Islands are magical places and the setting for many a good book!
We have picked our top 10 favourites across all genres for a great island read. There is no need to pack these books; all are available to borrow from our Wallace Library.
If you did not tackle this book when you were going through school, a leisurely holiday may be the best place to take in the epic Greek poem that tells of the return journey of Odysseus to the island of Ithaca from Troy. The tale is built on the power of love for home and family, a
message that resonates thousands of years after the book was written.
Read more here.
Did you know that Jules Verne read logs written by some of the first French explorers to the Anambas Archipelago region? Perhaps our islands were inspiration for his castaway stories. This book tells of five men who escape a civil war in a hot air balloon only to become stranded
on an island. Amazing ecological details are interwoven throughout the plot, which centres around the castaways’ attempts to organise a small society of five and fight off a pirate invasion.
Read more here.
The most iconic of all island books, this is a true tale of survival and exploration. Even if you haven't read it, you know the story – a man is shipwrecked and spends many years alone on an island learning to adapt and live resourcefully before he is rescued. It’s an early example
of realistic fiction and a fantastic read throughout.
Read more here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe
Another well-known classic is this adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson who narrates a tale of pirates and buried treasure. Written in 1881, the book tells of the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his search for the buried treasure of an evil pirate, Captain
Flint. To make fiction come to life, we can even arrange a treasure hunt for you on Bawah – an activity that is enjoyed by all ages.
Read more here.
A 1954 novel by Nobel Prize–winning British author William Golding, the book focuses on a group of British boys stranded on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempt to govern themselves. It’s a story of good versus evil and what happens when rules of society break down. Read more here.
Get a deeper understanding of island life in Indonesia through this best- selling autobiographical novel by Indonesian author Andrea Hirata. Recalling his childhood on the island of Belitong, off the coast of Sumatra, the book offers a glimpse into the lives of Indonesia children growing up in island villages. You’ll finish it with insights into the country and a warmth for the children who live in it.
Read more here.
You may have enjoyed the 2010 Julia Roberts movie based on this Elizabeth Gilbert novel. After rediscovering the joy of eating in Italy and praying in India, the author journeyed to Bali where she found love. This book will inspire you to immerse in the culture wherever you go and find
joy in everyday life as if you were a local.
Read more here.
Published in 2005, this historic novel is set in Plaka, a small Greek seaside village. The novel details the Petrakis family’s experiences on the tiny island of Spinalonga – where the nation's leper colony lives – and the impact it has on their lives during World War II.
Read more here.
Recounting a backpacker’s search for the perfect beach, The Beach is a fictional story set in Thailand about an idyllic community that is unspoilt by tourism. The isolated beach is only known by a small group of young international travellers who strive to preserve its seclusion above all else.
Read more here.
The first in the classic Famous Five Series, this fantastic story tells of the adventures of a group of cousins as they spend their summer holidays on the island of Kirrin with their aunt and uncle. From shipwrecks and treasure maps to dungeons and gold, this story will have children’s imaginations spinning. Read more here.
Please do feel free to borrow any of these titles during your stay on Bawah Reserve, simply leave in your room or return to the library before your departure.