The World's Common Tater

I published this on Medium over the weekend. I thought I would share it here as well.

I was inspired to write my list when I read Marie Kester’s article 7 Books I Would Read While Stuck on a Desert Island.

Full disclosure, I have a vague idea of my list as I start, but this list will be made in real time as I write.

1. Swan Song by Robert McCammon — This is the book I always list as my favorite book of all time. From Goodreads — “In a wasteland born of rage, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies, the last survivors on earth have been drawn into the final battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of humanity” — I’ve always thought I should read it again as it has been years since I’ve read it but it is 950 pages long. This would be the perfect opportunity to read it again without thinking about all of the other books I need to read.
2. The Stand by Stephen King — This one is very similar to the first. A fight between good and evil in a wasteland of postapocalyptic Earth. It has been years since I’ve read it. I never choose to re-read it because it is very long and I feel like I should read the books I haven’t read instead of taking the time to read this one again.
3. Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story by Christopher Moore — I would want something lighter to counter the two end of the world books above. Chris is always a good choice when looking for something funny. All of his books are very good , but this one has always been my favorite. I have always been a fan of vampire books and movies. Add the Moore humor and you get the perfect book for me.
4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy — I’m not trying to sound smart or sophisticated here. I always think I should read this or one of the Russians, but I know I will never make the choice to do so in real life. If I was stranded I might take the time to read it. If not, the hardcover could be used to break open coconuts or knock an animal unconscious so I could kill and eat it.
5. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner — I know I would get homesick while stranded and this book feels like home. The following quote by Zentner explains why I connected to it as I did.

I wanted to write about young people who struggle to live lives of dignity and find beauty in a forgotten and unglamorous place. Who wonder what becomes of dreams once they cross the county line. This book is my love letter to those young people and anyone who has ever felt like them, no matter where they grew up.

6. The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever by John Feinstein — because I borrowed it from my brother years ago, never read it, and never returned it. I feel a little bad because he is not a bog reader and I’ve stolen one of the books he read and liked. I could return it to him once I was rescued and feel better about myself.

7. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman — I have my YA book, two horrors, a classic, humor, and non-fiction. I like mysteries and thrillers, but I don’t know that I would want to read them over and over(depending on how long I was stranded) so I decided to go the fantasy direction. I love Gaiman’s books and I think I loved this one the most because I read it right before my first trip to London. It helped me connect more to the city and might be why London is one of my favorite places in the world.

This was harder than I thought it would be. Part of me wanted to pick books I haven’t read because I don’t re-read books, but it would suck to end up with books I ended up hating.