All About Books discussion

I don't know if I can just choose one. I'd love to bring Veronica Blade's Shapes of Autumn series, Quinn Loftis' The Grey Wolves series, Sara Wolf's Lovely Vicious series, Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series, Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wait For You series, and R.L. Mathewson's Neighbor From Hell series. I have fallen in love with all these series and would want them all!

I've been back and forth on this topic, and as out of left field as this may sound, I think I would bring The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. C & H ALWAYS makes me laugh, and I think there would be times that I would need a pick me up.....

That's a good idea Julia - I guess humor would one of the most important things to preserve in isolation like that!

Greg wrote: "That's a good idea Julia - I guess humor would one of the most important things to preserve in isolation like that!"

It is indeed!

Julia wrote: "I've been back and forth on this topic, and as out of left field as this may sound, I think I would bring The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. C & H ALWAYS makes me laugh, and I think ther..."

I love Calvin and Hobbes but I don't think that this would be enough to satisfy me if it was the only book I could read...

I love Calvin and Hobbes! Especially the snowmen they build.

http://middleearthnews.com/2014/05/13...

Is this cheating since it is actually 3 books in one? (o:

Beth wrote: "http://middleearthnews.com/2014/05/13...

Is this cheating since it is actually 3 books in one? (o:"

;-)

Heather wrote: "I would have to go back to my life long favourite... The Power of One & Tandia

It was just going to be The Power of One, but as I have found the two books are published together, it..."

Wonderful novels. I would feel compelled to take The Diary of Samuel Pepys.

David wrote: "I would feel compelled to take The Diary of Samuel Pepys..."

Interesting choice. I have only read excerpts -- is it really entertaining enough to be the sole book on a desert island?

My choice would be Sense and Sensibility. Since I could only take one of the Austen books, that would be my pick.

Leslie wrote: "David wrote: "I would feel compelled to take The Diary of Samuel Pepys..."

Interesting choice. I have only read excerpts -- is it really entertaining enough to be the sole book on a desert island?"

This is what worries me about the question… could anyone bear being stuck on an island with just 'one' book; I know it would wear thin pretty quickly, especially if you're a fast reader. I guess that the people who chose a religious text would probably be content though. I suspect my brother would probably choose the Encyclopedia of Entomology (circa 9000 pages of insects).

For length you might choose Proust's In Search of Lost Time, which I think averages around 3000 pages depending on the edition.

Could I change my choice of book to 'How to escape from a desert island' by Bear Grylls? The edition that comes with an inflatable dingy and a water purifier?

I think I would take Jane Austen: The Complete Collection. That would be plenty to keep me occupied.

Leslie wrote: "David wrote: "I would feel compelled to take The Diary of Samuel Pepys..."

Interesting choice. I have only read excerpts -- is it really entertaining enough to be the sole book on a desert island?"

Very much so!!

Paul, I did what Brianna did -- chose a collected works book (which is cheating I suppose as it contains more than one 'book'). But I agree that, depending on the length of time trapped on the island, most books would become too familiar to remain entertaining. But I do like the idea of a reference book, though I think I would chose plants over insects!

David -- I'll have to put that on my TBR then!

Leslie wrote: "Paul, I did what Brianna did -- chose a collected works book (which is cheating I suppose as it contains more than one 'book'). But I agree that, depending on the length of time trapped on the isl..."

If it's in one volume then you couldn't be faulted… there are huge one volume 'complete works of Shakespeare' editions and I'm sure those would be acceptable. Plus you might be able to use it as a raft! ;-)

I would take One Hundred Years of Solitude without a doubt.

The complete works of Shakespeare, or the complete works of Arthur Conan Doyle, or On The Shoulders of Giants by Stephen Hawking.

This would have to be the Bible. Although it's multiple books.

I would take Caramelo. It's the only book in which I can become instantly absorbed when I open it at any random page. I was also able to have it signed years after I bought it, so it will remain the most treasured book I own. :')

I'm with LauraT In Search of Lost Time

Johanna wrote: "I'm with LauraT In Search of Lost Time"

;)

Angela wrote: "I would take Caramelo. It's the only book in which I can become instantly absorbed when I open it at any random page. I was also able to have it signed years after I bought it, so it w..."

Never heard of that one Angela - it looks good!

Love reading all the different answers.

Tough call. So assuming there's plenty of food, shelter, and other supplies, and so I don't need "Dessert Island Survival Guide." I'm thinking single volume (very big volume) anthology or encyclopedia which sort of stretches it but still stays with the spirit of the question : )

Perhaps The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors. Possibly Merriam Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia instead since I love learning about the world.

Paul wrote: "My second choice would be Complete Works of Orwell, just to remind myself that being on a desert island really isn't that bad. I''m not stuck, i'm free! :) "

LOL!!!!

