Love the desert island question!!!
It has to be the right kind of book, right? Something you wouldn’t mind reading thousands of times. Do you opt for weighty or fun? Something that’s challenging and needs unpacking or something that will lift your spirits when the rescue boat fails to arrive? Which type of book best rewards repeat reading?
So.
If you could have one book as you’re stuck on a desert island, which one would it be?
I’m going with Moby-Dick. Not only is it long and rewards repeat reading, but it might be useful for whale sightings. (Thanks to Kerri-Ann for pointing out that the title is hyphenated. Sorry Herman!)
What are you taking with you?
Kathleen Guler says
Anything by Sharon Kay Penman, preferably Here Be Dragons.
Susan M says
If nonfiction, it would definitely be the Bible. If fiction, Lord of the Rings. It is the book I have reread the most, next to the Bible. (Actually I've probably read all the way through LOTR more than I've done that with the Bible…)
Rick Daley says
WATCHMEN
It's a great story, the parallel story of CURSE OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER fits with the desert island, and it has incredible artwork to boot.
LindaBudz says
The Bible, definitely. Happy St. Pat's Day!
Yvonne says
The Once and Future King – T.H. White
PSGifford says
Wuthering heights.
Della Luna says
Probably shud have a survival handbook on a desert island but I'll take The Snow Leopard by Peter Mathiessen – maybe then I would finish reading it.
Malia Sutton says
And Ladies of the Club. by Helen Hooven Santmyer
Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado says
I saw Tali's suggestion, "Almost French" by Sarah Turnbull. I love it and in my landlubbing bookshelf it sits right between "A Thousand Days in Venice" by Marlena di Blasi and "The Sixteen Pleasures" by Robert Hellenga. Three beautifully written books, set in lovely locations
Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado
Tatiana says
Pride and Prejudice. I love that book and could (and have) read it over and over again.
CKHB says
Am I seriously going to be the first one to say War & Peace? Especially after reading what The Millions had to say, it's a no-brainer.
First thoughts also included The Riverside Shakespeare, A Farewell to Arms, The Cider House Rules, and Proust (because I've always wanted to read him in the original French, but I think being stranded on an island is the only way I'll ever make time to do that!)
ElizaJane says
On the program "Desert Island Discs" they got so many people saying The Bible or the Complete Shakespeare that they now give those for free to all castaways! So if I've got those two, then the other thing I'd take would be the complete Pepys' Diary. At around 20 volumes, rich with anecodote and description covering decades of Pepys' life, it would be not just like having another person on the island; it would be like having an entire civilization there with me.
Courtney Price says
I hate to say it, but it's "Gone with the Wind"… cliche answer? Maybe. But I really honestly love it. Crap, I probably should have said something spiritual 🙂
Valerie Keiser Norris says
I take more than one book on an overnight visit! But okay, if only one, I guess it would be…The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow.
Anonymous says
"MeyowYum and the Cat-eating Space Monkeys."
One of the great classics.
Gehayi says
ElizaJane: I wonder if "Desert Island Discs" lets you trade in either the Bible discs or the Shakespeare ones for something else if you don't want one of them?
Jonathon Arntson says
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
Madeleine says
I'd go with fun and slightly helpful: THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. Not the most intellectual of reads, but it does instruct a bit on survival AND could cheer me up. 😀
ElizaJane says
Re. "Desert Island Discs" and trading in The Bible: some BBC Radio 4 fan from England will know this for sure, but I think castaways have asked for this and been told nope, that's your culture, take it or… take it.
Cozy in Texas says
Empire Falls by Richard Russo. I never get tired of reading and studying it.
Ann
http://www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com
http://www.annsummerville.cm
RBSHoo says
The Stand.
although whoever wrote, "How to Build a Raft" gave me a good chuckle.
Katy says
the secret history by donna tartt. it's my favorite book ever, and i could happily read it until the rescue ship found me. 🙂
sewbissy says
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim, if survival books aren't allowed. It may not be thick, but it's got so much relationship humor that I'd never feel like I'd left the human world behind (assuming I would be alone on the island).
Aven says
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Hands down, my favorite book of all time.
Jamie Pohlman says
Dave Eggers "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius"
It got me through middle of the night feedings with my fourth child. Should be able to get me through a stranding on a desert island.
Sharon Kirk Clifton says
A good study Bible would be Number One. Come on. Please can't I also have HATCHET (to help me survive), the complete works of Robert Frost, the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, LORD OF THE RINGS, and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series, and. . . ? Oh, yes, and a crate of Moleskine notebooks, a good dictionary, ROGET'S THESAURUS, the latest HARBRACE ENGLISH HANDBOOK, and an assortment of Writer's Digest books. That's a beginning. How about writing utensils? I need those. And. . .okay. I'll quite. Hey, you're the one who asked the question. Not me.
lora96 says
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Gorgeous, reflective, intelligent–plus if Francie can overcome all the poverty and squalor, what's a little island solitude to complain about?
