"Desert Island" Books

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Stilgar of Troon

Stilgar of Troon

Facial Fremen-isation Surgery
True & Honest Fan
kiwifarms.net
Joined
May 26, 2020
Right then, Kiwis: similar idea to the long-running Desert Island Discs radio show. What are the five books (in no particular order) that you'd pick if they were the only ones you'd ever get to read again and why did you pick them?

Treasure Island - R.L Stevenson - One of the first real books I ever read (and the first audiobook I owned), still enjoy it now, after 50+ re-reads. Long John Silver was the first villain I couldn't help rooting for.

1984 - George Orwell - Brilliantly laid out and (regrettably) terrifyingly prescient, it's as compelling a read now as it was when it was published in the late 40s. The first book report I got to choose to do at school was for 1984 and the concept of Room 101 terrified me as a kid, well into my teens, truth be told.

Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett - Pokes fun at a lot of the established fantasy tropes without ever being sneery about it, "star turns" by some of his best (and best loved) characters and one of Pratchett's funniest, IMO. His use and abuse of the English language and its peculiar quirks and foibles is unparalleled, if admittedly not unprecendented.

The Dark Tower - Stephen King - Thirty-odd years from conception to the fruition of the series, betrayal, loss, romance, politicking, chivalry are all explored in King's idiosyncratic style (divisive as he is, you can't knock how many books the man has shifted.) in multiple worlds or versions thereof and this book is the final chapter of the spaghetti western/fantasy/sci-fi series. Forget the trashfire movie, this is the real deal, the ending absolutely destroys me every single time I read it. If this thread was pick 1 and not pick 5, this would be the one, most likely.

The Complete Robot - Isaac Asimov - "31 short stories about robots" sounds like it would be a dull read but Asimov's human characters (and often, his robots) make for compelling protagonists/antagonists. This was my introduction to sci-fi as a genre and thousands of books later, I still come back to this one every so often and wonder at my enjoyment.

So, what have you lot got?
 
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski - i don't read much horror, but of the ones i have, this is the only one to make me feel genuinely uneasy. the hell of it is that i got that sensation when nothing was even really happening. it was just a sense of dread brought on by the entirety of the work and the situation the characters were in. that said, its structure is so odd in places that i regrettably wasn't able to finish it. i really wish i had because i no longer have my copy.

Night Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko - started reading this after watching the movie based on it, but i only ever got halfway through. i do remember enjoying it though, certainly enough to give it another chance.

Dune - Frank Herbert - genuinely one of my favorite books i've ever read. a huge inspiration to me as a creator. not much to say here, i just really love it.

Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes - another one i never finished. i quite enjoyed what i did read, but it's not an easy novel to get through (i think i only ever got about halfway through). i regret not finishing it, and it's a nice long read for a desert island situation.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov - it might drag a bit in the middle, but this novel genuinely has some of the most beautiful prose i've ever read. the one novel i read in school that i not only actually read, but read further ahead than i needed to.
 
harbleglarb said:
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski - i don't read much horror, but of the ones i have, this is the only one to make me feel genuinely uneasy. the hell of it is that i got that sensation when nothing was even really happening. it was just a sense of dread brought on by the entirety of the work and the situation the characters were in. that said, its structure is so odd in places that i regrettably wasn't able to finish it. i really wish i had because i no longer have my copy.

Night Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko - started reading this after watching the movie based on it, but i only ever got halfway through. i do remember enjoying it though, certainly enough to give it another chance.

Dune - Frank Herbert - genuinely one of my favorite books i've ever read. a huge inspiration to me as a creator. not much to say here, i just really love it.

Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes - another one i never finished. i quite enjoyed what i did read, but it's not an easy novel to get through (i think i only ever got about halfway through). i regret not finishing it, and it's a nice long read for a desert island situation.

Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov - it might drag a bit in the middle, but this novel genuinely has some of the most beautiful prose i've ever read. the one novel i read in school that i not only actually read, but read further ahead than i needed to.
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Some great picks, there; I've never read House of Leaves but on the description you've given it sounds like I'd dig it. I'm a massive fan of the Dune series myself, the first one narrowly missed making my list.
 
I asked my boyfriend, who hates books and has little interest in reading, to give me his five picks:
  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy bundled into one volume. "Well, if I have to read something, I want it to be really long so I don't get bored too quickly."
  • The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Chosen for roughly the same reasons as Lord of the Rings.
  • The Bible. I asked if he chose this because he's Catholic or because it's long and easy to read multiple times, and he replied, "It's a combo." Obviously he only wants the longest English translation available.
  • Tim O'Shei's How to Survive on a Deserted Island. He wanted a "desert island self-help book." When I suggested this one, he said, "Yeah, that sounds good."
  • A collection of Dr. Seuss books. "The colors would make me happy."
 
