I'm not really sure how to put into words what exactly I'm looking for. But I'd really appreciate if anyone has any recommendations on books about ancient humans and non-humans, extinct animals, fossils, stories that have been passed down or lost, something about the ecological sublime and the passing of geological time… I'm not looking for strictly scientific books (but I'm not, NOT looking for scientific books). I enjoy writing that has a bit of a poetic flair, or that draws from mythology as metaphor or tells layered stories. Fiction or non-fiction is welcomed (I'm not too sure what flair to add).
Sorry if this isn't a very clear request! But if you can think of anything that could fall into this kind of categorisation please drop a comment!
Some things I've enjoyed that I think are kinda relevent:
Clan of the Cave Bear
American Gods (particularly the parts about Nunyunnini) (I know we're not supporting the author anymore)
Joseph Campbell's books about mythology in general
Women who Run with the Wolves
Braiding Sweetgrass
The Mind in the Cave
basically, if I can find something that "feels" like any of these but maybe more focused on death, in the context of the death of stories through forgetting, death of species through extinction and the space this leaves for new evolution to take place / new stories to be spoken into life – I will be delighted. Thanks so much for any help!
by Rootunder