Islands in fiction for armchair travelers
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| L to R - Janus Rock Is WA, Bougainville Is, Japan-Canada Is, Lizard Is, Chatham Is,Tahiti, Loyalty Is, Caribbean Is, Maine, UK Is. |
10 award winning books...for those who have only ever dreamed of being somewhere else.
I've selected a diverse list of ten compelling fiction titles
for adults with not too many similar books. There's a good representation of
contemporary Australian books as well as those written by women.The geographical spread means readers can travel the islands of the world with these books. Of the three titles from the list that I've read, I would most highly recommend Elizabeth Gilbert's A signature of all things.
Islands bring to mind a desire for a simple utopian life in a busy
and often troubled world. Yet they are not just scenic locations. In fiction
they often refer to a 'paradise lost' or ‘trouble in paradise’ (utopia /
dystopia) and have provided a rich source of inspiration for
writers. One of the first known fiction novels is thought to be Isle de Pines, by
Henry Neville (published in 1668). As early as 360 BC Plato wrote of the
fictional island, Atlantis.
Thomas More's fictional account of the island Utopia
was published in Latin in 1516.
The success of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe in 1719
spawned so many imitations (including RL Stevenson's Treasure Island)
that the name robinsonade was used to define the island
genre.
In the archetypical robinsonade, the protagonist is suddenly isolated from the comforts of civilization, usually shipwrecked or marooned on a secluded and uninhabited island. He must improvise the means of his survival from the limited resources at hand.
In the archetypical robinsonade, the protagonist is suddenly isolated from the comforts of civilization, usually shipwrecked or marooned on a secluded and uninhabited island. He must improvise the means of his survival from the limited resources at hand.
Many people fascinated by islands are driven by their fantasies of finding better things, others by their desire to escape authority. Most people’s idea of an island is a sandy beach that leads to green forests and coconuts trees, but not every island is a tropical paradise.
In the ancient texts common themes included: isolation, a
new beginning, survival, encounters with (apparent) natives, a commentary on
(utopian/dystopian) society...these themes resonate in the contemporary list of
books I've selected.
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| Thomas More's Utopia -Ortelius map 1595 |
Audience
Adult readers looking
for stimulation and engagement are a core reading group and we want the library
to nurture their interest. Promoting an Island theme may introduce readers to
titles they may not have considered otherwise.
Island quotes
As families become smaller and communities become more gated, we think we are islands but actually we’re inter-connected archipelagos of islands. –David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas).
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| Hamilton Island |
As families become smaller and communities become more gated, we think we are islands but actually we’re inter-connected archipelagos of islands. –David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas).
Come away with me, he said, we will live on a desert island. I said, I am a desert island. It was not what he had in mind. ― Margaret Atwood.
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| Atlantis -source National Geographic |
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent. ― John Donne.
The psychology of the coastal dweller…walking along the edge of an ocean…all the time looking to the horizon…that’s where otherness and possibility reside. –Lloyd Jones, author Mr Pip
Wikipedia A-Z list of
fictional islands
Barbara - what an interesting and inspiring introduction to your annotated bibliography and blog. The inclusion of the world map is a great idea providing the reader with a sense of "place" for each novel. Looking forward to reading my way around these islands :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie ! I was surprised to learn island fiction has a long history - so I'm very glad to have been able to share it.
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