I have an irrational fear of *running out of reading material* on vacation, so I'm always looking for a good chonky novel that I know I won't be able to get through no matter how long my flights are delayed. This summer's travel reading has been The Mirror and the Light, the third book in Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell. Not exactly uplifting, but it does keep me interested! And I've still got 300 pages left!
This is what made me finally get a Kindle a few years ago. I'd pack so many books that I'd get the "HEAVY" tag of shame put on my suitcase every time. I watched my poor dad insist on carrying my suitcase into the house on a visit and thought to myself "I must stop this madness." But the thought of getting stuck somewhere without books? It's like being stuck somewhere without oxygen!
This is so relatable! I have the same fear combined with a compulsion to buy books wherever I go. I have learned to make any vacation work on a single pair of shoes so that I can have book room 😭
I am so with you on this. I always carry on when I fly to London and bring a small duffle folded in the suitcase and check my bag on the way home. I just can't be stopped- the bookshops are too delicious!
I just finished Glynnis Macnicol's I'm Mostly Here To Enjoy Myself on the train through Wales (on holiday!) yesterday and it was absolutely fantastic. Now picking up Cloistered to continue the memoirs-by-women-making-unconventional-choices theme (and also the new Mhairi Macfarlane)
For a trip to Finland I packed: Boel Westin's VERY good biography of Tove Jansson (Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words) and This Life: Why Mortality Makes Us Free by Martin Hägglund (A meditation on mortality that moves into a case for socialist futures. I have always thought the Christian idea of heaven that was given to me in childhood was really...suspect and unappealing? I just am "happy" up there forever? To what end!? This book helped me verbalize my feelings and find my way to my own beliefs.) I like when my reads reflect where I am, it gives me a sense of groundedness for the trip itself.
I also really love adrienne maree brown's Grievers series of sci-fi novellas for a shorter or fiction read.
The BEST! "Letters from Tove" is also wonderful. Her book "Fair Play" has never been a vacation book for me but is definitely a favorite camping companion!
Exactly 24 years ago I spent a summer backpacking through Southeast Asia. I'd just graduated from college, and I brought a few books with me, which I read much faster than I expected. When I got to Bali I hunted down the only (used) bookstore and scoured the English section for something to read. I ended up with Middlemarch, a book I tried and failed to get through for a class my first year of college. This time around it only took me a couple of days; spending 8-10 hours a day horizontal at the beach and/or pool will do that to you. To this day, it's the best beach read I've ever known.
I haven't read State of Wonder yet (but it's on my TBR), but I did listen to Tom Lake, which is narrated by Meryl Streep. After that experience, I have decided that Meryl Streep should narrate ALL the books. Also - Ann Patchett is absolutely brilliant. Her writing gets me to read novels I'd never otherwise pick up. She is magic.
She IS magic isn't she! I don't know why I'd not read her work sooner. And, a fabulous fit- Meryl Streep. Genius. I've also got Bel Canto on my shelf so may read that next.
I'm envious you've visited Parnassus Books. I can only imagine that it's a place full of wonderful energy and magic. Meryl would be the cherry on top! ;)
Yes, you are correct. It is like walking into Disney World, you just don't know where to start. There's something for everyone. You can buy an autographed copy of any of them and she's there sometimes too. I want to support indies so I never spend less than $150.00. And plenty of stickers too!
Oh, great point- now that you say it I have also enjoyed reading books that require more time and patience on vacations. Three that jumped out right away as memorable vacation reads were Bram Stoker's Dracula (a long, slow-paced study abroad in Sweden), Neil Gaiman's American Gods (mountains-US), and Erica Jong's Fear of Flying (beach-US- ok this was a relatively easy read but boy has it stuck with me). I also read Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, Willa Cather's My Antonia (highly, highly recommend this gem if you haven't read it) among others during one lazy summer when I didn't have many other responsibilities.
Once upon a time, I loved beach reads. I still love a good police procedural and highly recommend Tana French, especially her first, or Elizabeth George for these. Long ago, perhaps the book I could not pull myself away from one summer was “Midwives” by Chris Bohelian, a natural story teller. Right now I’m alternating between Laurel Finkel and Leslie Jamison’s “Empathy Exams.” Next I’ll tackle her memoir “Splinters.”
