If you knew you were to be stranded on a desert island and you could take 5 books (not including the Works of Shakespeare and the religious text of your choice), 1 CD and 1 luxury item, what would you take? This is the question we ask in our new column, based on Radio 4's Desert Island Disks. Each week a member of staff, a student or a person of interest will put forward their choices.
Friday 20th of April
A bumper opening edition, we have the choices of all three librarians:
Mrs Swan
1. The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies (single volume edition - so not cheating) - because it's truthful but optimistic about human nature.
2. Adam Bede by George Eliot
- because it's beautiful and contains a very brilliant sermon.
3. Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge - because, although a little sentimental at times, Goudge really understands spirituality and the complicated byways of the human heart.
4. The Complete Short Stories of HG Wells - because, since my father gave to me in1979 it's always been my essential bedside book.
5. A poetry anthology - but I'd have to put it together myself because the Oxford is good, but doesn't have my favourite Donne, and Other Men's Flowers - Wavell is lovely, but not enough moderns (I want Norman McCaig)
CD - Rachmaninov Vespers, Opus 37 [The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir version]
Luxury - an unlimited supply of paper, an unbreakable fountain pen and unlimited ink
|
Mrs Finch
1. Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier
4. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
5. Star Island by Carl Hiassen
CD - Help! by the Beatles
Luxury - A big feather bed
|
Mrs Saint-Smith
1. Persuasion by Jane Austen - a tale of love, hope, constancy and patience; all things required if you are stranded on a desert island I should imagine.
2. The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett - I can always count on Pratchett to make me laugh.
3. Gertrude Bell: A Biography by H.V.F. Winstone - Gertrude Bell was an incredible woman, if you don't know who she is then look her up, and this book inspires me every time I look at it.
4. Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones - it has been one of my favourite books since I was a tweenager, it is a delight to read.
5. A history of the geographic region in which the desert island is situated - whenever I travel I like to learn as much as I can about the place I am in.
CD - the soundtrack to the film Swingtime, sung by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Luxury - a large rolltop bath with an inexhaustable supply of hot water
|
If you are interested in having your choices featured in this column, please email them to: lsaint-smith@gch.org.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment