Stranded

I missed Great Books Blogging Week, but I like some of the topics, so I thought I'd do them on my own time.

The question of which books you'd want if you were stranded on the proverbial desert island is asked often, but how often is it answered honestly? I think a lot of people pick books they've been meaning to read for years but will probably never get around to, or books that they think will sound impressive. I know I've been guilty of both.

This is going to be as honest and as timely as possible (meaning, what books I want to have right now, not necessarily in the long run). Luckily, I get seven books, and even then it will be hard to narrow down.

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince--I'm in the middle of re-reading the series this year, and I have only read #6 once, believe it or not. There's so much that happens in this particular installment. I'd love the chance to read it slower.

2. Angel-Seeker, by Sharon Shinn--This is in a fantasy series of five, and I think it's my favorite. Too much romance for Andrew, probably. Love and marriage figure heavily in all three cultures represented in this book. You can totally see the symbolism of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and this is the book that features the Islam-esque culture most prominently, which is interesting. Aside from that, it's just a good story.

3. A NASCAR romance novel--For a good laugh. A paraphrased quote: "Her face glowed like a pair of overheated brake pads."

4. Cemetery Dance, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child--These guys write thrillers about an FBI agent named Pendergast who is only the most awesome character ever created. And I seriously mean EVER. Cemetery Dance is the latest installment in the Pendergast saga.

5. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien--Not trying to impress, really! I was telling one of my teens how much I enjoyed it, and that got me really wanting to re-read it, but I was in the middle of an almost-800-page library book at the time. I've also been wanting to re-read it because another one of my teens has gotten me rather interested in linguistics, and that ought to add another dimension to this history of the elves.

6. Persuasion, by Jane Austen--Because I never get tired of it. Every time Captain Wentworth starts writing his letter, I get all excited.

7. Under the Dome, by Stephen King--How delicious would it be to have a brand-new King novel? I put it on hold at the library, and I'm #65 on the list. Which I guess isn't so bad, considering that I was somewhere around #450 for the fifth Harry Potter book.

Maybe those aren't the best long-term choices, and Mom's already teased me for not putting the Bible on there, but at least it's a more interesting list for YOU to read. :D