The Habitat Man is a quirky, interesting, and highly original novel. One that has moments of humour and romance while also bringing serious modern-day issues. Here is the synopsis.
Worms have more purpose than Tim, and a better love life. They break waste down into rich fertile soil; Tim just makes the rich richer. Worms copulate for three hours at a time whereas the closest thing Tim has to love is his lesbian friend Jo. Salvation comes from Jo’s flaky niece Charlotte who asks him three profound questions. Inspired, he sheds his old life to become Habitat Man, giving advice on how to turn gardens into habitats for wildlife. His first client is the lovely Lori. Tim is smitten, but first he has to win round Ethan her teenage son. Tim loves his new life until he digs up more than he bargained for, something that threatens to bring out all the skeletons in his cupboard.
We meet Tim, an almost 50-year-old accountant. He isn’t happy at work, and after having a very profound moment, he decides enough is enough, and quits his job to become a Habitat Man. This means he starts to give advice to people about their gardens and the wildlife around them.
I felt a little bit sorry for Tim in some parts of this story. A character that is gentle, kind, and sweet. All he wants is a relationship, and as he starts to work in his new position, we see him gaining confidence. The multitude of quirky people he meets with in his new job makes him shine. I loved seeing the change in him.
He meets Lori while working as the Habitat Man, and we see Tim fall head over heels for her. It isn’t the easiest road, and there are big bumps in the road that may tear them apart before they even have a chance to be happy.
D.A. Baden has written a story that gives the reader a message around conservation, nature, and the eco system. She manages this without preaching, and her passion for this topic the research she has undertaken really does shine through.I always enjoy being entertained and educated, and this is a book that did exactly that. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she has wrapped this story up with a heartwarming romance factor as well.
A book that has a bit of everything to make this an overall educational and truly entertaining read. Real life issues as well as humour, quirky characters, drama, and inspiration, too. All topped off with a possibility of romance, what more could you need?
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and D.A. Baden for my gifted copy of this book, to give you my thoughts today.
Purchase Link
https://books2read.com/u/mVa19A
Reviews
“Habitat Man is both great fun (with such an engaging cast of characters) and a delightful reflection on the ways we live – and the ways we die! – at a time when more and more people are grappling with today’s environmental challenges.” Jonathon Porritt (Forum for the Future).
“Truly lyrical and a joy to read” Mark Laggatt, author.
“A natural storyteller” Writing.co.uk
“Superbly written romance with a lovely touch of humour” Helen Baggott, author.
“A charming romp that makes you think! Mid-life crisis meets environmental awareness in this rom-com for the 21st Century.” Michael Jecks, author.
“A tale of lust, gardening, love and compost: a hilarious page turner”
Dave Goulson, author of ‘The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet’ and the newly released ‘Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse.’
Author Bio
Denise Baden is Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and has published numerous book chapters and articles in the academic realm. She wrote the script for a musical that was performed in Southampton and London in 2016, and has written three other screenplays. This is her first novel. Habitat Man was inspired by a real-life green garden consultant who helped make her garden more wildlife friendly. Denise set up the series of free Green Stories writing competitions in 2018 to inspire writers to integrate green solutions into their writing (www.greenstories.org.uk). Habitat Man began as an effort to showcase what a solution-based approach might look like, and then took on a life of its own. In between teaching and research, she is now working on the sequel.
Social Media Links
@DABadenauthor
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 