Samuels Says - "Which books would you want if you were stranded on a desert island?"

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "Which books would you want to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?" (This is assuming that we have the foresight to pack a suitcase full of books or a solar-powered e-reader on every trip...) Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Kristin:

The Pillars of the Earth, World without End, and the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (F Fol)

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (F Mit) - I’ve read it 10+ times… I could read it forever!

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (YAF Pul)

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (F Tol)

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (YAF Row)

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (823 Bar)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (F Mor)

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (F Gab)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (F Gru)

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (YAF Col)

Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz (910.92 Hor), The Tattoo Artist by Jill Ciment (F Cim) and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (F Cri) - to remind me that it could be worse!

Time Windows by Kathryn Reiss (YAF Rei)

The Bestseller by Olivia Goldsmith (F Gol)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck (F Ste)

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (811.52 Hu)

And anything by: Tana French, Michelle Moran, Philippa Gregory, Deanna Raybourn, Rosalind Miles, Colleen McCullough (especially Morgan’s Run), Edward Rutherfurd, Bill Bryson (non-fiction), Sarah Addison Allen, Linda Howard, Charlaine Harris (especially the Sookie books),  Jane Green (early books), and Helen Fielding. (All but Bryson available in adult fiction.)

Joan:

All Agatha Christie (F Chr)

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (F Mit)

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (F Du)

The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith (F McC)

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (F Pat)

Defending Jacob by William Landay (F Lan)

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (F Kin)

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (F Wro)

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (F Fol)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (F Lee)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (F Tol)

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (F Hos)

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (967.6 Di)

The Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley (F Bra)

Anything by: P.D. James, Elizabeth George, or Mark Twain.

And just to be practical: The Sierra Club Guide to Safe Drinking Water (363.61 Le)… some survival books...can I just take the whole library with me?

Jeanne:

Edible: An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Food Plants (581.632 Edi)

The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn (PB Romance Q, F Qui)

613.69—Any and all!

Canoeing: Outdoor Adventures by Pamela S. Dillon (797.122 Dil)

Poetry: American Folk Poetry (811.04 Emr), Top 500 Poems (821.008 Top), Come Hither (821.008 De)

Animal Traps and Trapping by James Bateman (799.2 Bat)

The Happy Camper by Kevin Callan (796.54 Cal)

The Successful Retirement Guide by R. Kevin Price (646.79 Pri)

Nature as Spiritual Practice by Steven Chase (248 Cha)

Saints by Tom Morgan (282.092 Mor)

Go In and Go Out the Window (J 784.6 Go)

The New Painting (759.4 New)

Dr. Dog by Babette Cole (J 613.4 Co)
Sophie: the Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog by Emma Pearse (636.737 Pea)

Katie:

“I decided to take this literally—I couldn’t live without these.“ :)

Just in Case by Kathy Harrison (613.6 Har)

The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood (613.69 She)

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven (613.69 Piv)

Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons (581.6 Gib)

Stalking the Healthful Herbs by Euell Gibbons (581.6 Gib)

Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants by Bradford Angier (581.6 Ang)

Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants by Bradford Angier (581.6 Ang)

The Backyard Homestead (641 Bac)

Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich (640 Wog)

Show Me How by Lauren Smith (640 Smi)

Kathy J.:

The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (J Wil, E Wil, J PB W, J Bio Wilder Laura Ingalls, 813.52 Wil)

Nicki:

Table of Contents (814 Mc) and The Pine Barrens (974.9 Mc) by John McPhee

Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (F Mor)

Anything by John Muir, i.e. Travels in Alaska (917.98 Mu) and Nature Writings (Bio Muir John)

Any encyclopedia—pick any letter!

Newest edition of The World Almanac and Book of Facts (031 Wor)

A dictionary—especially with word origins, like Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins (422 Mo) or the Oxford English Dictionary

Michal:

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (F Gol)

The Original Adventures of Raggedy Ann by Johnny Gruelle (J SC Gru)

The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Arthur O. Tucker (635.7 Tuc)

Essence and Alchemy: A Book of Perfume by Mandy Aftel (688.54 Aft)

The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot (530 Ta)

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir (640.052 We)

The Life of Elizabeth by Alison Weir (Bio Elizabeth I)

A Favorite of the Queen by Jean Plaidy (F Pla)

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (YAF Fun)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (F Twa/Classic PB Twa/J F Twa)

John:

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (F Ham)

Roughing It by Mark Twain (818.4 Twa)

My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber (Bio Thurber James)

A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh (F Wa)

Four Novels of the 1960s by Philip K. Dick (F Dic)

Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse (F Wod)

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (F Hel)

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (F Fit)

Any (or all) Calvin and Hobbes books by Bill Watterson (741.5 Wat)

