Desert Island Books

Desert Island Books  

At the end of 2016 two of our long-serving staff members retired.

Mary McLachlan had worked at our Waikouaiti branch, and Jenny Smith had worked at both Port Chalmers and Mosgiel libraries  

Before they sailed off to their retirement desert island we gave them the virtual copy of the SAS Survival Guide and asked which five essential books they would also like to take with them.

Mary and Jenny have been part of our library family for a combined total of nearly 52 years so choosing just five books each must have been incredibly difficult.

Here are their choices:

Mary McLachlan

I have been really privileged to have worked at Waikouaiti Library for 28 years. They have been such happy times and working with great staff has made my job so enjoyable. I will no doubt see you all again from the other side of the counter. Thank you all so much.

The Good Doctor. Lance O’Sullivan

This book is the story of Lance O’ Sullivan who was awarded New Zealander of the Year in 2014. He stood up to help those in need in the Kaitaia area when no one else would. Lance had been expelled from two schools but was able to overcome his problems. I found this a truly inspirational story.

Karitane by the Sea: Whalers, Traders and Fishermen. Ian Church

A wonderful history of the Karitane area which I feel privileged to live in. It includes Interesting interviews with the local fisherman as well as the early whaling industry. There are great old postcards and illustrations throughout the book.

This House is Haunted. John Boyne

A gripping captivating ghost story set in the 19th century in Norfolk. It has an unexpected twist as the story unfolds. I had never read a ghost story before and unfortunately that is the only one that John Boyne has written. Because of the writing style I have since read other books by John Boyne and loved them all.

Walking Free. Munjed Al Muderis

This is the true story of Munjed Al Muderis, a surgeon in war-torn Iraq, who had to flee his homeland to escape Saddam Hussein’s regime. He arrived in Australia as a refugee and was incarcerated in one of the worst refugee camps in Australia. He is now one of the world’s leading osseointegration surgeons, transforming the lives of amputees. It really gave me an understanding of the journeys that some refugees have to go through to be successful in another part of the world.

Joanna Trollope

I love Joanna Trollope’s books as they are mainly family dramas with lots of realism so I would be happy to take any of her novels.

Jenny Smith

I have been in the Library Service over 24 years, combining Port Chalmers and Mosgiel. Many changes have occurred over this time, the most significant being issuing books to customers through the new self-issuing machines. I have really enjoyed my time in the libraries and feel lucky to have been part of them.

The Treasury of Humorous Quotations. Eds Nicolas Bentley and Evan Esar

Quotations on every subject which make you laugh out loud. "High heels were invented by a woman who had been kissed on the forehead."

Last Port to Antarctica: Dunedin and Port Chalmers: 100 Years of Service. Ian Church

I was lucky enough to attend this book launch and find the history of the Antarctica explorations very interesting. So many adventurers have left from Port Chalmers, and the Scott Memorial still dominates the town.

Monet's Passion: Ideas, Inspiration, and Insights from the Painter's Gardens. Elizabeth Murray

This book is full of ideas and insights from Monet’s gardens. Many of his Water Lily paintings in particular were inspired by the garden. The use of colours in the garden beds is amazing.

Life on Earth. David Attenborough

The book is based on his first television series of the same name giving the history of life on our planet. The descriptions and photographs are wonderful.

John Turnbull Thomson. John Hall-Jones

This is the story of the Chief Surveyor of Otago who became the first Surveyor-General of New Zealand. It tells of exploration and mapping of Otago and Southland, and also gives insight into the names of many areas within the district. It is illustrated with John Hall-Jones’ own paintings.