Amazing! I love reading fiction about what might happen with climate change, world ending, I think because I find it somewhat hopeful or at least fleshing out possibilities of what no one in real life wants to talk about. I hope I get to read your book some day!
Happy to share! Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr is about climate and the past and future and it is one of my favorite books. I loved The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. And I really enjoyed The Future by Naomi Alderman, The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins, and After the Flood by Kassandra Montag. I would love to join a post-apocalyptic book club (except I'm not really interested in zombie or really violent type stuff).
Oh, I hope you do publish this book, it sounds like such a fun one!
And wow, what you wrote strikes so true. I just turned 55 and have stage IV cancer. Doing great so far and could theoretically have another decade, but of course I never know (and nor does anyone know how much time they’ll have). And yet the 10-ish months since my diagnosis have been the best year of my excellent life. Seems like the same insight. ❤️
Oh, Tawni. What a beautiful perspective. Thank you for sharing. I am so sorry for your terrible news, but so so happy that you're living life to the fullest. ❤️
"And what can we do about it?" Thank you for this reminder to listen, to hold, then to take action. I needed that. Also, I can't wait to read your book, if you ever feel called to share it. I am cheering you on. <3
Katie, your book sounds fantastic! I love the premise and what sounds like a mix of humor and horror at the state of things. You’re inspiring me to get back to my mostly-paused novel and push through. We only have right now!
This books indeed sounds SO good, and I would also get in line to pre-order. So as my mom used to say, be careful what you wish for! Thank you for sharing... as always.
I am a member of YouGov. I don't like most of their surveys because they are usually bent toward expounding liberalism. Most of the questions are silly and require qualification and expansion, especially in the answers.
Nonetheless, the world as we know it is going to end. The sun will have finally used up all its resources and likely go into a nova and then become a brown star with much less energy production. Earth will become a lifeless cinder.
While waiting a few million lifetimes for that to happen, we can study the history of the world (provided that we can trust that history as it is recorded) and see that civilizations, societies and governments come and go.
You only need to worry about all that worrying you are doing and how it is affecting your health.
Mother Nature and Father Time are perfectly natural. It's humanity that is insane.
Thank you for helping us look for the endings hidden in the big headlines. While a true global apocalypse might not be at our front door, the shifts in economic policies and foreign affairs coming out of this administration certainly signal the ending of the world we have known and have been comfortable in for 80 years. I look at my three-year-old grandson and try to imagine the America he will become an adult in, and the vision is so unclear. But I can safely predict it will be a different America than the one I grew up in. Thank you for this beautiful article, and for setting a tone of reflection for us in these troubling times.
"We’re drawn to apocalyptic stories because there’s a strange comfort — perhaps even wisdom — in imagining the end. There’s something freeing about admitting how little control we have."
I could have written all those words *except* for the inclusion of the word wisdom. The wisdom is what kept me sitting with this. Because I love the inclusion of wisdom here.
Because, yes. It's not just the strange comfort which I've always known it as or perceived it to be. There is, indeed, wisdom. Thanks for your wise words helping me to embrace that. ❤️🔥⚡
Btw, not to be unoriginal here echoing everyone else, but I'd be interested in that book even if it wasn't written by you, and especially because it is.
I would read that book! Finding rootedness in a terrible circumstance — culturally or personally — can absolutely lead to freedom. I think the marrow of life comes from acknowledging that duality. Thank you for the reminder to channel it into action, too.
Amazing! I love reading fiction about what might happen with climate change, world ending, I think because I find it somewhat hopeful or at least fleshing out possibilities of what no one in real life wants to talk about. I hope I get to read your book some day!
I find it hopeful, too. I'm glad I'm not the only one! If you have any favorites, I'd love to hear your recommendations!
Happy to share! Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr is about climate and the past and future and it is one of my favorite books. I loved The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. And I really enjoyed The Future by Naomi Alderman, The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins, and After the Flood by Kassandra Montag. I would love to join a post-apocalyptic book club (except I'm not really interested in zombie or really violent type stuff).
I loved The Light Pirate! (So does the protagonist in my book, ha.) And this is definitely the nudge I need to finally read Cloud Cuckoo Land!
I've had Cloud Cuckoo Land on my list forever; I'm with Katie, thanks for the nudge!
The Hum is a near future dystopian novel--SO GOOD. (Is this in the same category as post-apocalyptic?)
Ooh thanks for the recommendation! And good question — I’m still learning the difference myself!
