My Desert Island Vacation Books by Rambling Raven
By Raven • May 30th, 2010 • Category: Rambling Raven •
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My Desert Island Vacation Books by Rambling Raven
Summer is nearly upon us and the weather here in Chicago has been excellent. I often find myself daydreaming about walks along the beach, concerts in the park, and picnics. I love the hazy days of summer so much that I wish I could visit a place where it is nice and warm, surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches, and I am the only person around. A nice far away tropical island would do just fine. I would love for the island to have a beach house with all the modern conveniences (this is a fantasy vacation, not a Tom Hanks movie). Oh, and a freezer stocked with frozen margaritas would be the icing on the cake. Of course I would have to entertain myself on this island somehow. I mean a girl can only watch so many sunsets. I wouldn’t want anything fancy either. Since I am trying to tune out the world, no computers or televisions. I would only bring along a few books to entertain myself. I think ten books would do because my vacation can last for only so long. What ten books would I take along with me on this vacation?
The books have to be interesting and ones that I know I will read. I think I should first pick the books that I have not completed reading but promised myself that I would at some time:
Roots by Alex Haley– I have always wanted to complete this historical novel, but the dang thing is almost as long as the Bible. You must have a lot of time and patience to read it. Since I will be secluded on an island, it would be the perfect time to tackle this one.
Beloved by Toni Morrison–Perhaps the only thing that is needed to truly understand the meaning of this novel is a deserted island. I tried several times before but somehow I always end up daydreaming about something else.
The Holy Bible–I need to read this from beginning to end. It is something I always told myself that I would do.
Now for books that I can read anytime or anywhere:
The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle–I love, love, love these stories and can reread them a million times.
A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly–Love the mystery and the New Orleans setting, it reminds me of New Orleans when it was a young, bustling city.
The Alienist by Caleb Carr– A historical mystery that takes place in 1800s New York. It follows a psychiatrist (known as alienists back then) who tries to track down one of America’s first serial killers. It’s like CSI for the 1800s.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton—It was my favorite book as a kid, and I still love it today. It is a coming of age story that deals with life and death, social and economic status, family and gangs.
Anything by Langston Hughes—-He can do no wrong.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker—Alice packed a lot in a few pages and I loved every moment.
The next APOOO B.O.M.—Since I know my time on the island will not last forever, I better find out what the next APOOO book of the month is so that I can be prepared to join the discussion.
There you have it. The ten books that I would pack for a desert island vacation. What ten books would you take along with you?
Raven
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Raven is an educator with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Education. She has been an avid reader since childhood. Her favorite genres are mystery, suspense, and horror, although she will give any genre a try. She is a life long resident of Chicago. Her love of books opened her mind to people, places and events far beyond her Chicago home. Reading helped to shape her world and her opinion of the events that took place within it. No matter what demands her career requires of her, she has always found time to read and write in a journal. Along with reading and journaling, she loves to watch the sunset, and discuss hot topics with family and friends. She loves baseball, horror movies, mysteries, listening to music from every corner of the world and expressing her view of the latest books with the women of APOOO.
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Oh geesh…lets see…I dont know..LOL
My list includes The Bible, Gone With the Wind, Mama Day by Gloria Naylor, Roots…hmmm I’m going to have to think about those other six books.
I don’t have a specific list, but I think the Island will make me want to read romance!romance!romance! As long as it is Brenda Jackson. Gwyneth Bolton or Adrianne Byrd I will be good.
Wow, an interesting, diverse list. I loved Roots. There is a Bible study that allows you to read the Bible in a year. Bible in a year, I think.
What books would I bring. Yes, definitelly books that I loved and want to revisit. With so many books, I haven’t had time to reread.
1. Definitey, a title by James Baldwin. The First Next Time and Go Tell it on the Mountain were masterpieces and I did have reread GTIOTM a few years ago.
2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I read this in 1993 o94. It’s about rich kids at a prvate college who studies the Classics. I actually saw this book in a used book store last week and was tempted because I have no idea where my original copy is.
3. Feast of All Saints by Ann Rice. Excellent account of the Creole culture in New Orleans before the Civil War
4. Black Reconstruction in America by W.E.B. Dubois. This is a very thick book and I just haven’t had a time to crack it yet except to look up a reference. According to my genealogy group this is the definitive book on Reconstruction of which I am very interested.
5.Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston because this is the ultimate womanist novel and because I love this book.
6. A good romance, perhaps the next book in Rochelle Aler’s Hideaway series. Or reread the favorite from that series, Heaven Sent.
7. A good mystery; I have several in my tbr pile to choose from. I have a couple of Lisa Jackson’s book.
8. A Gloria Naylor title- awesome writer
9. A Lasngston Hughes title
10. King James version of the Bible
Wow this is a very hard question for me as I do not like to re-read books usually. But if I was to stumble on Dera’s book bag I would be happy.
But if someone was to tell me right now – that I would have a long vacation on an island – here is what I would be bring:
The Hemingses of Monticello – Annette Gordon-Reed – been waiting for the right moment to read this book
All Souls” Rising – Madison Smartt Bell – another one that has been sitting on my shelf for years about the beginning of the Haitian revolution
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin – always need some speculative fiction
Seed to Harvest (all the books in the Patternist series) – Octavia Bulter – if I have to re-read it might as well be Octavia Butler
Best Kept Secrets – Rochelle Alers – so I can get started on the other Hideaway books when I got back
A couple copies of Callaloo Journals – that I am also behind in reading
The Long Song by Andrea Levy – love her writing
A Yoga book
and I will cheat and bring along my Kindle.