Three Men in a Boat: (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome (F Jer)

The Annotated Alice: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (823.8 Car)

Half Magic by Edward Eager (J F Eag)

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (F He)

Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (818.309 Poe)

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (Bio Eggers Dave)

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (J F Jus)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Classic PB Ste)

Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut by P.J. O’Rourke (814.54 O’R)

Freddy the Detective by Walter R. Brooks (J F Br)

The Illustrated Woody Allen Reader by Woody Allen and Linda Sunshine (812.54 Al)

Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s and Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s  (813.0872 Cr)

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

And I would finally have time to read all those 800-page Charles Dickens novels I’ve been wanting to read, like Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend, Nicholas Nickleby, and Dombey and Son (F Dic/ Classic PB Dic)

Boo:

“If I don’t have an extra pair of contacts and/or glasses, I won’t be reading anything.” :(

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss (J F Wys)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe (F DeF)

Life’s a Beach by Claire Cook (F Coo) :)

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson (158.1 Car)

From the Jaws of Death by Brogan Steele (910.4 Ste)

Emergency Food Storage and Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton (613.69 Lay)

Heloise from A to Z by Heloise (648 Hel)

NTA Trapping Handbook by Tom Krause (799.2 Kra)

Wildlife Atlas by John Farndon (J 591.7 Far)

Dorling Kindersley Animal Encyclopedia (J 590 Dor)

The Camper’s Companion by Rick Greenspan (796.54 Gr)

The Wilderness Notebook by Herb Gordon (796.54 Go)

Just in Case by Kathy Harrison (613.6 Har)

A Healing Word by John Flanagan (248.8 Fl)

Lord, I Haven’t Talked to You Since the Last Crisis, but— by Lorraine Peterson (242.6 Pe)

Heroes and Pioneers (Ref 920 Her)

The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer (F Tha)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney (J Kin)

A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet (F Buf)

Any Danielle Steel book (F Ste)

Jessica:

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (YAF Row)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams (F Ada)

Anything by Francesca Lia Block (YAF Blo, F Blo)

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (YAF Yov)

The Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier (F Mar)

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (YAF Jo)

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (YAF Bra)

The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander (J F Ale)

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (F Gai)

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (F Gai)

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (J F Car, 823.8 Car)

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (J F Sai)

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan (YAF Bre)

Tithe by Holly Black (YAF Bla)

White Cat by Holly Black (YAF Bla)

The Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage (J F Sag)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (F Mar)

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron (YAF Cam)

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (YAF Des)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (YAF Gar)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (YAF Rya)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (YAF Cas)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano (YAF DeS)

Melissa:

U.S. Army Survival Manual (613.69 US) - A book about how to survive on a desert island :)

Just in Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens (613.6 Har)

How to Stay Alive in the Woods by Bradford Angier (613.69 Ang)

The Art of Dying by Patricia Weenolsen (155.937 We)

The Holy Bible (220.5 Hol)

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (F Mar)

Betty:

The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel (613.69 Piv)

The latest Janet Evanovich books (F Eva)

The Me and Mr. Jones series by Jo-Ann Power (F Pow)

Lisa Lutz books (F Lut)

Wyatt:

A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick (in Five Novels of the 1960s & 70s—F Dic)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (Bio Thompson Hunter S)

Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb (741.5 Loe)

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (J Mil, E Mil, and there’s even a Latin version in  870 Mil!)

Foundation by Isaac Asimov (F As)

Cheryl:

Vertical Run by Joseph Garber (F Ga)

The Meg series by Steve Alten (F Alt)

Anything by: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Johanna Lindsey, Jon Katz (non-fiction), Patricia Briggs, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Teresa Medeiros, and Linda Lael Miller. (All but Katz available in adult fiction or paperback collections.)

Tamara:

Anything by Terry Pratchett (F Pra)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (J F Mon)

Andrew Lang’s fairy tales (J 398 Lan)

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (F Gai)

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (J F Car, 823.8 Car)

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (J F Bau)

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott (J F Al)

Various books in the Sweet Potato Queen series by Jill Connor Browne (LP F Bro, 818.54 Bro)

The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel (613.69 Piv)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (F Aus)

J.D. Robb’s In Death series (F Rob, PB Mystery R)

Stitch & Bitch knitting handbooks by Debbie Stoller (746.432 Sto)

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden (J 031.02 Igg)

The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher (F But, PB Fantasy B)

Foxfire books (mostly 917.58 Fox)

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley (623.88 As)

Anything by Diane Mott Davidson (F Dav, PB Mystery D)

The Den of Antiquity series by Tamar Meyers (F Mey, PB Mystery M)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide series by Douglas Adams (F Ada)

