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Desert Island books


Imagine you were stuck on a desert island for 18 months…
What books would you take?
This is the sort of delicious quandry I can daydream indecisively about for ages.
But a friend of mine, Olly Hicks, is departing in a few weeks to row round Antarctica. This lunatic, courageous, epic solo expedition will take about 18 months to complete. A while ago I promised I’md help out with his on-board ‘library’ (makes it sound like a relaxing cruise!). And so, in a bit of a rush last week, I delved into Amazon and ordered these books:

  • – The Penguin History of the World: JM Roberts
  • – Withnail and I; the screenplay (Andy‘s choice as this kept him entertained as he walked from London to Istanbul)
  • – For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ernest Hemingway
  • – The Unequalled Self: Samuel Pepys (Ben‘s choice)
  • – Blackadder, the whole damn dynasty
  • – East of Eden: John Steinbeck

I wanted books with substance, to keep Olly entertained and curious for those long, lonely months. What would you have chosen?

Read Comments

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Comments

  1. Dizzy Posted

    Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – Because it’s still interesting to read a 2nd time and figure out how all the pieces fit together.

    The Road by Cormac McCarthy – because it’s an award-winning novel also about global warming.

    Life of Pi by Yann Martel – Because what else would you want to read about when you’re trapped in a boat than a novel about another individual trapped in a small boat.

    Reply
  2. Nick Posted

    Damn, I was going to say Catch 22 as well, as a useful reminder that things don’t always have to make sense.

    So maybe In Patagonis, by Bruce Chatwyn – for the same reason.

    Reply
  3. Mark Posted

    A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson.

    Reply
  4. Alastair Posted

    ps – wish I’d bought him Papillon too…

    Reply

 
 

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