I echo Katie's request! The one I'll throw out there is THE NEW WILDERNESS by Diane Cook.
I read The New Wilderness. At first it felt like not much was happening but I ended up enjoying it and the things it made me think about.
Thanks for sharing, I'll have to check it out!
Oh, I hope you do publish this book, it sounds like such a fun one!
And wow, what you wrote strikes so true. I just turned 55 and have stage IV cancer. Doing great so far and could theoretically have another decade, but of course I never know (and nor does anyone know how much time they’ll have). And yet the 10-ish months since my diagnosis have been the best year of my excellent life. Seems like the same insight. ❤️
Oh, Tawni. What a beautiful perspective. Thank you for sharing. I am so sorry for your terrible news, but so so happy that you're living life to the fullest. ❤️
"And what can we do about it?" Thank you for this reminder to listen, to hold, then to take action. I needed that. Also, I can't wait to read your book, if you ever feel called to share it. I am cheering you on. <3
Thank you, Carla! That means a lot!!
Katie, your book sounds fantastic! I love the premise and what sounds like a mix of humor and horror at the state of things. You’re inspiring me to get back to my mostly-paused novel and push through. We only have right now!
Yay! I'm so glad it's inspired you to get back writing. Thanks for the kind words!
This books indeed sounds SO good, and I would also get in line to pre-order. So as my mom used to say, be careful what you wish for! Thank you for sharing... as always.
Ha! Thank you, Amanda!
This book sounds so good! I agree with the others about it getting ready to pre-order!
So kind. Thank you, Amanda!
I would totally read this book. Sounds perfect for the time we're in at the moment.
That's so encouraging to hear. Thank you!
I am a member of YouGov. I don't like most of their surveys because they are usually bent toward expounding liberalism. Most of the questions are silly and require qualification and expansion, especially in the answers.
Nonetheless, the world as we know it is going to end. The sun will have finally used up all its resources and likely go into a nova and then become a brown star with much less energy production. Earth will become a lifeless cinder.
While waiting a few million lifetimes for that to happen, we can study the history of the world (provided that we can trust that history as it is recorded) and see that civilizations, societies and governments come and go.
You only need to worry about all that worrying you are doing and how it is affecting your health.
Mother Nature and Father Time are perfectly natural. It's humanity that is insane.
Thank you for that context regarding the surveys — that's so helpful! And thank you for the perspective.
Katie, this book sounds incredible. I am ready to pre-order right now. Cheering you on!!!
Ahh, this means the world coming from you!
Thank you for helping us look for the endings hidden in the big headlines. While a true global apocalypse might not be at our front door, the shifts in economic policies and foreign affairs coming out of this administration certainly signal the ending of the world we have known and have been comfortable in for 80 years. I look at my three-year-old grandson and try to imagine the America he will become an adult in, and the vision is so unclear. But I can safely predict it will be a different America than the one I grew up in. Thank you for this beautiful article, and for setting a tone of reflection for us in these troubling times.
This really means a lot to me. Thank you, Stephen!
I love your novel's premise! Can't wait to read it!
Thank you, Lanette!!
As a fellow journalist mom trying to write a moms club inspired fictional book on the side (in what spare time !?) I love this so much!!
I’m cheering you on, Melanie!
I've been sitting with this part:
"We’re drawn to apocalyptic stories because there’s a strange comfort — perhaps even wisdom — in imagining the end. There’s something freeing about admitting how little control we have."
I could have written all those words *except* for the inclusion of the word wisdom. The wisdom is what kept me sitting with this. Because I love the inclusion of wisdom here.
Because, yes. It's not just the strange comfort which I've always known it as or perceived it to be. There is, indeed, wisdom. Thanks for your wise words helping me to embrace that. ❤️🔥⚡
Thank YOU for always reading so closely ❤️
Btw, not to be unoriginal here echoing everyone else, but I'd be interested in that book even if it wasn't written by you, and especially because it is.
❤️❤️❤️
Chiming in with everyone else, I want to read this book.
Eep! Now that I put it out there, I can't take it back!!
I would read that book! Finding rootedness in a terrible circumstance — culturally or personally — can absolutely lead to freedom. I think the marrow of life comes from acknowledging that duality. Thank you for the reminder to channel it into action, too.
You put that so beautifully!
I love the sound of this book! My favourite of that genre is Last one at the Party by Bethany Clift. A very fun take on an apocalypse novel
Ooh, thank you for the recommendation!