Is it weird that I’ve thought about this a lot? Being stuck on a deserted island. Not specifically about which books I’d want with me should the unlikely event occur, but just in general. Strangely, being stuck on a deserted island would not be on my list of ‘worst things that could happen to me’…
If a powerful being appeared to me one day and told me that I would be banished to a deserted island but that I had ten minutes to pick the books I could take with me… these are the books I’d choose.
A book to make me laugh…
This was a tough one. I’ve read books that made me burst out laughing but they were often not really happy books. In the end, I settled on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. You might be thinking that this isn’t a particularly funny book but I’d have to disagree.
After having re-read the whole series recently, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of times I chuckled. Ron, in particular, is a great source of humour for me. Not to mention the constant bickering between Ron and Hermione… bless their little in-love souls.
Besides, Harry Potter is a source of happiness for me. I think it’s safe to say that a deserted island would definitely be a little less deserted if I had Team Potter with me for comfort.
A book for comfort…
Speaking of comfort, I have to go with my all-time favourite book Peter Pan.
Sir J.M. Barrie is a legend in my world, since he created the one and only Neverland. Since the majority of this story takes place on an island (albeit not a deserted one) I felt that this would be a great sense of comfort for me during the lonely hours.
Keep in mind… the adventures! It would definitely entertain me and perhaps I would see the benefits of being alone on the island when I could have just as easily been stuck defending myself against Captain Hook…
A book that’s practical…
My dad raised me to always be prepared. I’m that person that has a ‘ready bag’ in the boot of her car, should the apocalypse suddenly strike or (more likely) I become stuck in the bush alone.
I am our First Aid officer at work, I take a First Aid kit when bush walking, I love camping and hiking and I am always thinking about the best way to be the most practical… and so is Bear Grylls.
He’s got a lot of great books intended to keep you alive when things go wrong… or you decide to rough it in the wild. It was hard to choose which one I’d like to have with me but I settled on Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Handbook.
I’m going to rule this island.
A book to pass the time…
This was a hard one. I could have cheated and picked a book series (which I do count as cheating) but instead I went for an all-time favourite. Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory is not only a great read, but it’s a long one.
I could happily spend many-a-night reading this book by the firelight, trying to nut out the old English phrases and meanings.
This is also an epic story of adventure, romance, betrayal, death and friendship. Kind of covers all your bases, am I right?
A book I can’t go without…
Again… this was such a hard one to pick! In the end, I went with my gut. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon was a huge game-changer for me personally. It had been around for years (it’s nearly as old as I am) before I discovered it and just in time for the amazing TV adaptation.
Protagonist Claire is a must – she would be my confidant and friend during those long, lonely hours on the island. Plus, her practical medical knowledge might aid me in some time of need… who knows!
It also goes without saying… the Claire/Jaime relationship is something I definitely can’t go without.
A book that made me cry…
You might consider this a weird category to include for a desert island pick but, to be honest, if I’m going to be alone, I want to read a book that moved me so deeply that I can remember what it was like to be affected by other humans. Does that make sense?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green did a good job on me. One minute I would be laughing out loud and the next I would be sobbing not-so-quietly into my pillow.
This is a beautiful, powerful story that really moved me and I would definitely need it for those days when I needed a good cry.
About the Contributor
Bronwyn Eley
Before entering the exciting world of books, Bronwyn served in the Royal Australian Air Force, travelled extensively and worked (still does!) as a barista on the weekends. Books are her true passion. Bronwyn's debut fantasy novel Relic is coming out in 2019 with indie publishing house Talem Press. They are to publish her entire trilogy called The Relic Trilogy. In her spare time, Bronwyn writes, reads and enjoys keeping fit (which she undoes by eating loads of chocolate) with Martial Arts and personal training. She can't answer what her favourite book is but she has a soft spot for Peter Pan (J.M Barrie), Outlander (Diana Gabaldon), Stardust (Neil Gaiman), The Illuminae Files (Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman) and Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo). Fantasy, sci-fi and YA make up the majority of her bookshelves.
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