Bad Naturalist, Paula Whyman

It’s an insightful memoir about Whyman's attempt to restore this 200-acre piece of land in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. She's trying to turn it back into its natural state, which sounds peaceful and idyllic, but its not. 

Whyman's super honest about how little she knows about this stuff, and that's what makes it so relatable. She's dealing with all sorts of challenges: invasive species taking over, encounters with wildlife, and just the sheer amount of work involved. She gets advice from experts, but even that can be confusing because everyone has a different opinion.

It's not just about the land; it's also about her own journey. She's learning about herself, her limitations, and her passion for this project. She has a real sense of awe, and respect for the natural world, and her heart is definitely in the right place. You get a good dose of natural history, and some funny anecdotes.