Rachel Hamm says
I'll be the fourteenth person to say Jane Austen! Specifically P&P for me, but any one of her books is lifetime reading worthy!
If I could pick one fiction, one non fiction, I'd do P&P by Ms. Austen and Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. I'm surprised no one else mentioned Miller- he's a phenomenal writer and really gets into the heart of spirituality and individuality.
Erica75 says
I'm assuming it's because I live in a Great Lakes state that I have no idea what a desert island actually is. Is it water? Is it sand? I know how to both swim and walk, but a book would weigh me down, so I'm confused as to why I would need it.
Ashley A. says
I'd have to say the Bible. The NRSV version with lots and lots of footnotes and the Apocrypha. I couldn't bear not having something to read, and that should tide me over.
Second choice that just came to me: a complete edition of the Greek Myths by, say, Robert Graves.
Ms Snarky Pants says
Can't I have an ebook reader with a solar charger? 😀
Kristi says
THE KEYS OF ENOCH as it would take me a lifetime on a desert island to understand it all.
@Martin w/ the Twilight comment – hilarious!
K. E. Carson says
I'd have to go with Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemisty. I don't read much romance, but man, something about that book lets me read it again and again. And I get quite bored with reading books again.
Melissa Gill says
Yep, the Bible for sure. What a great mixed bag of history, verse, sex, murder, enlightenment, and inspiration. You can skip always skip over the begats. Plus, if you like Robinson Crusoe and happen to have goats on your island, you might be able to pick up some valuable goat husbandry. Whatever, you could never get bored reading it.
Robert McGuire says
The Riverside Shakespeare. In fact, I have taken it to desert islands. (Well, on extended sojourns in places where English-language books are hard to come by.) It keeps a reader busy!
Our Vaulted Sky says
"Maia" by Watership Down author Richard Adams is absolutely my desert island pick. The paperback is about four inches thick with tension and adventure on every page. Each time I find myself in a used books store I search for it. I've bought it over and over (it's out of print) and loan it out to friends heading to a beach. I never get it back.
abc says
I'm going to straight up answer the question. My all time favorite book (cliche as it might be) is The Great Gatsby, so I have to go with that.
P.S. I'm tempted to pick a book I haven't read but think I should, like Gravity's Rainbow, but I'm going with my heart.
weep weep.
Linnea says
'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' – to keep my predicament in perspective.
David F. Weisman says
Elspeth Antonelli (third comment) beat me to it. If we deem wickedly practical ideas worn out, maybe I'll go with Chuck H.'s Bible. I hope I never get to the point where I wish I chose a rice paper book for consumability.
Gehayi says
Yep, the Bible for sure. What a great mixed bag of history, verse, sex, murder, enlightenment, and inspiration.
@Melissa Gill:
Whether or not the Bible contains great verse depends very much on the version you've got. The version I have contains phrases like "Martha was the jittery type" (Luke 10:40), "Anyone who chooses you needs to have his head examined" (Isaiah 41:24), and "A cranky woman" (Proverbs 27:15). It's more sitcom-normal than poetic.
Wendy says
I think I'll borrow Nathan's Kindle. And one of those nifty backpack battery chargers. Then, I can just download whatever I'm in the mood for.
If that fails, then how about my complete Encyclopedia Britannica. Or, if I'm really only allowed one book, I'd have to take the Complete Works of Shakespeare because it's the single biggest book I own.
Cheryl says
I would take Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (in Middle English, no modern translations, but a glossary or notes would be handy). Hands down, one of my most favourite collections of literary works.
If I may make a request, I would like to take an illuminated manuscript so that I can look at some gorgeous pictures as well as read the text.
praneydeb says
I would totally go with LORD OF THE RINGS..
It'll gimme the strength to fight the dark forces, inside & out
Jess says
I am currently rereading The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. I have read it a million times already, and every time, I love it more. I doubt I would ever get tired of that book, and it's comfort "food" so to speak.
Jess says
p.s. And I have to say, with a book like that, I wouldn't mind waiting for the rescue boat.
ElizaJane says
Now that I hear that there is a Bible with translations like "Martha was the jittery type" I must specify that I want the King James version. I'd even trade that for Pepys Diary!
Backfence says
Outlander by Gabaldon because I never tire of it.
Vacuum Queen says
Hmmm…..maybe…..To Kill a Mockingbird? Only because it's one of the few books I don't mind reading more than once.
Bmadsen says
A strange choice but The Steppenwolf….it has a very personal meaning and I have read it about eight times…
Nick Pease says
Jonathon Arntson thank you!
The Catcher In The Rye is just something you can live by.
I'm shocked that I read through that whole thing and did not once see any Twilight.
Happy Day