What book would you bring if you were stranded on an island?
We all have our favorite “beach reads.” Summer sends most of us out looking for a recliner perched near the ocean waves, a good (or at least entertaining) book in our clutches.
But what if you were limited to one book — and only one book — to take along to an otherwise-empty island? Which book would it be? Fiction or nonfiction? Funny or serious? Spiritual or merely material?
We asked our respondents this week to tell us what would be their “chosen read.”
CLEMENTINE CASTRO, vocalist/guitarist, Camerawalls: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This book has turned me into an incurable optimist where I consider every problem an opportunity in disguise. The idea of not losing hope and allowing the whole universe to conspire to make things happen in the face of adversities is truly a recipe in building dreams.
IAN SARABIA, drummer, Camerawalls: Aside from the obvious “survival book” answer, if I were suddenly stuck on an island I would like to have the Bible with me. It’s a long book. Many layers. You can read it over and over again and see something new each time. It’s inspirational and it’ll help when I finally do “get off” the island. Its pages are also made of hemp — a plant good for making, uh, rope and other useful things.
But since I’ll never know if or when I’m gonna get stuck on an island, I’d probably be holding the book I’m reading now. It’s called Watchmen, a graphic novel by Alan Moore. Like the Bible, it, too, has many interesting and thought-provoking ideas — although it’s not as long and not as inspirational.
LAW SANTIAGO, bassist, Camerawalls: Bob Ong’s ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! is funny, but also sensible. It talks about Bob’s misadventures when he was a student, which reminded me of my years spent in school. What I like about this book is that the end of every story, he emphasizes yung point and lesson sa bawat kwento.
MARILEN FAUSTINE MONTENEGRO, interior design VP, Reeds and Sticks Inc.: If I were to be stranded on an island I would want to have a book on survival to inspire me like Island Survival: Book 2 by Gordon Korman. Or something like Nim’s
AURORA REP. SONNY ANGARA: I would take a book to make me laugh since I would probably need it, given the circumstances — maybe Holidays in Hell by PJ O’Rourke, which is about vacations gone wrong. If I ever made it back from the island I could write my own chapter.
BERNIE CONCEPCION, president/COO, Swift Foods Inc.: Three books I would likely have with me on an island: 1) The Gospel of Contemplation by Sister Mary Niere, OCD; 2) The Interior Castle (St. Teresa of
MIA BORROMEO, consultant, Rafe, Mix and Celestina: Stranded and not on holiday, I take it? The Bible, because it’s the one book that gives us hope, strength and courage in times of trouble.
ALLANA MONTELIBANO, entrepreneur: If I was stranded on a desert island I would read The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran because it’s a book that gives us deep insights into the mastery of life and how to deal with all the aspects and facets of life’s trials and triumphs. It gives knowledge of pain, of sacrifice, of family, of love, of self, of God and the purpose of our existence. It would be a comfort to read a book that explains what we are here to learn in life and the glory of life and love, in the midst of uncertainty, such as on a deserted island.
CHEF ROLAND LAUDICO: I would bring a really thick book with tons of illustrations and pictures, like a Wikipedia book (heh, heh) that would keep me reading for awhile.
