have found themselves buried under snow, sleet, ice and are dealing with frigid temps, (where I live, it’s 10 degrees today).Here in the Midwest, we’ve already had our share of snow days and I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet.
On the days when the snow is falling, the wind is blowing, and the temperature is in the single digits, there’s nothing I love better than curling up fireside with a good book. Usually accompanied by a cozy quilt, house slippers, fuzzy pj’s, and hot chocolate or tea. 😉
I like cuddling up with just about any good book, but I just recently read a lot of books about nature. I love winter, but maybe I’m looking forward to spring a little more than normal this year. I call the types of books and poetry I have been reading recently, ‘green’ literature. Green lit is great to read in winter or anytime, really, and here’s why and what to read:
Walden: The classic. Thoreau was the grandfather of the minimalist, simple living movement that we’ve seen people take a renewed interest in over the past few years. In his book, Thoreau shares experiences he had at his beloved “Walden”, a cabin he lived in alone for two years.
Last Child in the Woods: Author Richard Louv coined his own term for the lack of connection and interaction today’s youth has with the outdoors. He calls it “nature deficit disorder.” In the book, Louv describes how kids’ relationship, or lack thereof, with nature takes a backseat to organized sports and technology. The major point I took away from this book is today’s kids rarely get time of unstructured play. They don’t get time to go outdoors and just be, imagine and discover what’s in their backyards or neighborhoods due to: parental fear of letting kids play alone outside, kids ever increasing busy schedules and availability of technology indoors competing with nature for their attention.
Poetry from the Pastoral and Romantic Movements: No, pastoral doesn’t mean a religious form of poetry and Romantic doesn’t mean love poems in this instance. Think the masters of the British pastoral mode and radicals of the Romantic period: Christopher Marlowe, John Milton, William Blake, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats and William Wordsworth.
Okay, my geek is showing. I am a Brit Lit nerd, and am most drawn to the writers of the Romantic period, as you can see, :-).
My list is by no means exhaustive, it’s just what I have been reading lately. Feel free to add your favorite “nature” book, poem or poet or song in the comments section. Keep reading, stay warm and think spring til next time!
Amanda Bretz 