We're still in "Junuary" here in the Pacific Northwest so beach reading isn't quite yet on the table. In my short pile of intriguing but challenging books are Naomi Klein's Doppelganger and Palestinian Walks by Raja Shedhadeh, about hiking around a landscape in constant change and conflict. Lots of books here on your various lists that I want to check out though! I have a friend in Sweden who rereads Tove Jansson's The Summer Book every summer. It's a little miracle of humor and wisdom.
I'm currently reading All My Wild Mothers by Victoria Benmett. I'm also reading The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd, both are totally immersive. I have a few Umberto Eco books that I've had a while. So I'd probably dip into them 😊
I'm currently reading Manjula Martin's "The Last Fire Season," about living in Northern California as wildfires become more common, about a specific fire season we had in 2020, about humans' relationship to fire, about her chronic pain, and so much more. It's stupendously good, and a healing read after years of wildfire trauma.
I also do my best reading on vacations. Reading Lolita in Tehran is my all time favorite from like 20 years ago! I still remember experiencing that book while on the beach in South Africa. I mean, beach adjacent. I burn too easily.
I do love and recommend Helen garners diaries as a holiday read, three volumes in total. Love the books and also love the audio version (good for listening while laying on beaches) hearing her read her own diaries adds even more resonance.
I have an irrational fear of *running out of reading material* on vacation, so I'm always looking for a good chonky novel that I know I won't be able to get through no matter how long my flights are delayed. This summer's travel reading has been The Mirror and the Light, the third book in Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell. Not exactly uplifting, but it does keep me interested! And I've still got 300 pages left!
I share your fear! It makes my suitcase very heavy 😅
This is what made me finally get a Kindle a few years ago. I'd pack so many books that I'd get the "HEAVY" tag of shame put on my suitcase every time. I watched my poor dad insist on carrying my suitcase into the house on a visit and thought to myself "I must stop this madness." But the thought of getting stuck somewhere without books? It's like being stuck somewhere without oxygen!
This is so relatable! I have the same fear combined with a compulsion to buy books wherever I go. I have learned to make any vacation work on a single pair of shoes so that I can have book room 😭
Priorities! I definitely bought six books at three different bookstores on my last big trip 🤷♀️
I am so with you on this. I always carry on when I fly to London and bring a small duffle folded in the suitcase and check my bag on the way home. I just can't be stopped- the bookshops are too delicious!
I just finished Glynnis Macnicol's I'm Mostly Here To Enjoy Myself on the train through Wales (on holiday!) yesterday and it was absolutely fantastic. Now picking up Cloistered to continue the memoirs-by-women-making-unconventional-choices theme (and also the new Mhairi Macfarlane)
this sounds like a great theme!
For a trip to Finland I packed: Boel Westin's VERY good biography of Tove Jansson (Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words) and This Life: Why Mortality Makes Us Free by Martin Hägglund (A meditation on mortality that moves into a case for socialist futures. I have always thought the Christian idea of heaven that was given to me in childhood was really...suspect and unappealing? I just am "happy" up there forever? To what end!? This book helped me verbalize my feelings and find my way to my own beliefs.) I like when my reads reflect where I am, it gives me a sense of groundedness for the trip itself.
I also really love adrienne maree brown's Grievers series of sci-fi novellas for a shorter or fiction read.
I am going to look up the Tove Jansson biography. I saw a documentary about her, and found it fascinating. Thanks for the recommendation!
Tove Jansson is the best!! 💜
The BEST! "Letters from Tove" is also wonderful. Her book "Fair Play" has never been a vacation book for me but is definitely a favorite camping companion!
The Tove Jansson book has been on my list for ages. I need to bump it up the list and stop getting distracted by other books ; )
Exactly 24 years ago I spent a summer backpacking through Southeast Asia. I'd just graduated from college, and I brought a few books with me, which I read much faster than I expected. When I got to Bali I hunted down the only (used) bookstore and scoured the English section for something to read. I ended up with Middlemarch, a book I tried and failed to get through for a class my first year of college. This time around it only took me a couple of days; spending 8-10 hours a day horizontal at the beach and/or pool will do that to you. To this day, it's the best beach read I've ever known.
Love this!
I recently took Ann Patchetts State of Wonder, which was brilliant. And now reading Tom Lake, also by her- very immersive!