Books by Patrick F. McManus, including the Bo Tully series (F McM)

Calvin & Hobbes books by Bill Watterson (741.5 Wat)

Ben:

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (YAF Bro)

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Davis Wyss (J F Wys)

Don’t Let Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (E Wil)

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (F Mar)

The Prince by Machiavelli (320.1 Mac)

Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea (F She)

Redwall by Brian Jacques (YAF Jac)

A Fault in Our Stars by John Green (YAF Gre)

The Robot by Paul E. Watson (YAF Wat)

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (E Cro)

Read-alike Guides - Nora Roberts

If you like the romance novels of Nora Roberts, you might enjoy of these books:

A Woman’s Heart by JoAnn Ross

Quinn Gallagher is a jaded writer who comes to Ireland for the filming of one his famous novels.  There he meets Nora Fitzpatrick, a beautiful widow who is unlike any woman he has ever met.  Fans of Nora Roberts’s Irish-themed novels will delight in the setting and memorable characters of this tender and lyrical book.  

 Kill and Tell by Linda Howard

When Karen Whitlaw receives a notebook from the estranged father she hasn’t seen in twenty years, she thinks nothing of it until learning he has been the victim of a murder on the streets of New Orleans.  Detective Marc Chastain, assigned to the case, begins to warm to Karen just as he discovers her life is in grave danger.  Like Roberts, Linda Howard is a master of the romantic suspense novel, and Kill and Tell is one of her best.

Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

Romantic suspense lovers may also enjoy Chill Factor, a gripping thriller about Lilly Martin, a woman trapped in a cabin during a blizzard with a man who is possibly a wanted serial killer.  Romance heats up as the storm rages, while Lilly’s ex-husband, the town’s police chief, desperately pursues the man he unquestionably believes to be the culprit.

Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann

Followers of Roberts’s output under the J.D. Robb pen name might want to try reading Suzanne Brockmann.  Gone Too Far is from the author’s Troubleshooter series, which mixes military expertise, nail-biting suspense, and steamy sexual tension. This entry focuses mainly on the relationship between Navy SEAL Sam Starrett and FBI agent Alyssa Locke.  

One Summer by Karen Robards

Readers who fancy a good bad-boy hero will love Johnny Harris, the male protagonist of One Summer. Johnny’s an ex-con who returns to his hometown after a stint in prison, only to find himself the main suspect in a murder investigation.  The only person willing to defend his innocence is his former teacher, Rachel Roberts, who begins to develop deeper feelings for Johnny.

Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan

Joley Drake is one of seven sisters who possess magical powers.  Her talent of spell-singing has gained her fame as a rock star, but when her life is jeopardized by a violent stalker she must place her trust in the hands of her handsome bodyguard, who may or may not be a hit man for the mob.  A must read for paranormal romance enthusiasts.     

Light In Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz

Zoe Luce, an interior designer with psychic powers, enlists the help of private investigator Ethan Truax when she suspects one of her clients of murder.  Krentz seamlessly blends romance, suspense, and paranormal elements to create a style uniquely her own.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

Midwife and recent widow Melinda Monroe moves from Los Angeles to Virgin River in search of a new start.  Unimpressed with the town at first, Mel is set upon leaving until she finds an abandoned baby on her doorstep.  She then begins to reluctantly kindle friendships in Virgin River, especially with Jack, the sensitive bartender.  Fans of small town romances, such as Roberts’s recent Inn Boonsboro trilogy, will be touched by this sweet and emotional story.

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Pleasures is an imaginative paranormal romance in the style of Roberts’s The Circle Trilogy. Kyrian of Thrace is a Dark-Hunter who roams the earth providing protection from the evil Daimons.  Amanda Devereaux is an accountant who wants nothing more than a quiet, normal life.  Watch the sparks fly when they awake one morning in a strange bed handcuffed together.

Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell

Elizabeth Lowell writes detail rich novels that often feature strong female characters. In Amber Beach, the first of The Donovans series, Honor Donovan determinedly searches for her missing brother despite being warned by the rest of the Donovan men to mind her own business.  What follows is a pulse-racing combination of romance, adventure, and family drama.

Books by Nora Roberts you might also like:

Naked In Death (writing as J.D. Robb)

The first book in the In Death series follows Eve Dallas, a New York police lieutenant in the year 2058, as she investigates the murder of a prostitute granddaughter of a U.S. senator. Will the investigation be compromised when Eve begins to fall in love with dashing Irish millionaire (and lead suspect) Roarke?

Remember When by Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb

Roberts collaborates with her alter ego in this two-part novel that “blends present-day romance and futuristic suspense.”  Part One involves a hidden fortune of stolen diamonds and a pawn shop owner with a mysterious past, while Part Two has Lt. Eve Dallas continuing the search for the missing diamonds 56 years later.

