Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

If you could only choose one book to take with you on a deserted island, classic or modern, what would you choose? (Let's assume that we already have "The Idiots Guide to Surviving on a Deserted Island" with us)
Choose wisely, for this will be your only reading material for a while!!

Personally, I would take "1001 Arabian Nights". Granted, it's a three volume set, but there are enough tales to keep me interested and, hopefully, I will be rescued before the 1001'st night! The stories are filled with genies, magic, trickery and intrigue. It would make for good tales around a camp fire!

I would probably take the Complete Novels of Jane Austen or an anthology similar to it. It's only one book, but it as a ton of material in it to last me a good long while.

That's always my question: are anthologies considered cheating? Otherwise it's Shakespeare: The Complete Works. Sorry, I know that sounds totally pretentious, but I want something complicated: something I could conceivably spend the rest of my life poring over.

Exactly! 1001 Nights is a slow read, pretty much at the pace of someone actually speaking the story rather than reading it quickly. I would be able to enjoy it for quite some time!

I think we've all made very respectable choices here.

Darn! The last time we did this, we got to take three books!

The Bible, no doubt. Nothing can compare to it, with all the 'writers' and you'd have history, law, romance, prophecy - Everything! And I'd love to have at least 4 translations with me so that's really 4*66 so that's way more than 1 book. :-) I don't know what I'd pick after that....I'll have fun pondering this and will post if I can decide....

My mother gave me my set of Arabian Nights and it's like 18 volumes. I quit reading in the third volume though because the stories were running together.

So, I wouldn't take Arabian Nights. That's just my personal opinion. I would however, like most people have said here- take something really, really long. Even though my preference wouldn't be for Arabian Nights, I'd still want something with multiple volumes.
I'd probably want something I've already read so I know it's good. Will and Ariel Durrant's History of Mankind would be great unless the sight of a history book makes you want to vomit.... I actually like their books but I don't know if I want to be stuck with that for the duration...

Does anyone remember the Star Trek episode where Riker, Worf and Data get stuck in a reenactment of Casino Royale?

It would be the same kind of bummer to be on a desert island with a bunch of books you didn't like.

Okay, I choose Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series.

Please rescue me soon. : )

Fun question! I might take the complete works of Dostoyevsky! Been meaning to read so many of his works, and I would love to reread the ones I have already read. Or, if that would be too heavy to lift, I would take a Dostoyevsky biography I have. It is condensed, yet it is probably 10,000 pages. That should keep me occupied and interested for some time!

Irene, you've read the Durants, huh? My mom used to have the whole series; when I was a kid I would look at it and think, "I guess if you read that you'd know everything." Last year she gave it to me and now I'm worried about them being outdated. It's been a while, after all, and things have been moving quickly. What do you think?

Dana, good point in so far as people have been spending their entire lives arguing about the Bible for a couple thousand years, and they didn't even have to be stuck on islands.

Durants is good. I didn't find them outdated because their books end before the 20th century. They write well and they're very insightful. I have a couple of volumes from the set and I still crack them open occasionally. But I've never actually read one of their books cover to cover.

My ex-husband read the entire set cover to cover- it should have been a sign : )

I would definitely take my bible as well but if not then I would have a hard time choosing between my Complete Jane Austen and Lord of the Rings. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite classic story though. If we were allowed to take a complete series then I would have to go with Harry Potter. :p

Maybe a volume of Shakespeare's plays. It would take a long time to read and translate to modern English while keeping you entertained. But the Bible would keep one reading for quite some time and would be spiritually helpful. Both would keep your wits sharp.

I would take either Sherlock Holmes, the complete hitchhikers guide to the galaxy( for laughs ya know) or the lord of the rings (never gets old)

Ohh maybe I would take the communist manfesto and use up all my time trying to stay focused on it then after im finally finish reading it try to understand it. Lol

Without a doubt, the BIBLE.

Trisha wrote: "If you could only choose one book to take with you on a deserted island, classic or modern, what would you choose? (Let's assume that we already have "The Idiots Guide to Surviving on a Deserted I..."

Great question. I chose the Bible.

Debbie wrote: "Without a doubt, the BIBLE."

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that, hands down, no hesitation. I love to read and enjoy lots of different types of books/authors, but there is NOTHING like the Bible. The more I read it, the more I love it.

Are we talking about the Old Testament or New? Or both?

PS Celine: high five for the Communist Manifesto. I wouldn't pick it just 'cause it's too short, but I love that you thought of it.

