Which famous trilogy would Kristin Hannah take to a desert island?

What Book… 

Novelist, Kristin Hannah

. . . are you reading now?

I’m very fortunate to be reading an advance copy of Isabel Allende’s forthcoming novel, My Name Is Emilia Del Valle.

As a long-time fan of Allende’s work, I jumped at the chance to immerse myself in her beautiful world again. Especially now I am deep in the editorial process of my own work in progress, so quieting my brain can be a difficult thing.

It’s lovely that I can dive into this elegantly told tale of love, war, and redemption, set in 19th-century San Francisco.

At the novel’s heart is a strong woman with great will and courage who believes she is destined for greatness. What’s not to love?

. . . would you take to a desert island?

WOW. The very thought of having to limit one’s reading choices to a single book is awful.

Of course, even worse would be no book. So with the caveat that I never leave on vacation without at least five books in my bag, I will choose The Lord Of The Rings.

First of all, I absolutely love the story, and the world Tolkien created. The characters are lodged in my heart for all time but, beyond that, the story is one of individual courage in the face of almost impossible odds.

The perfect ‘mixture of light and dark’ 

I think it would be of great comfort if I were all alone on an island.

. . . first gave you the reading bug?

The first book I remember falling in love with was Charlie And The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

I still remember parts keenly; Charlie’s goodness and heart, Wonka’s zany genius, the Bucket family’s love for each other, the unruly other children who received the coveted golden ticket.

I loved the mixture of light and dark that was such a Dahl hallmark.

. . . left you cold

The older I’ve gotten, the more discerning I’ve become in my reading. In my younger days, I finished every book, but these days, time is my most valued commodity, so I will put a book down if it doesn’t hook my interest in the first 50 pages.

Therefore, fewer books ultimately disappoint me. So, I’ll look back to one of the classics, one of those books I’m supposed to love but just don’t for some reason: Moby Dick.

I didn’t connect with that story on any level, although it has a great first line. 

The Women by Kristin Hannah is available now in paperback from the Mail Bookshop