Washed up?
SIX THINGS RAOUL DE JONG WOULD NEED ON A DESERT ISLAND
Ahoy there! Our castaway this week is the sensationally blue-eyed Dutch author, Raoul de Jong. Raoul is no stranger to the idea of being marooned, having recently rewritten the story of gay sailor Leendert Hasenbosch getting dumped on Ascension island in 1725 after getting caught in the act with one of his fellow seamen. Yikes! Here, Raoul shares his own survival tips ahead of a live reading of his piece in BUTT 36 on July 2, at Sadie Coles HQ in London (also on an island).
Banjo (1929), by Claude McKay
Claude McKay was a queer Jamaican writer and this book is kind of like my Bible – a manifesto to do the bare minimum in order to survive, so you can use the rest of your time to swim, take naps, dance and make love.
MY BOYFRIEND
Because Pisces – my sign – are apparently the least likely people to survive on a deserted island, I would bring my boyfriend. He’s a Virgo.
Down There on a Visit (1962), by Christopher Isherwood
No matter how often I read this book, it always makes me laugh. One chapter is dedicated to the time a young aristocrat brought Isherwood to a Grecian island populated with a lot of cute, sexy boys and all the drama that follows. It’s delicious.
PEN AND PAPER
To keep a diary and write a constitution.
A FLAG
Something that tells the people to stay away, unless they understand that this island is ruled by birds, trees, turtles and two boys who love all of it.
Some practical things
I guess I’ll need those too…