Alex wrote: "Are we talking about the Old Testament or New? Or both?"

Both, but if I had to choose just one book in either, it would be Psalms, probably, due to length and content.

Maybe my Edgar Allan Poe anthology.

This question was so fun I talked about it with my boyfriend, Jeremy, which led him not only to join this group, but also to create another topic (I hope that's okay) because we got to talking about what books we'd choose if something like Fahrenheit 451 actually happened and we had to memorize books to preserve them.

I'm reading The Portable Edgar Allan Poe right now!

Dana wrote: "The Bible, no doubt. Nothing can compare to it, with all the 'writers' and you'd have history, law, romance, prophecy - Everything! And I'd love to have at least 4 translations with me so that's re..."


Agreed, Dana!

The The Lord of the Rings definately. It's got adventure and hardships and heroes so I'd take that for sure. Especially since the version I have has all three in one.

the complete dune anthology. im sure i could find many uses for a bludgeoning tool... err i mean heavy book.

I'd take Gone with the Wind. It took me damn near ten years to read the first time!

I would for sure take The Lord of The Rings. I can't wait to read it again!

Watership Down.

Katie wrote: "Watership Down."

Nice choice! I've read that book so many times I had to buy a new copy because the pages kept falling out.

Either the Lord of the Rings, The Complete Hitchhikers guide, or Complete Edgar Allan Poe. Maybe if I just took my nook with me and put a ton of stuff in it? Is that cheating? I wouldn't get tired of the ones above. Really such a hard choice.

It's totally cheating, but I can't say I've never looked at my Kindle and thought, "I could be happy on a desert island as long as there's a plug."

How about a solar powered kindle? If not, it has to be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

I would probably take Lord of the Flies, I am more or less always reading that book anyway and the irony of reading that book on a deserted island at least lends comedy to the whole thing.

I'd probably take His Dark Materials because it would give me lots to think about, the imagination/world are very unique, and I could cry about the tragic love story.

Mo wrote: "I would probably take Lord of the Flies, I am more or less always reading that book anyway and the irony of reading that book on a deserted island at least lends comedy to the whole thing."

Ha!

Probably the George's Secret Key To The Universe- great question! I really had to think about it before posting :)

I would want to laugh a lot in such a depressing situation - so the Complete Hitchhiker's Guide

I'd like to take a leatherbound edition of the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe myself. And I'd have to have plastic protection inside. That way if necessary I'd have leather to use on the island along with plastic and paper. And lots of stories to read.

I would take the biggest collection of fairy tales I could find!

The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne (1344 pages).

If we are taking single book and no "complete"-whatever., then I would pick Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

I think I'll take The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye. I loved that book so many years ago. Still have the paperback sitting on the shelf beside me! And it's long enough to keep me busy for awhile :)

When are we leaving?! ;)

I have The Far Pavilions waiting to read, Terris. I'm stoked that you like it enough to take on your island trek. I, however, am taking Mary Stewart's Mary Stewart King Arthur 5 Books Collection Set Magical Merlin The Crystal Cave. This is a collection I know I could read twice a year for the rest of my life and never tire of it or wish I had another book instead.

Sara wrote: "I have The Far Pavilions waiting to read, Terris. I'm stoked that you like it enough to take on your island trek. I, however, am taking Mary Stewart's [book:Mary Stewart King Arthur 5 ..."

Good choice, Sara! I've only read the first two in that collection. This makes me want to keep reading! ;)

Oooh, you have to read #3- The Last Enchantment. The last two are optional, but the trilogy is the best thing since cheesecake.

Sara wrote: "Oooh, you have to read #3- The Last Enchantment. The last two are optional, but the trilogy is the best thing since cheesecake."

And I do love cheesecake!!
But I may have to re-read the first two before I get to the third -- would you believe I read them in 1976 & 1980!!!!! I don't know if I'll remember anything!! Haha!
Something to look forward to (and if we land on the same deserted island, we can read each other's books!!) ;)

One Hundred Years of Solitude… So far I’ve only skimmed much of it.

Runner up might be Mason & Dixon by Pynchon. It’s long but seems to have potential to be entertaining.

I would take The Count of Monte Cristo or Catch-22. Two of my favorite books that I never get tired of reading.

If I could take a series, it would probably be my favorite urban fantasy series, Kate Daniels, by Ilona Andrews.

Fun question! I enjoyed reading all the different answers.