Desert Island Antiquaries | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

L

Littlestone May 29, 2011 14:42:20

Replying to VBB

If by a Book VBB you mean the Bible then no thanks. I think DID guests are allowed an alternative, so can I have the Bhagavad Gita (or the Art of War by Sun Tzu instead ;-) The only thing I’d really like with me on the island, from here, would be the little clay, two thousand year old Egyptian oil lamp that sits on my desk – a reminder of both our ‘development’ over the last two thousand years and a useful little something to read by :-)

S

StoneGloves May 29, 2011 15:49:19

Replying to VBB

The first Thom, Brave New World, any mid-period Zappa, and a photo of the Mona Lisa. Thanks !

W

wideford May 29, 2011 16:28:07

Replying to VBB

"Introduction to British Prehistory" from when archaeologists almost knew it all (they thought), "Ada" by Vladimir Nabokov (this is how you write SF as real-life), "Disaster" by Amon Duul II (still outre after all this time but so many echoes in the modern music scene) and "Dejeuner sur l'herbes"

T

tjj May 29, 2011 17:12:53

Replying to VBB

Fiction = 'Ulysses' by James Joyce because although I've owned a copy for years, I haven't got around to reading it yet.

Non-fiction = Any book on Wild Flowers to remind me of home and spring.

CD = "The Whole of the Moon" - Mike Scott and the Waterboys because of the Glastonbury Song ... "there is a green hill far away, I'm going back there one fine day".

M

moss May 30, 2011 07:20:38

Replying to VBB

VBB wrote:

Desert Island Antiquaries

In addition to the Book and a copy of Sir John Lubbock's Prehistoric Times you can choose one work of non fiction and one novel plus a CD album (no compilations) and a photograph of an artefact or a work of art.

I took a great deal of pleasure in musing over this, too many things came to mind but for the work of art, discarding Paul Nash and John Piper, the Brotherhood of Ruralists came to mind ...so if I can't have Constable's Stonehenge..... this which represents a lot of the things I do,
http://ruralists.com/artists/grahamarnold/gaworks/1983/AQuietGathering.jpg

Novel has to be Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, just for its length and scope.

Music; don't do CDs has to be Pete Gabriel and 'Solsbury Hill' for its ability to make you get up and dance..

Non fiction will be Aubrey Burl (Prehistoric Avebury) if it has to be stone based, otherwise Geoffrey Grigson - The Englishman's Flora...

J

Jane May 30, 2011 09:20:42

Replying to VBB

VBB wrote:

Desert Island Antiquaries

In addition to the Book and a copy of Sir John Lubbock's Prehistoric Times you can choose one work of non fiction and one novel plus a CD album (no compilations) and a photograph of an artefact or a work of art.

Nice idea VBB!

one work of non fiction = David Quammen's 'The Song of the Dodo'

one novel = Marcel Pagnol's 'The Water of the Hills'

CD album (no compilations) = Santana's 'Moonflower'

a photograph of an artefact or a work of art = van Gogh's 'Fourteen sunflowers in a vase' (the NG London version)

J

juamei May 30, 2011 10:53:15

Replying to VBB

After a couple of days rumination, rated by difficulty of decision.

(easy)
one work of non fiction = 'Godel Escher Bach' by Douglas Hofstader

(medium)
a photograph of an artefact or a work of art = Number 1 by Jackson Pollock

(hard)
one novel = 'Lord Jim' by Joseph Conrad

(nigh on impossible so pretty much picked at random from about 20)
CD album (no compilations) = Sisters of Mercy - Some Girls Wander By Mistake

T

thesweetcheat May 30, 2011 11:07:56

Replying to VBB

Non-fiction: Burl's big hardback "Stone Circles of..." (the most recent edition).

Fiction: Steven Erikson's "Malazan Book of the Fallen" (10 vols).

CD: Joy Division: "Unknown Pleasures", although if it was a truly desert island I might go for Virginia Astley's "From Gardens Where We Feel Secure" to remind me of greenery and birds. And can't we have a single to go with it? In which case "Atmosphere/Dead Souls" is coming too.

Photo of an artifact: The little brown pottery dog on display in the Thailand part of the British Museum. He's called Bobby.

