The Next Best Book Club discussion

I am going to Europe soon, and I need a book that will keep my mind off being in an airplane for so long. Please help!!!

I see you like YA fantasy? You should read The Hunger Games and/or Graceling.

Neither of them is super long, so maybe both :)

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a great book you can lose yourself in!

I just received Vikram Chandra's Sacred Games A Novel which looks like a lot of fun. The blurb on the back (!) reads: "a book about violence, greed, yachts, mafia yogis, nuclear bombs, Partition and Miss India competitions... Both riveting and brilliantly vile" (Time Out)

Where are you going in Europe. First time?

Try The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1 Daughter of the Forest - fantastic, and nice and long!

If you're going any where in the British Isles, or even just flying over :), you might want to try oldies but goodies like CASHELMARA or PENMARIC. Both are engrossing historical fiction.

I think The Godfather is an engrossing read that could probably keep your mind occupied on a long flight.

The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
De Luc, seeking revenge, disguises himself as a jester in order to infiltrate the duke's court, where he believes his wife is being held. He is aided in his quest by an enigmatic young woman named Emilie, who has more to risk by assisting De Luc than he can imagine. Very engaging.

The unabridged The Count of Monte Cristo.

Best thing for loooooong flights - chick lit! Fluff reads work for me, don't have to think a lot hahahahaha

Kataklicik - I'm the same way. Something like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books would be great for traveling, I believe. There are too many distractions when you're flying to read anything too substantial (but I have a hard time concentrating on a book when there's a lot going on around me).

Ah, I say the more substantial the better. I just stick in my earbuds, listen to my music and get transported somewhere else for those nine hours or whatever. If it's too light and fluffy I would breeze through it too quickly then leaving me too aware of my surroundings during the rest of the flight. :)

Susanna, ooh, I agree with Monte Cristo. It's one of my favorites, but had never considered it for a flight. I might just take my copy next time I go to Europe! :)

It just occurred to me that it's a great story, and one long enough for a transatlantic flight. And it really sucks me in when I read it, which is something else I think you'd want for a long flight.

I wish I were like that, El. The last flight I was on, I didn't get much reading done. I didn't have my Ipod and there were 3 people snoring near me, which drove me nuts. Added to that were a couple of crying babies, the couple next to me making out, and people constantly walking down the aisles - it was impossible! But I wouldn't have gotten much more read if I'd had my Ipod, since I tend to concentrate on the music too much. I guess audio books should be a good option for me in the future!

I have read about sooo many people loving The Book Thief. Would that be a good one to take?
We are heading to London which is a 9 hour flight. Then we are going to Paris and flying home from there. I have to admit I am a little nervous!

Oh, Paris... London too! I'm envious. Have a great trip!! I haven't read the book thief, but it's on my TBR.

I recomend The Shadow of the Wind. I took it in my last trip. Time flew reading it.

Brooke wrote: "I have read about sooo many people loving The Book Thief. Would that be a good one to take?
We are heading to London which is a 9 hour flight. Then we are going to Paris and flying home from t..."

The Book Thief is a fantastic read and would be perfect IF you don't mind complete strangers seeing you bawl like a baby. If you're not afraid of crying in public, go for it! :) It is a major tearjerker, at least it was for me (and that's the general concensus I've heard). When I read it, my boyfriend came home and I was literally sobbing.

I recomend my book, "The Measure of a Man"

Stephanie wrote: "The Book Thief is a fantastic read and would be perfect IF you don't mind complete strangers seeing you bawl like a baby. If you're not afraid of crying in public, go for it! :) It is a major tearjerker, at least it was for me (and that's the general concensus I've heard)."

That's exactly what I was going to say!

I have to agree with Jamie--either chick-lit or an audiobook. Or YA fiction, of course. On a really long flight like that, I'd probably take 5 or 6 shorter books... Ones that I can get into really easily. I just read The Goose Girl and loved it. (Plus it has two sequels so far (Enna Burning and River Secrets) that you could also take.

I just peaked at your TBR list. Take A Great and Terrible Beauty!! I see that you read and enjoyed the Twilight series. Have you read The Host yet? That's a nice long one, but not too deep...

Jamie wrote: "I wish I were like that, El. The last flight I was on, I didn't get much reading done. I didn't have my Ipod and there were 3 people snoring near me, which drove me nuts. Added to that were a coupl..."

Jamie, I will say that this past fall on my way home from Europe I had such a bad sinus infection that I thought I was going to die. I did not do any reading on that flight and my ears were too stuffed up for me to be able to listen to my earbuds or the movies they had playing. Ugh, awful!

I will say though, always take your IPod when you fly! It'll save your sanity! :)


Brooke, if you're a fast reader The Book Thief may only get you through a couple of hours of the flight. I was able to read it pretty quickly, but reading speed is relative and it might be great for a long flight.

El wrote: "I think The Godfather is an engrossing read that could probably keep your mind occupied on a long fl..."

agree!

El wrote: "Brooke, if you're a fast reader The Book Thief may only get you through a couple of hours of the flight. I was able to read it pretty quickly, but reading speed is relative and it might be great for a long flight. "

A couple of hours?? WOW. That's fast. The book is over 500 pages! I am not a terribly fast reader, it's true... but the audiobook is 11 CDs long!

I saw that you liked The Da Vinci Code, so I have two in that same line that I'd like to suggest.

One is The Seville Communion and the other is The Club Dumas.

