Welcome to Forests and Fiction! My name is Sarah and I’m so glad you’re here.

Back in 2020, like many people, my entire life was flipped upside down. The onset of the pandemic resulted in a ton of upheaval for me both personally and professionally and it left me feeling completely adrift.

As so many people experienced, my husband and I ended up isolated from our friends and family for huge stretches of time. Living in Atlantic Canada, we were also snowed in for a good portion of that isolation, stuck inside of our house with nowhere to go. The result of this was too much time spent in front of my phone or the TV.

Over this time, I noticed a big correlation between how anxious I was feeling and the amount of time I spent in front of a screen. Given that my job is to sit in front of a computer all day in my basement, I had to find a way that I could reasonably disconnect in my off-time to try to address the issue. I casually picked up a book to distract myself and haven’t looked back since.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree, so I’ve done my fair share of reading over the years, but it had been close to a decade since I’d really read anything just for enjoyment. I picked up The Midnight Library by Matt Haig in September of 2021 and rediscovered how wonderfully all-consuming reading could be. For the first time in ages, my mind wasn’t constantly looking for things to worry about. It was preoccupied in such a wonderful way. Since that first book in September 2021, I’ve read another 71 books. What began as a way to reduce my evening anxiety has become a full-fledged passion.

I started posting on Instagram about what I was reading and how I felt about it and immediately found there were other readers out there who were equally excited to nerd out about their books. I’ve loved connecting with a little community of readers from all over who like getting lost in stories as much as I do, so much so that it felt like it was time to create a dedicated space where I could write about all of the books I’m enjoying and share with whoever cares to follow. I started thinking about writing Forests and Fiction a few months ago and now it’s finally here!

The name Forests and Fiction is a nod to a few important aspects of my life. First and foremost, I just so happen to live in a province that is 98% forests, so it felt particularly fitting as the woods are largely our home.

Second, I think forests are just as magical as books. There’s something so beautiful about the peace and quiet of nature; it feels like a place that you could happily get lost in. I absolutely love speculative fiction and every time we go for a hike in one of the beautiful patches of woods that surround our house, I’m immediately flung into the mythical places that so many of my favourite books are set in. I think it’s a glorious thing, to be able to spend time in nature with nothing but your thoughts and a good book.

I intend to use this space to write about the great books that I’m reading or have read, set alongside the backdrop of other happenings in my life that are bringing me joy. I’d like for this space to be a place of gratitude and positivity, focused fairly exclusively on the good stuff that comes along with a good book, good friends, great family, and soul-fulfilling experiences.

There are lots of places on the internet where you can find reviews that cover the full spectrum of good and bad literature. My focus here will be on the good stuff (and by good, I mean stuff that gave me great enjoyment). There may be the odd piece of truly fine or great literature that I’m reviewing, but I’m just as happy to read something fluffy and fun so long as it leaves me feeling thoroughly entertained. Generally speaking I’ll likely focus on speculative fiction, but historical fiction, romance, and the odd non-fiction pieces will likely slip through here and there as well.

I’m so excited to have a place where I can be nerdy about reading in a more in-depth way, and I’m glad to have you along for the ride!