I know, it’s a bit macabre, but I started wondering if there was any information on books prisoners had read while on Death Row and there’s not a lot of documented information out there. So as usual, I turned to the experts (you lot) to ask what one book you would want with you in your cell if you were on Death Row. We added the proviso that you could have a religious book too and almost 1,000 of you replied, quoting over 150 different titles. I’ve spent today collating that information, and from it we have 27 Death Row Reads.
One commenter summed up how many of you felt about the whole thing here. Sorry (not sorry), we understand what a difficult question it must have been.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
No one could blame you for wanting a comfort read, and the most chosen book of them all was exactly that as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out on top.
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A classic for sure, and always top of many of our polls, To Kill a Mockingbird comes next for you and who could blame you for looking for looking for the advice of Atticus Finch at a time of great need?
The Green Mile – Stephen King
An odd choice, maybe, but as the Green Mile is a favourite of many we can see why it might make this list. You’re a tortuous lot!
Lord of the Rings – J. R. R Tolkien
If nothing else the Lord of the Rings is certainly a hefty tome, and thankfully such a great read that you can get to the end, turn it over and start again. The Hobbit also makes the list at the other end.
War & Peace – Leo Tolstoy
That’s one way of ensuring you finally get it to the top of the ‘to be read’ pile!
The Count of Monte Cristo
Many of you clearly like your heroes to reflect your life situation, and we can see how this might be an enjoyable read if you’re suffering a great injustice!
Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
Another series that does very well in all our polls is Outlander and many of you would happily accept just the first book if you could only have one.
The Stand – Stephen King
The Stand is the second Stephen King novel to make the list, and as a favourite of many you said you’d happily read it over and over.
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
With many of you having read this over and over since childhood, it’s understandable that you may want it for comfort at such a difficult time.
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is such a wonderful book and we’re not at all surprised to see it feature in this list.
So that’s the top ten but we promised you a list of twenty-seven, and following on from those we have…
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J. K Rowling
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
The Five People you Meet in Heaven – Mitch Albom
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The Dictionary
The Hobbit – J. R. R Tolkien
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Chronicles of Narnia – C. S Lewis
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – J. K Rowling
An Encyclopaedia
Anne of Green Gables – Lucy Maud Montgomery
Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Shawshank Redemption – Stephen King
Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
Let’s hope you get a pardon 😉
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