I really liked both of these. Or you might try a collection of short stories, that's probably what I would take. That way, if you can't get into one story, you just go to the next one.

I would suggest The Historian or The Secret History, both are very long and extremely engrossing. I took The Secret History on a 19 hour plane ride to China and that lasted me the whole time I was awake. :)

The historian is great and you are reaaly absorbed by it but many people find the beginning too slow.

Sara wrote: "El wrote: "Brooke, if you're a fast reader The Book Thief may only get you through a couple of hours of the flight. I was able to read it pretty quickly, but reading speed is relative and it might ..."

YA reads quickly for me, doesn't matter much how many pages it is - especially if I'm on a non-stop flight across the ocean with nothing much else to do.

Jessica, I hope to be able to get into The Historian at some point. I tried it once and it didn't hold my interest. Maybe it was just the wrong time for me. I agree with The Secret History. Definitely engrossing.

I think it depends on the country.If you use a really good guide book, it will often recommend a top notch novel set in that country, which will give you a great deal of information about its history and culture .
As an example just before (and during ) my flight to India, I read Arundati Roy's The God of Small Things and Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. Both were wonderfully well written and important books which added to my enjoyment of the country.

A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

Going to Europe? Cara Black's Parisian mysteries (there are at least 8 of them) are good. If you want adventure and suspense in Asia, the Hindu Kush, Pakistan,and Kasmir, you can read about backpackers and the personal and political trouble they get into in Fidali's Way by George Mastras.

How about the Pillars of the Earth, and the sequel, The World Without End, both by Ken Follett? Good, engrossing read and LOOONNNGG. Or you could read some Diana Gabaldon, another series. Hunger Games is good too, but rather short, how about the City of Bones Trilogy, if you're into YA?

I'm reading Rebecca by Daphne du Marier right now and really loving it. It's in the 400-page range - I would definitely recommend it!

My husband wanted me to suggest The Years of Rice and Salt as he took it on a long train ride and it worked out really well.

Stephanie wrote: "Brooke wrote: "I have read about sooo many people loving The Book Thief. Would that be a good one to take?
We are heading to London which is a 9 hour flight. Then we are going to Paris and fly..."

Yeah - it's an AWESOME boo, but I would be surprised if you DIDN'T cry... I listened to it as an audio book, and found myself getting "emotional" on several occasions. :)

Stephanie wrote: "I'm reading Rebecca by Daphne du Marier right now and really loving it. It's in the 400-page range - I would definitely recommend it!"

Rebecca is one of my all-time favs, sigh! Definitely a page turner.

Katie Flora wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I'm reading Rebecca by Daphne du Marier right now and really loving it. It's in the 400-page range - I would definitely recommend it!"

Rebecca is one of my all-time ..."

The Magus by John Fowles is a book to get totally lost in. Intricate, surprising, great writing. Characters you can love and hate.

Brooke wrote: "I am going to Europe soon, and I need a book that will keep my mind off being in an airplane for so long. Please help!!!"

I've just done six translantics of 12 hours each in the last six weeks and since I don't watch films on a plane, I read a lot. The 5-star plane books were
Amitav Ghosht's Sea of Poppies - long saga, wonderful,
White Tiger - engrossing
Atul Gawande's - Better, not fiction
Kabul Beauty School - not fiction
Nowhere in Africa - unlike anything else I've ever read
Salvation on Sand Mountain - about snake handling.

I couldn't wait until the trip to read Book Thief, so I have already read it. I am thinking about Outlander or A Great and Terrible Beauty. What do you guys think?

I'd go with Outlander. I agree with those who say that you want something engrossing but not too demanding for flying. And if you like it there's a whole series for future flights!

Engrossing but not too demanding - I'm reading A Thousand Splendid Suns right now. His writing style is very simple, no big words or long deep sentences to dissect, so the story is delivered simple, yet still a very powerful read. Be warned it is not an uplifting read, though.

I actually thought of one more that might suit the trip - by Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin.

Diane wrote: "I actually thought of one more that might suit the trip - by Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin. "

I'm reading it now. Very captivating. Another good one that keeps your attention is Middlesex.

Brooke wrote: "I couldn't wait until the trip to read Book Thief, so I have already read it. I am thinking about Outlander or A Great and Terrible Beauty. What do you guys think?"

A Great and Terrible Beauty. It's a great read for a long flight since it's not too demanding.

I would also say A Great and Terrible Beauty. I thought it was wonderful. Plus you could bring the two books after it too!

Thats a good idea Morgan, since Brooke needs something for the long trip back too!

I just did two flights of 12 hours yesterday and read Miracle at Speedy Motors (one of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith) and most of Drink Play F@#k by Andrew Gottleib (very funny, a true parody of Eat Pray Love after the author's wife left him). Good plane books.

Do you like mysteries? Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn is a great Historical British Novel. The main character has a great wit (young female). It is the first in a growing series. Takes place in London, so it would be a perfect fit.

Also, the Tea Rose and the Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly are both great epic romance/fiction novels involving the same characters. They Tea Rose is the first one, taking place in London and the US and the Winter Rose takes place almost entirely in London. Both are highly recommended.

Outlander would be a great plane read. It's very engrossing and you'll love Jamie.

Firefly Lane

This is by far my favorite book and it is definitely a good read for the airplane....as long as you bring a box of tissues!!

Firefly Lane...everyone seems to be raving about! I still need to read it!