Our planet and humanity are tangled with each other. Everything relies on everything else, no matter how small or huge. From the small to the huge things, these tales trace how we are linked to the place we call Earth.
These upcoming books dig into how people and nature are connected.
In 'The Seed Keeper,' novelist Diane Wilson wrote a haunting multigenerational account centered on Rosalie Iron Wing and her family's struggle to retain their ways. The yarn spun by Wilson is a disturbing, more-than-one-age anecdote about Rosalie and her relatives from the Dakota people's attempts to preserve their practices.
Spanning from the woods where Rosalie grew up with her father to her time as a widow on her husband's farm, the tale examines themes of kin, identity, and strength. Through the voices of four powerful women, Wilson sheds light on the long-lasting connection to seeds, ancestry, and the profound impact of history's trauma.
Kazim Ali always thinks back on the wandering days spent in London, Manitoba, and across the United States. Despite never truly fitting in somewhere, memories of Jenpeg - a town built around a huge dam - constantly pull him back. Looking into it, he discovers the battle of the Pimicikamak community against environmental harm, causing Ali to rethink his tie to this place and the meaning of home.
This story follows a Vietnamese family - Huong, Tuan, and Binh - who fled to New Orleans in 1979. For over 26 years, they have faced many problems, both personal and the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. The story shows how they connect with where they live and others around them, with times together and apart, leading to the hurricane at the end.
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In 'Slipping,' journalist Seif works with a former exile as a guide to explore Egypt after the Arab Spring. They visit places where bizarre things happen and have trips that feel real but are not. The story then turns to Seif and his past traumas. It ties together a magical setting with learning more about one's self. This translated book from Arabic shows Egypt's world of imagination. Writer Mohamed Kheir, one of the most popular writers in Egypt currently, gives us a deep look into the Egyptian literary landscape.
Kathryn Smith's 'Self-Portrait with Cephalopod' won the Jake Adam York Prize for its deep look at life on Earth. The poems in this compilation deeply explore the experience of being a girl and then a woman in a crumbling world. They shift focus away from insignificant matters and bring attention to issues we often ignore or pretend are not important.
In her collection of essays, Kathleen Dean Moore, a strong protector of nature, thinks about the beauty of the natural world's music. She also warns of their risks even as she celebrates the different sounds from all types of animals. The essays switch from being joyous to feeling sad, telling everyone to help defend the wild songs and the creatures that make them during environmental problems.
The collection promises an adventure that changes how we see sweetness. In the book, Kate Lebo explores the complex natures of plants as metaphorical elements for essays, with included recipes. Lebo investigates the issues of developing, gathering, and preparing these plants with unique stories, giving insights into relationships, self-care, etc.
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