I haven't read State of Wonder yet (but it's on my TBR), but I did listen to Tom Lake, which is narrated by Meryl Streep. After that experience, I have decided that Meryl Streep should narrate ALL the books. Also - Ann Patchett is absolutely brilliant. Her writing gets me to read novels I'd never otherwise pick up. She is magic.
She IS magic isn't she! I don't know why I'd not read her work sooner. And, a fabulous fit- Meryl Streep. Genius. I've also got Bel Canto on my shelf so may read that next.
Oh my god, Bel Canto is absolutely the best of all! One of my favorites of all time. Enjoy it.
I also own Bel Canto, but haven't read it yet. Apparently, I need to bump that one up the TBR list! ;)
Yes! Get in there. It's so beautiful and moving. Top of the queue for sure.
I will bring it to the top of my pile!
I'm so envious you haven't yet read it. It's such a beauty.
Love her books!
I've been to her Indie bookstore in Nashville. It’s fantastic! I've never seen Meryl in there though…
I'm envious you've visited Parnassus Books. I can only imagine that it's a place full of wonderful energy and magic. Meryl would be the cherry on top! ;)
Yes, you are correct. It is like walking into Disney World, you just don't know where to start. There's something for everyone. You can buy an autographed copy of any of them and she's there sometimes too. I want to support indies so I never spend less than $150.00. And plenty of stickers too!
OMG. I LOVE stickers!!
Oh, great point- now that you say it I have also enjoyed reading books that require more time and patience on vacations. Three that jumped out right away as memorable vacation reads were Bram Stoker's Dracula (a long, slow-paced study abroad in Sweden), Neil Gaiman's American Gods (mountains-US), and Erica Jong's Fear of Flying (beach-US- ok this was a relatively easy read but boy has it stuck with me). I also read Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, Willa Cather's My Antonia (highly, highly recommend this gem if you haven't read it) among others during one lazy summer when I didn't have many other responsibilities.
My Antonia 💜
Once upon a time, I loved beach reads. I still love a good police procedural and highly recommend Tana French, especially her first, or Elizabeth George for these. Long ago, perhaps the book I could not pull myself away from one summer was “Midwives” by Chris Bohelian, a natural story teller. Right now I’m alternating between Laurel Finkel and Leslie Jamison’s “Empathy Exams.” Next I’ll tackle her memoir “Splinters.”
Loved Empathy Exams!
We're still in "Junuary" here in the Pacific Northwest so beach reading isn't quite yet on the table. In my short pile of intriguing but challenging books are Naomi Klein's Doppelganger and Palestinian Walks by Raja Shedhadeh, about hiking around a landscape in constant change and conflict. Lots of books here on your various lists that I want to check out though! I have a friend in Sweden who rereads Tove Jansson's The Summer Book every summer. It's a little miracle of humor and wisdom.
Also a seasonal Tove reader! Love knowing there’s another out there in the wide world!
I'm currently reading All My Wild Mothers by Victoria Benmett. I'm also reading The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd, both are totally immersive. I have a few Umberto Eco books that I've had a while. So I'd probably dip into them 😊
Love Nan Shepherd! And Robert MacFarlane, through whom I discovered her.
I'm currently reading Manjula Martin's "The Last Fire Season," about living in Northern California as wildfires become more common, about a specific fire season we had in 2020, about humans' relationship to fire, about her chronic pain, and so much more. It's stupendously good, and a healing read after years of wildfire trauma.
I also do my best reading on vacations. Reading Lolita in Tehran is my all time favorite from like 20 years ago! I still remember experiencing that book while on the beach in South Africa. I mean, beach adjacent. I burn too easily.
Reading Lolita in Tehran is surely the title of your memoir :)
That seems like plagiarism! My stupid little life doesn't deserve a memoir
Reading Reading Lolita in Tehran in South Africa? Hmmmm… might be too wordy 🤔 😁
😂
Anything by Jhumpa Lahira and A Free Life by Ha Jin.💝💝💝
I once attracted the notice of another hotel guest for my beach reading, Middlemarch.
Enjoy your trip, Katherine!! May it refresh you get deep rest and refresh, you are a treasure❤️
Getting ready to crack the cover on Kelly Link's, The Book of Love, and cannot wait to immerse myself in her first full-length novel.
I am really looking forward to this one!
I do love and recommend Helen garners diaries as a holiday read, three volumes in total. Love the books and also love the audio version (good for listening while laying on beaches) hearing her read her own diaries adds even more resonance.