The saying that we “can’t see the forest for the trees” applies to how easy it can be to become caught up with day-to-day minutiae. John Muir reminds us that the clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness, while Robert Frost advises that the best way out of the woods is always through them. The six books below shed light on this setting, highlighting its glory and its shadowy depths, while readers can immerse themselves in those worlds knowing they are safe in their favorite chair. Rebecca Rasmussen’s Evergreen (Vintage. Jun. 2015. ISBN 9780345806710. pap. $15.95; ebk. ISBN 9780385351003), a moody, multigenerational saga, is set in the north woods of 1938 Minnesota. Newlyweds Eveline and Emil decide to make their home in the remote location, with the birth of their son seeming to complete their productive, peaceful life. Then Emil is suddenly called back to Germany and must leave his family alone in the wilderness on the eve of war. Eveline feels fortunate to befriend Lulu, a distant neighbor with strong survival skills, but when a stranger invades Eveline’s world and rapes her, everyone—including the child of that assault—must learn to live in the shadow of trauma.

Copy editor Tess Waters, still recovering from the painful experience of trying to adopt a child from a foreign country, is visiting friends in Vermont. Driving through the state’s dense woods, she is startled to see a young child walking across the road before disappearing into the trees. Following police involvement and support from the townspeople, a search begins. However, when no child can be found, the authorities start to doubt Tess’s claims. Is she suffering from stress or has she actually seen a missing girl? At the heart of T. Greenwood’s Where I Lost Her (Kensington. Feb. 2016. ISBN 9780758290557. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN 9780758290564) is Tess’s determination to find the child, leading to a suspenseful and mysterious psychological quest.

Not every forest foray is a dark, spellbinding experience. Bill Bryson’s description of his own attempt to hike 2,100 miles is the basis for his travel lark, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Anchor. 2006. ISBN 9780307279460. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9780307717832). Accompanying Bryson is his old school chum, the out-of-shape ­Stephen Katz, who doesn’t quite share Bryson’s energetic enthusiasm. Their incomparable camaraderie makes for a comical adventure, full of insight and spirit. Bryson’s droll, sardonic wit and astute observations are ever-present as the mismatched trekkers face savage weather, exhaustion, and five million steps measuring their strength and stamina.

Cabin Porn: Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere (Little, Brown. Sept. 2015. ISBN 9780316378215. $30; ebk. ISBN 9780316344616) features photos and essays about homes situated in rustic locales around the world. Born out of Zach Klein’s Tumblr site, this splendid coffee-table book includes bird’s-eye views of underground shelters, yurts, converted silos, cabins, and bunkhouses located in woodlands from Sweden to New Zealand and from Oregon to Scotland. The text outlines how they were created, and the images are lush, yet beyond those draws, the book’s real point is to advocate for a place to which everyone can retreat to find quiet refuge or warm hospitality.

Alice Munro’s Too Much Happiness (Vintage. 2010. ISBN 9780307390349. pap. $15.95; ebk. ISBN 9780307273239) features a short story titled “Woods.” Roy, a furniture refinisher who happily works alone, is concerned about his wife, Lea, who is drained of vitality and unable to enjoy life. An expert tree-cutter, Roy assesses these plants, specifically recognizing them by their bark. Seeking new sources, Roy is misdirected by a scavenger he meets and falls, injuring himself to the point that he must try to crawl back to his truck. As vultures circle overhead, he drags himself along and suddenly spots Lea. Is he hallucinating or has Lea, of all people, come to his rescue? In this deep and dense tangled forest, Roy is saved.

Brian Doyle invites readers to take a step into the natural world with his lovely novel Martin Marten (Picador. Apr. 2016. ISBN 9781250081056. pap. $16; ebk. ISBN 9781466843691). Set in the remote thicket of Oregon’s Mount Hood, the tale weaves together the lives of Dave, a boy on the brink of manhood, and an adolescent pine marten, referred to as Martin by the author. The woods become their common bond as Dave and Martin go about their days. The reader also signs on for this expedition, beautifully set in the Pacific Northwest, as human and animal embark on their journeys. Doyle’s almost magical prose combines with his matter-of-fact storytelling (including asides to the audience), offering a peek into the wooded wilderness and the mysteries of adolescence.

This column was contributed by librarian and freelance writer Andrea Tarr, who lives in Alta Loma, CA

Neal Wyatt compiles LJ’s online feature Wyatt’s World and is the author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Nonfiction (ALA Editions, 2007). She is a collection development and readers’ advisory librarian from Virginia. Those interested in contributing to The Reader’s Shelf should contact her directly at Readers_Shelf@comcast.net