Troon Draugur said:
Some great picks, there; I've never read House of Leaves but on the description you've given it sounds like I'd dig it. I'm a massive fan of the Dune series myself, the first one narrowly missed making my list.
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you had some good picks too! i haven't ready Guards! Guards! (yet) but i've read Going Postal and Good Omens, so i know how talented Pratchett was.

House of Leaves is a tricky one to recommend. it's absolutely intriguing and the premise is awesome, but the author structures it in a way that makes it kind of obtuse and difficult to get through. if you're not deterred by the writing being very dry and matter-of-fact, or footnotes within footnotes that go on for several pages, definitely give it a try.

so far i've only read the first Dune novel but i've definitely thought of reading at least the second. i think i wanna read the Southern Reach trilogy first though (the first book being what the movie Annihilation was based on).
 
harbleglarb said:
you had some good picks too! i haven't ready Guards! Guards! (yet) but i've read Going Postal and Good Omens, so i know how talented Pratchett was.

House of Leaves is a tricky one to recommend. it's absolutely intriguing and the premise is awesome, but the author structures it in a way that makes it kind of obtuse and difficult to get through. if you're not deterred by the writing being very dry and matter-of-fact, or footnotes within footnotes that go on for several pages, definitely give it a try.

so far i've only read the first Dune novel but i've definitely thought of reading at least the second. i think i wanna read the Southern Reach trilogy first though (the first book being what the movie Annihilation was based on).
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Thanks! I've downloaded HoL and if I'm a fan, I'll buy a physical copy. I'd highly recommend the other Dune books, at least as far as Chapterhouse Dune (book 6), anyway. Southern Reach Trilogy is Vandermeer, right? I've heard good things, not seen the movie as of yet but I'll add them to the "to read" list...

Baklava said:
I asked my boyfriend, who hates books and has little interest in reading, to give me his five picks:
  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy bundled into one volume. "Well, if I have to read something, I want it to be really long so I don't get bored too quickly."
  • The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Chosen for roughly the same reasons as Lord of the Rings.
  • The Bible. I asked if he chose this because he's Catholic or because it's long and easy to read multiple times, and he replied, "It's a combo." Obviously he only wants the longest English translation available.
  • Tim O'Shei's How to Survive on a Deserted Island. He wanted a "desert island self-help book." When I suggested this one, he said, "Yeah, that sounds good."
  • A collection of Dr. Seuss books. "The colors would make me happy."
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Love how literally some folk are taking the "Desert Island" bit...
Quantity and quality in there, I like his thought process for his choices.
 
Some of my choices like LOTR and Dune were taken already so heres a few originals.

The Bible - Only way I'm getting through that whole thing. (TM)

Journey to the West - Only way I'm getting through that whole thing (TM) - eastern edition.

TinTin - a volume of all 26 books of them if possible, if not, Cigars of the Pharaoh. You need some light reading and I have enjoyed them for 20 years, and see no reason that will change.

My Man Jeeves - Comedy to remind me maybe people aren't worth struggling to get back to.

Starship Troopers - I like the book and came across it at an important time in my life. People who think its about politics and not personal development are gay.
 
Troon Draugur said:
Thanks! I've downloaded HoL and if I'm a fan, I'll buy a physical copy. I'd highly recommend the other Dune books, at least as far as Chapterhouse Dune (book 6), anyway. Southern Reach Trilogy is Vandermeer, right? I've heard good things, not seen the movie as of yet but I'll add them to the "to read" list...
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yup, it's VanderMeer. my dad read the books and said they're super weird which is exactly what i'd expect and want from the premise (based on what i know about it). the movie is more of an interpretation of the first book; the writer/director (Alex Garland) doesn't want to make any sequels, and wrote the script based on his memory of the book some time after reading it. so it's quite different, but (IMO) worth watching anyway. not perfect, but very interesting and a visual treat.

i'll have to put the other Dune books on my list then. i don't read much anymore but maybe once i'm back at work i can put my break time to good use.
 
1. Lord of the Rings because I really like the friendship of the group and I might feel less lonely.
2. Saga, a graphic novel by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples - Epic saga of love, loss, survival in space with outstanding art, very colorful, and I read it often.
3. Paradise Lost by Milton maybe for the same reasons others would bring the bible. Long, thought provoking, hard to read.
4. Probably an Eric Jerome Dickey novel because he writes women really well, has a good sense of humor, and sex scenes are nasty. Trashy goodness.
5. Childhood's End by Arthur Clarke. It is short and amazing. "the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords..." Wikipedia sums it up there.
 
