I admit my first reaction was to see if there was a way to bend the rules—what exactly counts
Desert Island Books: Margaret George
This is fun, because my first novel (unpublished) was about three people on an island – not a desert one but a tropical one so I could have snakes, volcanoes, and so on – and I made it really difficult for them by not having any books at all. By the end of the novel […]
Desert Island Books: Michelle Birkby
I can only take five books to a desert island? Just five? And I presume one of them can’t be an exceptionally large map book, with tidal currents and shipping lanes and a handy pair of semaphore flags? No? Alright then, just five books to while away the hours. Sounds rather fun, actually. Jane Eyre […]
Desert Island Books: Anna Mazzola
Like all writers, I sometimes dream of being locked away from all humanity so that I can have the time to, a) write, and b) get through the enormous ‘TBR’ pile that has actually become an entire room. A desert island would be even better, assuming it’s the sunny, sandy kind with palm trees, hot […]
Desert Island Books: Sophia Tobin
I’m well aware that when choosing five books for a desert island, the most sensible choice would be a bushcraft manual by Ray Mears or Bear Grylls. But, frankly, I’m going to be relying on low-hanging fruit for my survival (the chances of me wrestling a caiman are zero). I’m also hoping there’s enough dry […]
Desert Island Books: Lesley Downer
If I were stranded on a desert island I’d want to have five enormously long books, all worth reading, so gripping that I’d stop worrying about whether I’d be rescued, books that would cheer me up if I felt depressed about being stranded and that I’d want to read again and again. I’ve often thought […]
Desert Island Books: Sara Sheridan
These choices probably depend on the island. I’m being positive and imagining somewhere temperate with regular rainfall, plentiful fruit and vegetables and places it’s possible to catch fish. In this scenario, my worst problem is loneliness. But if it’s a polar island (a frozen desert) or a traditional desert island – all baking sun and […]
Desert Island Books: Matthew Harffy
When asked what five books I would take with me if I was stranded on a desert island, my first reaction was just to name my five favourite books, or at least the first five good books I could think of. But then I got thinking (often a bad idea, I find) about all the […]