The best books set on islands.
Australia and Great Britain are not considered islands in this context.
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1,052 books · 348 voters · list created December 19th, 2012 by deleted user.
76 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


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Comments Showing 1-18 of 18 (18 new)

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message 1: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (last edited Dec 19, 2012 02:46AM) (new)

Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) I suppose "island" for purposes of this list doesn't include Australia? What about New Zealand?


message 2: by [deleted user] (new)

I was thinking about that earlier, about where to set the line of what an island is. If Australia isn't an island, is Ireland one? If Australia is an island, is UK one too?

What do you think?


message 3: by [deleted user] (new)

I think I consider New Zealand an island, but not Australia nor UK. Not sure about Ireland and Iceland.


Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) It's a debatable point, that's why I asked ... Geographically Australia would arguably qualify, because it is entirely surrounded by water (see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/island and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island). I guess it depends on whether you think it being a continent overrides its island nature. Ditto, I suppose, large island states (though neither the UK nor Ireland are, as countries, exactly identical with the islands they're located on). Ultimately it's up to you -- whatever you think is an island for purposes of this list is an island, period! :)


Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) Sofia wrote: "I think I consider New Zealand an island, but not Australia nor UK. Not sure about Ireland and Iceland."

OK, thanks. (I see we almost cross-posted! :) )


message 6: by Lobstergirl (new)

Lobstergirl Are we counting Long Island? The Great Gatsby. And others.


message 7: by [deleted user] (new)

No, we aren't counting Long Island


message 8: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 03, 2014 05:15AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Not to stir things up :-) but why shouldn't Tasmania count? (Or does it?) Just because Tasmania is part of Australia and Austalia is not considered an island? :-) I mean, I have added Sil de strandjutter, as the book is set on Terschelling, one of the Dutch islands. But as a country the Netherlands are not an island, of course. This situation seems (very) similar to the Tasmania/Australia situation... and there are some great books set on Tasmania.

Personally, I'd consider the Isle of Wight, the Shetlands, the Isle of Man, the Scottisch Hebrides and so on islands, even though the UK isn't considered an island.

Ireland would be questionable as an island, in my opinion, as it has a land border with Northern Ireland, of course. Iceland, on the other hand, is completely surrounded by water.

Not an easy list, this one :-) It's a real challenge (and I love it).


message 9: by [deleted user] (new)

Tasmania counts, when I said that Australia didn't count I meant the Australian mainland.


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Sofia wrote: "Tasmania counts, when I said that Australia didn't count I meant the Australian mainland."

Thanks !! :-)


message 11: by Jeanette (new)

Jeanette Ironically the book I'm reading right now is on a tiny island in the Northern reaches of Scotland- The Ice Twins.


message 12: by MomToKippy (new)

MomToKippy Mine too! The Moon Spinners. Crete.


message 13: by Lobstergirl (new)

Lobstergirl What about Japan?


message 14: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 08, 2016 11:37PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Lobstergirl wrote: "What about Japan?"

Never thought about whether it would count or not; I just added my books set in Japan... I'm guessing it counts though, as New Zealand counts too, judging by the description, and I've added several of my books set in NZ.


message 15: by Elyse (last edited Jul 10, 2017 02:09PM) (new)

Elyse I added Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow because Hamilton was born on the small island of Nevis in the West Indies. Hamilton also lived on the small island of Manhattan, NYC.


message 16: by Lobstergirl (new)

Lobstergirl I assume Greenland counts?


message 17: by Manybooks (new)

Manybooks The Blue Castle should not be on the list, since it takes place in the Muskoka area of Ontario and not PEI.


message 18: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart Thanks for the heads up! I removed The Blue Castle.


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