D

drewbhoy May 30, 2011 12:45:54

Replying to VBB

The History Of Modern Earth (complete) by JRRT.

Tom Weir - Scotland (loads of info about his legendary walks)

Album - No Mean City by Nazareth

(like Sweetcheat a single would be good, Euphoria, Take My Hand - Glasvegas)

Art/Photo - Jock Stein and European Cup 1967, first Scottish club to win the trophy.

D

drewbhoy May 30, 2011 12:48:07

Replying to VBB

Nice idea, VBB!

T

tiompan May 30, 2011 13:14:23

Replying to VBB

Liable to change at any moment , but at present .

non fiction : How to survive on a desert island with two books a cd and a picture .
Fiction :Anything big in Finnish (trying to understand it might help pass the time ).
CD : Recording of the local thrush .
Pic : Photo of family .

S

summerlands May 30, 2011 14:38:42

Replying to VBB

Grr! This is too hard! I have had to delete two enteries already... I'll likely change my mind again in five min's too ;-) but for now...

One work of non fiction: Either an Andy Goldsworthy book, or A History of the World in 100 Objects. Or maybe a Ray Mears survival book would be more sensible? :-S

One novel: The Gathering Night by Margaret Elphinstone (read that recently and I recon it's got a few more readings in it at least, lots to ponder...)

CD album (no compilations): I think maybe 'Fear of Fours' by Lamb (obviously I like wonky music too then :-) )

Photograph of an artefact or a work of art: I fancy something tactile, like the Venus of Willendorf, or one of those carved stone balls - recon someone would lend me one? ;-)

H

Howburn Digger May 30, 2011 15:38:31

Replying to VBB

Non Fiction - Balfour's "Book of Arran" (1910)

Fiction - Drummond and Manning's "Bad Wisdom" or "The Wild Highway"

CD - Paul Quinn and The Independent Group "Will I Ever Be Inside Of You?"

Picture - OS Sheet 361 (Isle of Arran) Explorer Series

My island will of course be Arran.

P

postman May 30, 2011 16:06:51

Replying to VBB

Non fiction - Hubble. Imaging space and time. For it's indescribable beauty.

Fiction - Arthur C Clarkes, Childhoods end. Beause I really like it

CD - Pink Floyds, Dark side of the moon. Because it's brilliant

A big picture of the George Seurats painting of people by a lake. (Hope you know which one I mean) Because I can lose myself looking at it for ages.

R

Rhiannon May 31, 2011 08:12:45

Replying to VBB

ooh this is interesting isn't it, lots of things people mention to go and look into.

For my non-fiction I would have Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle journal, because it's so interesting and he comes across as an amusing chap.

The novel would have to be Russell Hoban's 'Riddley Walker' in his neo-Iron Age Kent.

Cd I think 'I care because you do' by Aphex Twin, because I've never got tired of it.

And for my artifact (I'm not settling for no picture of it) I would like the Rillaton gold cup so I can drink my tea out of it. Oh go on. I'll look after it properly.

C

CARL May 31, 2011 13:22:04

Replying to VBB

Non fiction book - Standing with Stones
Fiction book- War of the Worlds - HG Wells
Album - Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys
Plus a photo of Castlerigg stone circle

G

gjrk May 31, 2011 15:37:02

Replying to VBB

VBB wrote:

Desert Island Antiquaries

In addition to the Book and a copy of Sir John Lubbock's Prehistoric Times you can choose one work of non fiction and one novel plus a CD album (no compilations) and a photograph of an artefact or a work of art.

'The World as Will and Representation'

'War and Peace'

Current 93; 'The Inmost Light' (played once a full moon, only)

and Raphael's 'La Donna Velata'

S

scubi63 Jun 1, 2011 20:08:55

Replying to VBB

JC's The Megalithic European as I haven't read mine yet and it would go with The Great Book.

Douglas Adams' The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy to keep my sense of humour intact.

The CD is difficult as I would actually like a copy of the Dawn Chorus as I never tire of hearing it, however failing that it will have to be Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album.

The 13000 year old Clovis Spear Point would be my artefact picture as it would remind me that I am capable of making tools to get me food and to create a work of art in the same object.

:o)