This week’s Top Ten Tuesday asks the classic question: What books would you take if you were stranded on a desert island? For the sake of the fun, I’m not going to include books about how to survive in the wilderness/books with info on medicinal and edible plants/books to use for kindling/etc. Instead, I’ll restrict my list to books I would want to read if I were stranded on a desert island. Not surprisingly, there will be a lot of overlap with my all-time favorite books!
1. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice — This is my favorite book of all time, so of course I’ll need it with me.
2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings — I love this book, and it’s certainly long and complex enough to keep me occupied for a while!
3. E.M. Forster, A Room with a View — When I’m bored with the limited scenery on my island, I’ll pick up this book to immerse myself in two beautiful places: Florence, Italy, and the English countryside.
4. William Goldman, The Princess Bride — I’ll definitely need this hilarious and charming novel to keep me from getting bored!
5. Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races — I loved this book so much when I read it! I’ll definitely need to revisit its beautiful language, wonderfully understated romance and perfect, mysterious setting over and over again.
6. G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy — Chesterton’s cheerfulness and optimism should come in handy when I start to get depressed about being marooned on an island!
7. Walker Percy, Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book — There’s a lot of variety in this book, which should stave off the boredom: philosophy, religion, popular culture, space travel, semiotics, and the list goes on.
8. Robin McKinley, The Blue Sword — I have to bring something by Robin McKinley, and this gorgeous fantasy/romance is long overdue for a reread!
9. Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog — I’ve been wanting to reread this charming time-travel novel for a long time. Seems like being stranded on a desert island is the perfect opportunity!
10. The Bible — I think I’ll be needing substantial spiritual consolation if I’m going to be stuck on this island for a while!
You Book Me All Night Long 
great list! That should keep you occupied for awhile. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
Very true — and I’d be happy to reread all of them as many times as necessary before being rescued!
*Bangs Head* I can’t believe I forgot the Princess Bride!!!
Stop by and check out what Top Ten Books I’d want on a deserted island!
Gotta love The Princess Bride! The movie is one of my childhood faves, but I really like the book too.
I always forget Princess Bride is a book. I wonder if you could snag a portable DVD player or maybe an ipad…’cause it would be fun to read then watch the movie 😉 Obviously this is an island with a power hook up!
I say bring ’em! Hopefully we’ll be rescued before the batteries run out. 🙂
I went with all of Jane Austen’s works because I haven’t actually read any of them and being stranded on an island would give me a good chance to rectify that! Great list!
My Top Ten
I definitely support bringing as much Austen as possible! Hope you enjoy the books while hanging out on your desert island. 🙂
Fantastic list! A Room With a View would certainly help in places of limited scenery, hehehe. The Bible also makes sense, should’ve added it to my list *blushes*
Thanks! A Room with a View is one of my favorite books, so of course I had to include it. The Bible is more of an “obligation” pick, but I honestly do think I’d want to have it if I were stranded on a desert island!