My 10 Desert Island Books
My taste is *chef’s kiss* brilliant
We are back, baby! For the final (probably) installment of my Desert Island series inspired by a writing prompt from podcaster, publication owner, and fellow pop culture nerd Buddy Gott, he got the idea from a future friend Paul Combs.
What 10 books would I take with me during my desert island stay?
Let me paint you a picture. I am on a cruise, I am feeding myself copious amounts of french fries from my private balcony. I am scrolling through the photos I took today and determining which are worth the space, and which are worth the bin. The sun has set and the only light I see is from my cabin behind me and the phone in front of me. I don’t see or even hear the birds that are swirling in front of me, desperate for a salty snack. The birds dive-bomb me, and in my startled and clumsy response, I teeter back and forth and fall off the side of the balcony, crashing into the deep blue beneath. The birds commandeer my room, it was their plan all along, they had been stalking me since the last port, eager to wear my robe and watch crummy cruise television, the bastards.
For the sake of reality let’s say I have 10 books downloaded on my phone. I am a huge lover of the written word, and of holding the written word in my bare hands, but how on earth would I have grabbed 10 books before the birds got me Tippi Hedren style? I have to use a digital download, and you have to forgive me, I’m stranded on a desert island after all.
The criteria are this: I’m allowed to have book series. I can’t narrow it down any more than that. I also have a mix of books I have read and books I have intended to read. Here we go, my Desert Island book choices, if you want a peek at my movie choices click here, and for TV choices click here. If you want to be my pal on Goodreads click here! If you make your own list please shout out to me so I can see it, and so others can see me!
1. The Dune Series by Frank Herbert
I have read Dune I haven’t read any of the others because Dune was pretty slow, very long, and mostly boring. I know world-building can be tough and laborious, I know Frank Herbert put in years and years of his building the world, but I found the book to be a bit of a slog. Why then would I choose this series to be on my list? Because I will be bored out of my ever-loving ADHD mind. The length, which once was a frustration now becomes a treat. I think it would take me a solid six months to get through these books, so I’m willing to get sucked into this world, take up days of my time, and I guess tolerate a sci-fi series where the main character is named Paul.
2. The Lord of the Rings Series & The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
I’ve never read The Lord of the Rings Series or The Hobbit, and I would like to. What’s a better time to dive into such a long and beloved series than when I could die from scurvy or exposure? I enjoyed the films, and as someone who loves fantasy, I think I would really enjoy these books. I haven’t read them yet because I feel a bit intimidated, but my excessive free time may alleviate my stress and envelop me in Middle Earth.
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women is one of my favorite books, and a top ten movie favorite of mine as well (the Gerwig version). I love this story, I have fancied myself a Jo from the first time I understood this story. I find it fairly comical that when I tried to introduce my little sister to the movie/book she hated it because she felt bad for Amy. She’s a total Amy. I would read this book whenever I am missing people, and remind myself of the strength women have. I can also take myself to the water’s edge as Beth does, for healing and the fresh sea air. Only when I read the book will the tedium of being stuck on this beach be washed away. This book was revolutionary for its time and continues to be a heartfelt and beautiful masterpiece.
4. Ready Player One & Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
I enjoyed this movie, then I saw many book lovers going nuts and saying that Ready Player One the book is even better. This is so often the case with book -> movie adaptations, so I’ve been curious to read this book. Then I found out there are two and I was even more excited. I think this book might help me remember what technology is, and also maybe make me glad I’m not surrounded by the modern world. I hope this book is funny, and that I enjoy the duology. If I don’t I can always burn the pages for warmth…never mind,
it’s digital.
5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams
I haven’t read this series either, but as an alum of the 42 Network, and super nerd, I feel this is a series I should read. I will not lie, I thought Douglas Adams was a president, thank you Texas public schools! I also watched the movie when it came out and I didn’t enjoy it or understand the humor, I was thirteen after all. I just feel this is a series I should give a try now that I am an adult. I think reading a book series that Neil Gaiman recommends is going to be a good call, and I will desperately need humor in the heart of my island darkness.
6. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This is my favorite book. It is a beautiful tale of a female scientist in the early 60s trying to make her way. She’s no-nonsense, incredibly smart, practical, talented, and has an unmatched dry wit. Lessons in Chemistry teaches us to never give up on what we want, what we deserve, and what we know we can achieve. Elizabeth Zott is the feminist champion the world has been waiting for and 6:30 the dog is one of my favorite literary characters. I have one lizard friend named Ted, and one Lizard friend named 6:30 on the island. These two lizard friends and this amazing debut novel by Bonnie Garmus will keep the spark in my eyes alive, and my desire to survive thriving.
7. The Jurassic Park Duology by Michael Crichton
I have read Jurassic Park, and I thought it was fantastic, and every bit as good as the film, or the film is every bit as good as the book. Either way, this is a winning combination. I have not read The Lost World, so I would be delighted to have something new yet familiar to read in my exile.
8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I haven’t read this book, it’s a hefty boy. I think a tale of courage, prison escape, and most importantly treasure hunting is a most appropriate desert island read. I don’t have much more to add, I’m trying to read the classics and see if they’re classics for a reason, so add this puppy to my list. Let’s see if the solitude allows me the focus to read this classic tale, and not crave the namesake sandwich too much.
9. The Harry Potter Series by That Bitch
Look, disclaimer, I don’t support the authors’ archaic views on human rights. I hate feeling any guilt for enjoying the things I enjoy, but the Harry Potter series is bigger than the author. This series means so much to millions of people, the books and movies are some of the strongest millennial bonds we have, I won’t let the author take this comfort from me, but I completely understand the boycotting of these works if you feel inclined. I need the nostalgia, the comfort, and the childlike purity that comes from these stories. I read the books about once a year, so for my solitude, I think these are perfect. If you’re mad these are on the list please keep in mind that I am stranded on a desert island, please don’t be mad at me, and remember that loving the art and not the artist is completely acceptable and almost necessary in the modern day.
10. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
This book is separated into six volumes. It is a behemoth at almost 4000 pages and spanning 14 centuries of history. I love ancient Greece and have a certain bitterness towards the Romans and their copycat BS. This does mean that I am petty enough to read this book solely because I want to know about the decline of these wannabe posers(hahaha). I am interested in history, and I think this is a great book to conquer while deserted on the island, and then never shut up about my accomplishment. On my deathbed, with my loved ones around me, I will tell them all that my biggest accomplishment is finishing this book. It is not surviving my exile, or the apparent family I created, no, it is reading this gigantic, probably dry, book.
Note to my readers, I will read this book immediately if I get 100 followers on Medium. That means sharing this article, and admitting that I am a delight to read by following me will result in me reading this book. I did the math and it would take me non-stop reading two weeks, this means that I will try to finish it in one month and write a subsequent article about The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Bonus: The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
This book was a favorite of mine as a child. I read it a few times, which is rare for me, I’m not someone who likes to reread. I do however think that since the Robinsons are also stranded on an island in the book I will find kinship in their situation and mine, and maybe take some of their ideas for survival.
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