Tuesday 1 June 2010

Paperback reader

I am off to America next week and I am, of course, very excited (please don't hate me, it is a much needed holiday).

I would love your help with some recommendations of good paperbacks (for they are light and my suitcase will not be) that I could take with me. Pretty much everything on my wish list seems to have a long delivery time, be in hardback or be far too serious for sun loungers and twelve hour flights.

So if you could help me with paperbacks that will be easy to get in the next few days, are suitable for long plane journeys and attention spans made short by the combination of time changes, sun and hopefully cocktails I would be very, very grateful.
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15 comments:

  1. Karen Jones Gowen1 June 2010 at 15:50

    I recommend Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Perfect for traveling.

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  2. Rose1 June 2010 at 15:56

    Hi Karen- I just saw the trailer for the film at the weekend- I will get!

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  3. lady jane grey1 June 2010 at 17:03

    A single Man by Christopher Isherwood (and have a lovely relaxing holiday)

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  4. Mr London Street1 June 2010 at 17:43

    I think you can't beat a bit of Jilly Cooper. But if you want something more "literary" yet portable and readable, "Liars and Saints" and "A Family Daughter" by Maile Meloy are both superb.

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  5. Pamela Terry and Edward1 June 2010 at 19:23

    My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.
    It's my favourite summer read.
    It's fun, witty, and sun-drenched. And the paperback is small.

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  6. slowdownapproaching301 June 2010 at 22:53

    I read American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld on holiday and adored it. Have a great trip!

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  7. ScentScelf2 June 2010 at 04:38

    I have to admit, I often pack one...and buy one at the airport. There's something about the permission to buy "trashy"...plus, I'm lucky that our airport has a good bookstore.

    Okay, I have to 'fess up to another travel habit: a pile of periodicals. Again, pick 'em at the airport, and keep them in the room. Will generally go for a Vanity Fair, a specialty mag, a literary mag, an Economist...and maybe a glossy gossip something. (Yes, okay, VF is basically that. But with more words. ;) )

    Will you reveal general region of the U.S. you are headed to?

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  8. Rose2 June 2010 at 10:02

    You're all so kind and these seem like great suggestions. I am ordering some Isherwood, Maile and Sittenfield- and have already got Eat Pray Love last night! Pam I am only not getting Gerald because I already have and adore this too!

    Scentscelf- oh there will be periodicals worry not! I am exactly the same, I like a nice pile of glossies and a few high brow ones for the plane- and will have fun reading some American magazines that are hard to get here when I'm there too.

    I am off to LA and Vegas! I would love to go to New Orleans, san Francisco and lots of other places but the opportunity came up to go to these and I can't wait.

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  9. Rose2 June 2010 at 10:02

    Also Lady Jane did you see the film of a Single Man before reading the book or the other way around? because I loved the film!

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  10. Metropolitan Mum2 June 2010 at 14:04

    Ok, I am going to out myself as extremely superficial and not very intellectual here, but the perfect literature on a sun lounger for me is Candace Bushnell's One Fifth Avenue. Enjoy your vacation!

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  11. Jayne2 June 2010 at 16:44

    Oh how exciting! Hope you have a lovely, wonderful time. :)

    Books - I always take an Agatha Christie with me, as I cannot go anywhere without her books. I am also enjoying her books under the name of Mary Westmacott - the one I am reading at the moment is called 'Absent in the Spring' - quite chilling, in a way. More affairs of the heart/emotions than whodunnits.

    I also think you cannot go too far wrong with a Jackie Collins book for a holiday read - Lucky is my favourite.

    I am very into Daphne du Maurier at the moment (no, you say!) so The House on the Strand would be another.

    You'll now have more books than clothes in your case!!

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  12. Nishant3 June 2010 at 06:35

    It's my favourite summer read.
    PPC Advertising India

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  13. Rose3 June 2010 at 10:22

    Hi MM- I've never read any Candace you know but I think that is just the kind of thing for holidays. I have ordered some online and am going to look at the airport too so will look at all the CB's! (I'm never going to manage to read all these but I can always carry on when I'm back!)

    Jayne- I love Agatha too- she's such a good writer, you can read her stories even when you know what happens and enjoy them. I might take one- I always like to have them on the go!

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  14. lady jane grey3 June 2010 at 17:06

    Rose, I read the book before the film came out. And still, I loved the film, Clin Firth and all...

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  15. Rose4 June 2010 at 11:58

    LJG- great! because I loved the film but the book/ film thing is a mind field

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