New York to Dallas (writing as J.D. Robb)

Lt. Eve Dallas must face her inner demons when she returns to her home city on the trail of escaped convict Isaac McQueen, a man she put behind bars in the early days of her career.  As she gets closer to catching this unhinged maniac, Eve realizes that he is bent on seeking revenge and she may be his next target.

Read-alike Guides - A Game of Thrones

If you liked A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, you might enjoy one of these books:

Acacia by David Anthony Durham

Durham’s trilogy features a battle between good and evil where the line between the two is vague, and he writes about brutality quite frankly. Leodan Akaran, the powerful ruler of an idyllic empire, hides the dark realities of their prosperity from his four children, until an assassin from the Mein strikes him down and frees his children.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Hobb's three series—the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders and the Tawny Man—combine into a lengthy, convoluted, political, and dark saga. She keeps her magic off-stage, provides a wealth of very diverse characters, places her stories firmly in a medieval landscape, and explores the pain of her characters. Fitz in particular will resonate with fans of Martin's character Jon Snow.

The Briar King by Greg Keyes

The first in the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series is high fantasy that strains against the confines of the genre in some interesting ways. Set in a realm  threatened by forces both earthly and existential, The Briar King toys with reader expectations in a way Martin’s readers will appreciate, and indulges in both pitched battles and the equally deadly intricacies of the realm’s internal politics.

City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams

In a strange world of the near future, where virtual reality encompasses all aspects of society and boundaries are limited only by the power of the imagination, a dark conspiracy involving the world's most powerful individuals threatens to destroy everything. Martin fans will enjoy the intensity and some gruesome character ends.

The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham

Mercenary Marcus wants no part of the war looming between the Free Cities and the Severed Throne, so he enlists a group of traveling players to act the part of guards in a caravan leaving a city in the danger zone. Cithrin, an heiress, and Geder, a scholar, join the party. Warfare, political intrigue, and moral ambiguity ensue.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Jordan’s Wheel of Time series features more explicit magic and a traditional quest plot, but the elements of politics, adventure, and battle make the complex and multi-layered series a must read. The first entry relates a tale of the bestial Trollocs, the witch Moiraine, and three boys, one of whom is fated to become the World's only hope.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

When the last of the free cities of the Malazan Empire is targeted by the forces of the Empress Laseen, Bridgeburner squad leader Sergeant Whiskeyjack and the mage Tattersall confront dark gods to protect the citadel of Darujhistan. This epic series is perfect for readers who enjoy detailed world building.

I, Claudius by Robert Graves

Try I, Claudius for a saga that matches the tone, complexity, and assassination rate of A Song of Ice and Fire. The lame, stuttering Claudius will remind readers unswervingly of the King's Hand, dwarf Tyrion, who hides his honorable soul under an awkward, misshapen body. Incest, patricide, and poison add to the drama of Graves' famous novels.

The Immortal Prince by Jennifer Fallon

When a routine hanging goes wrong and a murderer somehow survives the noose, the man announces he is an immortal—and not just any immortal, but Cayal, the Immortal Prince. Arkady Desean is sent to interrogate the man, hoping to prove he is a spy or a madman. The gods of legend rise again on the world of Amyrantha in this tale of court intrigue and human-animal half-breeds.

Niccoló Rising by Dorothy Dunnett

The first in an epic series, this novel takes an unflinching look at the rise to power of a young man who will take on any adventure—political, economic, or romantic—no matter the consequences to others. Dunnett artfully depicts the political power structure of the Low Countries in the late medieval period, doing for an actual society what Martin does for the imaginary Westeros.

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

After witnessing the murder of his mother and brother and leading a band of bloodthirsty thugs, Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath returns to his father's castle and his birthright, but faces treachery once he arrives. Dark sorcery and fierce combat are the hallmarks of this action-packed novel of revenge and intrigue set in a darkly somber medieval world. This morbidly gripping, gritty fantasy tale is not for the squeamish.

Tracing the Shadow by Sarah Ash

The kingdom of Francia has purged its magi. When a young Guerrier rescues an orphaned street waif, little does he know that she is the daughter of a magus who died on their pyres—or that she is guarded by an aethyric spirit and driven to avenge her father’s fiery end. With the gift of song infused within her, Klervie’s voice will bring her before the most powerful heads of state, and she will craft herself into a weapon—aimed at the heart of the man she despises.

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

This novel is both character-driven and intricately-plotted, with plenty of quests, battles, magic, and fantastical beings. Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero as he attempts to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. Along the way, he is put on trial by the legendary Adem mercenaries, forced to reclaim the honor of the Edema Ruh, and travels into the Fae realm.