Desert island book...

[SpaceShip]

The Bible - it covers all genres.

 

[nixie]

Riftwar or Malazan...... decisions, decisions. Will have to be Malazan cause I've only read twice

 

[HoopyFrood]

"How to create a raft from sand" or something equally useful

Or a book that contains a blow up life boat...

Screw it, give me a life boat! Then I can get back and read all the books I want!

 

[Saolta Oiche]

But surely you do not need a boat or any other life thing, you got wings!

I may bee a bit in stook, water puts me out but Smaug will save me!

SMAUG, SMAUG WHERE ARE YOU????

 

[HappyHippo]

OKay, this is a very sensible desert island, there's air con, raft service to the library on the next island twice a week, and readily identifiable food stuffs everywhere...

but, you don't know this when you're marooned, so;

which book would you want to have with you before your next trip to library island?

Incidentally, Space Ship, which translation of the bible would you take? I'm a fan of the Message paraphrase.

*over-smilie'd alert, sorry*

 

[Carolyn Hill]

No matter how much I loved the book or series, I would get bored with reading it over and over again. So . . .

I'd want a series of enormous books with blank pages (and plenty of writing implements), so I could write my own books.

 

[Saolta Oiche]

To answer ya HappyHippo, hmm the first Gemmell Book I ever read, Waylander. That'd be good enough for me before I got to the Library Island.

 

[mosaix]

Catch 22

The reason:

Once Joseph Heller was once being interviewed.

Interviewer: "Tell me Mr Heller, Catch 22 has sold millions of copies, been translated into 84 languages, remains as pertinent now as in 1961 and is a cult classic for millions of people. Why is that?"

Joseph Heller: "Because it is a bloody good book."

And on another occasion

Interviewer: "You never written anything nearly as good as Catch 22."

Joseph Heller: "Who has?"


Anyone out there who hasn't read it, get a copy and find a desert island, you'll want to read it again and again.

 

[Pyan]

War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy

Tried to read it lots of times, never got past page 5. I'll either read it once and for all, or find something usefull to do instead of having to read it!

 

[Kitera]

Series for sure! Never know how long I'll be stuck there and I'll choose A song of Fire and Ice by George R R Martin. (*hangs head in shame* I still haven't gotten my hands on the copies yet!)

 

[Alurny]

The Shannara series or if I had to take one book: Tad Williams-The War of the Flowers

 

[j d worthington]

If it's the island I have in mind it won't sink; and even if it does ... it'll be alright.

I'd a feeling it might be THAT island.... Hey, at least the scenery there would be fascinating -- now, wouldn't it....?

 

[SpaceShip]

Incidentally, Space Ship, which translation of the bible would you take? I'm a fan of the Message paraphrase.

Have read the NT of the Message - but I like New King James with study notes.

 

[Joel007]

The message is great, but you have to take an NIV or something as well, otherwise you can get the wrong idea

I'd take the student bible I've got, it has many anecdotes

 

[HappyHippo]

Ok, I'll take my 'old' new believer's Living Translation.

what kind of wrong idea? *mind quietly boggling*

 

[Dr. Atomic]

See, this is why I never travel to desert islands. They only seem to allow one CD, one book, one movie...

I suppose I might go with something by Stephen Baxter, as I always have to re-read his stuff just to figure out what's going on... Nah, maybe not. Too intellectual, in the long run. I don't know if I'd be as interested by the 20th read-through.

I suppose I'd either bring Lovecraft's body of work -- creepy, yes, but fun to re-read.

And if I absolutely have to pick ONE book -- no more hedging -- I'd go with Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. At least it gives the reader lots to think about, making further reading a worthwhile endeavor.

 

[Loner]

I would take Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome.
It would remind me how lucky I am to be on the island alone, instead of with a pair of infuriatingly bumbling fellow travellers and their wickedly sly dog.

 

[Joel007]

Ok, I'll take my 'old' new believer's Living Translation.

what kind of wrong idea? *mind quietly boggling*

The Message sometimes goes over the top with the "up to date" phrasing, I need another translation to balance it with

 

[HappyHippo]

yes, I get you there. It's also very American in places, uses similes I don't understand first read thru.

 

[Pyan]

I grew up with the King James' version. I know that modern translations are more 'accessible', but lack the poetry and sheer reverence of the KJ for me.