Desert Island Books
The Youth Services team love to entertain our youngest library card holders. The members of this team help to run our Kids Club, LEGO club, Storytime, Wriggle and Rhyme, and are always happy to help find your child something great to read.
As usual each castaway has been given a virtual copy of the SAS Survival Guide and asked to choose just five books to keep them company.
Zaklina - Senior Library Assistant, Youth Services
The Art of Simple: Recipes and Ideas for a Calmer Way of Life. Eleanor Ozich
I have just finished this book and found it had wonderful ideas to create a calmer way of life. You would be forced to on a desert island!
Mega Mini Cross Stitch: 900 Super Awesome Cross Stitch Motifs. Makoto Oozu
This cross stitch book is jam packed full of hundreds of tiny motifs to stitch. I always have needle, thread and fabric on hand as I love to stitch!
Comfort Food: Simple Soups, Stews, Casseroles and More. Simon and Alison Holst
I’d imagine a recipe book would come in handy on a desert island, especially one with warm comfort foods.
Stuff I Forgot to Tell My Daughter. Michele A’Court
This is a warm and witty memoir of motherhood and a reminder of the important things in life to contemplate while stuck on a desert island.
Life, Loss, Love: A Memoir. Lorraine Downes
I love anything autobiographical and look forward to reading about Lorraine Downes’ life. She was a Miss Universe, married to All Black Murray Mexted, had 2 children, had success in Dancing With the Stars, and her second marriage to Martin Crowe ended with his devastating illness and death.
Rachel - Senior Library Assistant, Youth Services
Where'd You Go Bernadette. Maria Semple
This is a quirky novel that is entertaining from start to finish.
The Steady Running of the Hour. Justin Go
This is a great story that combines mystery, adventure, travel and history to make a captivating tale.
The Silver Sword. Ian Serrallier
I read this twice when I was 11 years old. 29 years later I read it to my son. Then he read it too.
The Little Paris Bookshop. Nina George
This story is set in a bookshop on a barge on the Seine River.. This is another quirky novel.
Eloise in Paris. Kay Thompson
I recently discovered the "Eloise" books and finding one set in Paris, which I love, was an extra bonus. I would take this for its fun/frivolity factor.
Amanda - Library Assistant, Youth Services
Burial Rites. Hannah Kent
This is a fictional story based on the life of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last woman to be executed in Iceland in 1830. This is a book I have intended to re-read as I was intrigued by not only the story but also the foreign setting and customs described by the author. A desert island would provide the perfect opportunity to do this.
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. Edith Holden
This is a beautiful book that records the flora and fauna observed by the author as she travels throughout England and Scotland in 1906. This would be a wonderfully uplifting book to browse through when whittling away the time on a desert island.
The Rosie Project. Graeme Simsion
I loved the comic, clever storyline and this book would certainly provide some well needed light entertainment while stranded on the island.
Watership Down. Richard Adams
It's been many years since I read this beloved book but it is one I have always wanted to revisit. It is a story of rebellion, bravery and perseverance; qualities that might be required while marooned on an island.
Year of Wonders. Geraldine Brooks
Although this is not a particularly cheery novel to be reading on a desert island, it would could possibly serve as a reminder that life could always be worse.