12 November, 2015

#DesertedIslandReads



So, Joy at Fullness of Joy, tagged me for the #DesertedIslandReads tag. The idea is this: you’re on a deserted island. What ten books would you want to have with you? I’m terrible at picking favourites, but the challenge will be good for. So, here are ten books I might like with me on a deserted island:

1. The Bible. This is kind of obvious, but the more I read the Bible, the more I realize that it is amazing book. The best thing about it is that it’s exhaustless. You can read it all your life, and still find new things; perfect deserted island reading material.

2. A blank journal. This doesn’t really count but I wouldn’t want to be without it. I’m sure if I suddenly landed on a deserted island I would have a lot of thoughts to process, and adventures to record. I would also want to preserve all the memories of my left-behind family and friends. 

3. Steps to Christ. This is just a short devotional-type book, which I’ve recently found helpful and encouraging. It’s good both when I’m feeling low, unspiritual, and when I’m feeling on top of the world.

4. The Heavenly Man. I’ve only read this book once, and that a few years ago, but it was really amazing and inspiring; a reminder that even if we come to trials that are so, so hard, God will be with us through them. In that way, it’s encouraging. 

5. A holocaust story. I’m tossing up between Tales from the Secret Annexe, Ellie, and Between Shades of Gray. It’s weird to think I need a holocaust story. Of course I don’t, but they remind me that my life is not that hard, and it is possible to make it through even terrible circumstances.

6. Unbroken. The same reason goes for this one – it's a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Plus, it’s a riveting story.

7. Just Thirteen. Now you must really be questioning me: a children’s book? A far-too-ideal story? I know, but I have lots of memories attached to this book. It’s like my happy carefree childhood book. I got it before I was thirteen, and I’ve read it at least five times since then. I know the wording of what comes next in the story, and some sentences come to mind in everyday life. In a way, I guess it’s also the book that made me dream of wanting to write. 

8. Unspoken Love. Again, this one has memories connected to it. It was the first book that made me cry, it was the first book I shared with my Grandad, and it was the first book to prove to me that a true story could be just as well written, and even more compelling, than fiction.  

9. A book to really get me thinking, and challenge me, something deep and powerful. My favourite topics for these kind of books are: what makes people the way they are, and why things are the way they are, and psychological stuff, especially connected to the influences of the Bible and God, and just those books that explain everyday things in connection with everything else in a way that makes sense. (Quite unlike that sentence.) At the moment, The Book That Made Your World is doing that for me. It’s introduced new thoughts, and explained things I see all around.

10. Some new big fat volume. There’s nothing like old favourites, but there’s also something special about a book you haven’t read before. It’s an adventure into the unknown. Not knowing how long I’d be on this deserted island, it would be good to have a chunky new book.  

Anyway, that’s the ten that I came up with! It’s by no means conclusive, as I’m sure if you asked me in a few months’ time, I would give totally different answers. It’s a good exercise, but hopefully I'm never faced with having to live life on a deserted island with ten books to be my only companions. :)


So what do you think? Have you read any of the books I listed? What books should I pick for the last two? And, if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged! I’d enjoy reading which books you can't live without! :)

20 comments:

  1. Hello Jessica,

    That was great!! Yeah I have read Steps to Christ, umm and we had the Heavenly Man on MP3 so I have heard that one too and I totally agree with your choices - Bible (No. 1!) and journal, Steps to Christ, Heavenly Man and I don't think I've read the others... But they sound great and I'm inspired to get them. But here's a couple of books that I'd probably take if I was going to a deserted island, "A Song For Your Honour," this book brought me to tears many times and is really encouraging too. And "Judith" is really good too, about a young Jewish girl who surrendered all for Christ. Umm... I guess you've probably read "Paula the Waldesin" but it is definitely a good book. And then of course other books like - " Footprints in the Sand" which is a collection of stories. Also "Angels of Waslala" - I haven't read it all but it's quite amazing. Or and stories like John Newton and Annie Sullivan are interesting too. Another book I enjoyed was the Smulglers Quest...

    Anyway I guess that's quite a list! :)

    Thank you so much for posting Jess! And look forward to hearing back from you,

    Ashleigh :)

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  2. And I forgot to mention the pictures are beautiful too! :)

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    1. Thanks, Ashleigh! (And I like long comments. :D)

      Oh yes, I've read 'A Song for Your Honour' several times too - it is a good book. I have read most of the books you mentioned actually, except for 'The Smuggler's Quest.' It sounds good though. As you can imagine, it was hard to pick only ten out of all the good books out there! What did you think of 'The Heavenly Man'? Which books on the list were you inspired to get?

      Anyway, have a great day, and God bless. :)

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    2. Yeah - I think the Heavenly Man is a great story!
      Unbroken, Just thirteen, and Unspoken love.

      That's good - you like long comments. :)

      God bless!

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    3. Oh, yes, you'd definitely like 'Unspoken Love'. :)

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    4. Where did you get it from? I think I might just get in then? Sounds really good. :)

      Ashleigh.

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    5. Christian Light Publications. Have you read any of Christmas Carol Kuaffman's other books? They're all good. :) CLP has most of them.

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    6. Yeah - we have, "Hidden Rainbow" and at the moment without going through all our books I can think of or see any others. But yeah, aha and I thought I'd mention that Eric's Vacation is a great book too along with Thrilling Escapes By Night - which I'm sure you would have anyway. :)

      Blessing! :)

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    7. And just a quick question... Where did you get that lovely journal from that you have in the photo?
      Thank you

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    8. This is the one I got, but they have lots of other nice ones too: http://www.paperblanks.com/au/en/collections/1/filtered?collection_id=387#3374

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  3. Lovely pictures! That book on the bottom is really neat.
    I also enjoyed reading your answers! I never would have thought of #2 but that's a really wonderful idea, so long as I also had a pen or pencil. :) Unbroken is an amazing story and it just might be one I would take.
    This post was fun! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes, that book on the bottom is my current journal, and it's my favourite. I like how it looks old fashioned, and the quality of the paper is really nice. It even has little clasps to hold it shut!

      Glad you enjoyed it, Lydia, and thanks so much for commenting! :)

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  4. I feel so out of the reading thing. I can barely name a few good books I've read lately. The Bible however is a great choice

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    1. I know what you mean, Vanessa. I've hardly been finding any time to read recently... In fact, none of the books on this list I've read lately. They're more just old favourites I know I can go back to. :)

      Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  5. Nice to read some of your choices. :) I'm on the train to the city where I'm going to the Book Grocer, so hopefully I can find some good books to add to my collection.

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    1. Thanks. :) And lucky you! I hope you find lots of good books, and have fun. :)

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  6. I love your photography!! And I'd definitely pick big fat books if I was stuck on a desert island too. :P Probably LOTR even...because it'd make me sit down and read them. HA. Actually I could easily pick The Raven Cycle because I would never get tired of rereading those books. Eeep! And a blank notebook would be yesssss please. I can just imagine all the story ideas that'd come whilst being stranded. ;)
    Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!

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    1. Thank you! And I know: not only would being on a deserted island be great for reading, but writing... so many possibilities! In fact, the more I think about it, the more being stranded sounds like a good idea. Thanks again; I feel privileged to have you read and comment. :)

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  7. This looks like a lot of fun! Mind if I tag myself? ;)

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    1. It was! Go for it - looking forward to reading your answers! :)

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