Hi. I'd either take a book I've read many times and not got tired of(The Lord of the Rings, The Internet is a Playground,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) or a book that I've not read and one that I'm sure I will love(David Copperfield, Skin Game, A Suitable Boy, Battle Royale, 'Salem's Lot)


Last Book Read : Dead Beat. My Review.

LauraT wrote: "Paul wrote: "My second choice would be Complete Works of Orwell, just to remind myself that being on a desert island really isn't that bad. I''m not stuck, i'm free! :) "

LOL!!!!"

Good attitude :)

Luffy, that's a lot of leeway! I have trouble with narrowing down these sort of choices too. Another question I have trouble with is "If there was a fire in your home, which book you would rescue?"

Hi Leslie. If there was a fire I'd simply rescue my Kindle, on which there'd be dozens of books. But, if I'm not to cheat at the question, I reckon I'll choose LoTR.


Last Book Read : Dead Beat. My Review.

Leslie wrote: "Luffy, that's a lot of leeway! I have trouble with narrowing down these sort of choices too. Another question I have trouble with is "If there was a fire in your home, which book you would rescue?""

I really would struggle with that; ultimately most of my books are replaceable, but there are a few I would struggle to replace or that I have a particularly strong emotional link to. I would feel a strong sense of loss if anything happened to any of my books but there are only a few that I would really feel bereaved by their loss. I don't have any of the books I read as a child (though I've picked up copies of a few of the favourites in recent years), so there's not that link to my youth.

I think it would have to be the copy of David Attenborough's Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster that David signed for me, but I'm torn between that and my copy of The Amateur Naturalist with a full-page inscription by Gerry and Lee Durrell because it's not only irreplaceable but it also brings back fantastic memories of a really amazing holiday I spent in Suffolk, where I found it in a beautiful, quirky old bookshop.

Times Alone: Selected Poems I adore Antonio Machado's poems. This book has them in Spanish and in translation to English, so I'd be able to fill the many spare hours there would be by working on my Spanish vocabulary (I realise that may not be important on a desert island, but you never know who might rescue you!)

Gill wrote: "Times Alone: Selected Poems I adore Antonio Machado's poems. This book has them in Spanish and in translation to English, so I'd be able to fill the many spare hours there would be by working on my Spanish vocabulary (I realise that may not be important on a desert island, but you never know who might rescue you!)"

Lol

Gill wrote: "Times Alone: Selected Poems I adore Antonio Machado's poems. This book has them in Spanish and in translation to English, so I'd be able to fill the many spare hours t..."

I love Antonio Machado's poetry Gill! I read a bilingual edition of collected poems by him several years ago and thought it was great.

Definitely The Stand! It's quite a lengthy novel as well as being a page turner, so I think it would be a fitting choice.

Greg wrote: "Gill wrote: "Times Alone: Selected Poems I adore Antonio Machado's poems. This book has them in Spanish and in translation to English, so I'd be able to fill the many ..."

I'm glad to find another fan, Greg. I sometimes spend time trying to translate bits myself, but I don't really have enough Spanish. I could spend weeks on one poem!

My Spanish is probably similar Gill - it takes me forever to read works in Spanish! I am in awe of all the people in this group that read complex works of literature in a language that isn't their primary one. Impressive!

On "Desert Island Discs " they usually allow you Shakespeare and the Bible so I would choose The Lord of the Rings but in my old one volume paperback version. In a lifetime of reading it's the one book I always come back to and there is much wisdom and comfort in it .

SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea.

Useful but not so much entertaining Greg!

Only one? My gosh..I guess it would have to be Les Misérables which stands out as my favourite book of all time!

I think I would take War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I would want a book I knew I could read through many times without getting sick of it, and one with a mix of characters I like, and characters I find harder to understand, because I would want to ruminate about some that I find mysterious. Also, Tolstoy has the gift of giving you both a broad canvas and micro human drama, so you can switch focus as you please. War and Peace is one of the longest books in literature, and it was written in another language than English, which gives it a slightly exotic feel I still enjoy. I have reread this twice and I don't think I would tire of it.

Geoffrey wrote: "I think I would take War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I would want a book I knew I could read through many times without getting sick of it, and one with a mix of characters..."

If I don't let myself cheat by taking a "Complete Works" type book, then I might take a long long book like War and Peace. Maybe The Count of Monte Cristo...

ONE?!?!really?um....i think that it might be city of heavenly fire but then again there's clockwork princess and there is the hunger games or divergent....ugh!i don't know!there are so many...and it's one BOOK no one SERIE...

Genia wrote: "Raftbuilding for Dummies."

Priceless!!!