DavieJones714 said:
1. Lord of the Rings because I really like the friendship of the group and I might feel less lonely.
2. Saga, a graphic novel by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples - Epic saga of love, loss, survival in space with outstanding art, very colorful, and I read it often.
3. Paradise Lost by Milton maybe for the same reasons others would bring the bible. Long, thought provoking, hard to read.
4. Probably an Eric Jerome Dickey novel because he writes women really well, has a good sense of humor, and sex scenes are nasty. Trashy goodness.
5. Childhood's End by Arthur Clarke. It is short and amazing. "the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords..." Wikipedia sums it up there.
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Good picks! Arthur C. Clarke is up there with Asimov and Heinlein in terms of god-tier sci-fi. Never come across Dickey, I'll have to look into him.
 
Troon Draugur said:
Love how literally some folk are taking the "Desert Island" bit...
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I was going to question the impact of 1984 in a situation where you have no prospects of any interaction with a society but if you’re just thinking of a media blackout it makes a lot more sense.

Do you think 1984 is the most prescient dystopian novel? I remember being recommended Brave New World but I feel it’s a bit optimistic (also he described women as ‘pneumatic’ too much).
 
One of them would definitely be Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon, which has enough imagination to fill 20 books. Not only an example of The Great American Novel but also The Great Novel About America. Another one would be the collected lyrics of Stephen Sondheim that was published in two volumes a decade ago. Sondheim provides a lot of commentary on his process and it’s very rare to see one of the legends of any medium provide such a comprehensive breakdown of their work.
 
Charls did nothing wrong said:
I was going to question the impact of 1984 in a situation where you have no prospects of any interaction with a society but if you’re just thinking of a media blackout it makes a lot more sense.

Do you think 1984 is the most prescient dystopian novel? I remember being recommended Brave New World but I feel it’s a bit optimistic (also he described women as ‘pneumatic’ too much).
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It was more a "choose 5 books for life, forgoing all others" experiment, frankly. Always interesting to see what (and why) people choose in these scenarios, be it books, foods, movies, music, etc.

I think 1984 is in danger of becoming a handbook in some parts of the world, to be honest. People have been trope-ing that for years but it's getting less and less funny the more accurate it gets.
It's been a few decades since I read BNW but I remember not being a massive fan of Huxley's writing style and oddly enough I also remember him riding the shit out of "pneumatic".
 
  1. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. I've mentioned this in other threads, this short novel about Marco Polo's wanderings and his struggle to recapture them in memory and meaning is incredible. The whole book is liminal spaces; the reading experience on a remote island with this book would be incredible.

  2. Ulysses by James Joyce. Similar effect to Invisible Cities though far more verbose. Crowded city and crowded list of characters in a crowded book; but here, in an empty world. I think a big part of the appeal also, on a desert island or off, is the range of styles Joyce uses, and sometimes parodies, in the book; second chapter, "stream of consciousness" in the truest sense, is written far differently than the second to last chapter, which is incredibly verbose, incredibly over-detailed, with pedantic vocabulary in a question and answer format, the questions and answers growing brief and muddled as the characters at least fall asleep. Critics all talk about his intentions to create a book about one day in Dublin in 1904, and he did that; reading this book, this is how the mind works over the course of a day and night.

  3. Three Men in a Boat/Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome, a tattered Oxford World's Classics collection I have of two Victorian comic novels (I've read it to tatters); three comic Englishmen on a boating trip over a week on the Thames, and in later life the same three on a bumbling vacation in Germany. Great feeling of coziness reading it; the copy itself would be a relic of better times. Of course he's an author in the eighteen hundreds, so he writes in a far more formal style; and that goes nicely with his constant humor. Especially in Boat, he talks (and conveys excellently) about the setting out in the country along rivers and streams; which would be reminiscent of my surroundings on the island. I've read and re-read this book literally most of my life.

  4. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Again with these choices I'm making, I'm bringing life to this great desolation; Whitman's teeming mind, and his visions of a vast, populated, thriving nineteenth-century America, and yet so deftly he sets the musings of the individuals alongside this vast mass of humanity. My favorite poet. Ralph Waldo Emerson said something like the book is wonderful things well said, and that's a brief summation of my love for these poems.

  5. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. Again a novel with liminal spaces. Just a joy to read. Joycean though not nearly as talented. It's a really funny book, and he has a lot of good turns of phrase. He wrote this in the late fifties but gags feel fresh.
No, I would not bring the Bible, or the Catechism, or a book by my patron saint, or other books by deceased American bishops I admire; as for religion it would be a chance for vast amounts of prayer in addition to the secular reading; and to talk to the people who wrote those things in prayer.
 
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