Constant Reader discussion

As a reader I've found that over the years I've been intrigued by novels that take place on islands. I'm not talking about being stranded on islands or anything like that (i.e Robinson Crusoe), but rather a novel in which an island is its own little community. A place you can only get to by ferry. Where people know everything about everyone. To get a reference point I would say something similar The Lighthouse by P.D James or The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. But also settings that are reminicent of the island in The Ring or even in Dan In Real Life.

If anyone knows about books that match these descriptions please give me a shout out! I prefer fiction, contemporary literature. Other than that, I'm not too fuzzy about genre.

Honolulu
Moloka'i
Wide Sargasso Sea
The Enchanted April

I don't remember if the last one is set on an island or not, but it is a delightful love story, and the movie was great also.

I have to second Carol's recommendation of Moloka'i it's such a great book and story.

If you like mysteries, Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' and 'And Then There Were None' are both set on islands.

Kim N - Lost-In-A-Book wrote: "I have to second Carol's recommendation of Moloka'i it's such a great book and story."

Absolutely ... and if you like nonfiction - The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai by John Tayman is really excellent.

Book Concierge wrote: "Kim N - Lost-In-A-Book wrote: "I have to second Carol's recommendation of Moloka'i it's such a great book and story."

Absolutely ... and if you like nonfiction - The Colony: The Harrowing True Sto..."

Oh that does sound very interesting, thank you!

Oh ... and a recent novel that is really good is M. L. Stedman's The Light Between Oceans

We read Caleb's Crossing and it certainly is about a community on an island. I thought it was a wonderful book. Here's a link to our discussions: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Granted, it may not be a masterpiece of fine literature, but The Tale of Halcyon Crane has exactly the "island feel" you describe.

Thank you so much for all of your recommendations! I will definitely be checking these books out.

Steal Away by Linda Hall is fiction set on a small Canadian island. Island Lighthouse Inn by Jeffrey Burke is his true story of moving his family to a tiny island off the coast of New England and running an inn there. I love island settings too so I'm watching this thread to get some titles for myself. Thanks for starting it!

Elizabeth George's A Place of Hiding takes place on Guernsey Island and deals in part with the role of the island in WWII. It can be read on its own, but as I read it as part of the Inspector Lynley series, I don't know how it would stand on its own.