Well, you opened the door.
I am a big mystery novel fan so the

The Kay Scapetta (Patricia Cornwell) series
The Kinsey Milhone (Sue Grafton) series
The Alex McNight (Steve Hamilton) series

Yes you should start at the beginning in any of them.

Non-fiction:
"The Savage Summit" (if you are into mountain climbing, the first 5 women to climb K2)
"A Woman in Berlin" (a diary of a woman living in a bombed out Berlin as the Allies approach Hitler's bunker)

Thanks Wayne. When I get back I will post a review of our trip because all of you especially the "LA group." have been so helpful to me.

Maybe after we all return for our trips we can get together again.

agree with Wayne on the Patricia Cornwell series, but I think the Sue Grafton books read really fast. Also:
Lee Child's series of mysteries
David Baldacci
James Patterson (also a fast read)
the #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, set in Botswana

Well, it's not fiction but it is a great story--River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard. I brought it to the Caribbean in March and couldn't put it down. My fiction (beach-type) books sat there unread.

It's about TR's exploration in South America. It's in paperback now.

Also books in Alexander McCall Smith's series The 1# Ladies Detective Agency, set in Botswana, are fun to read.

CW

Just to follow-up on Cornwell. I am still several books behind in the series.

I leave for Spain next week Tuesday. I will be bringing The Last Precinct and Blowfly.

I won't post my trip report here, unless I see a lion somewhere in the streets of Seville, but I will tell everyone where it is

hi, spiegelcjs,

I too have a dread of running out of reading matter en route.

whereas the alexander McCall smith books and similar [and even P Cornwell] are good for when you get there, IMO you need something really meaty for the journey. I usually turn to Dickens, trollope or George Elliot - authors I know i like but who take a bit of understanding and therefore slower reading.

once you get into Bleak House, you'll never put it down. Ditto Wilkie collins Woman in white, or what about the Riddle of the sands? [Erskin Childers]

Going the other way - A Suitable boy is very dense - as I must be as I find I can't read further than the first few chapters! excellent plane material as if there's nothing else to read, I'll be forced to finish it.

also long biographies - by antonia Fraser, Victoria Glendenning, or perhaps Roy Hattersley's Wesley.

or just scouer [don't think that's the right spelling] your bookshelves for the ones you've never been able to finish.

regards, ann

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Anything by Ishiguro, but this is the one that I'm reading now. It's grabbing me. Another good one is Wish You Were Here.

A strong second vote for Wayne Hazle's suggestion of A Woman in Berlin.

We are also leaving end of May - my DH recommends Thirteen Moons, by Charles Frazier. He could not put it down. I am reading on the plane a new book, "Too Close to the Sun", a story about Denys Finch Hatton (you know- Robert Redford -Out of Africa). Can't wait to read about his life,his experiences and all the hearts he broke! And his time with all the wealthy sportsman including the Duke of Windsor game hunting.
How long will you be in Bots?? I found your itinerary for 20K interesting, as that was our budget and we had to dump Capetown! Oh well, will have a great time I am sure. Maybe I will see you along the way!

One comment on the cost of books rather than the titles. If you get them used, then it's no problem to just leave the dead weight behind after reading them. And someone else might enjoy them.

I always prefer books that take place in the geographic region I'm visiting. So getting those particular titles used is much harder. The #1 Ladies Detective series might have some used ones for sale by now and you can read them in any order.

Almostthere:
We compromised in Cape Town. We are staying at the Cape Cadagon a small botique hotel that is very reasonably priced. We are usiing the services of Selwyn from this board for two days then two on our own. We will save the fine dining for when we return to the US.

Glad to see that others read "A Woman in Berlin."

Like annhig, I tend to go for meaty or long books on a long flight. Anna Karenina is good for this, a more contemporary lengthy and well-written novel is "The Crimson Petal and the White." Great characters.

There's plenty of great non-fiction out there to sink your teeth into. Anyting by Barbara Tuchman or William Manchester.

I'm not a novel reader but The Kite Runner was really good. I can think of only a hand full of novels I've been able to stay interested in and this was one of them!

Another vote for The Kite Runner-couldn't put it down. Just finished Sahara by Michael Palin which I also enjoyed.

Nelson Mandela's book....Long Walk to Freedom (is that the correct title?) Very informative, long book.

Lynn, your post reminded me.....people leave their books at camps when they are finished. Believe it or not, last August at (either Lebala or lagoon camp-can't remember which one) they had a Lonely planet guide to China. I did browse through it!!! But, for anyone visiting Lebala in the future-Johan's brilliant photo albums are there to see!!!

hi, y'all

back on the classic books theme, here in the UK penguin? were offering a range for £1! each, so definitely jetisonable [is that a word] on aarival.

i like the second hand idea too - I'll be scouring our local books shops before we go for bargains. [I picked up a £15 = U$30 dollar dinner suit for my son's school prom in the age concern shop the other day, so I'm on a roll! - what are those shops called in the US - thrift shops?]



regards, ann

I loved the Poisonwood Bible. It's set in Congo so it's a good book to get a perspective of Africa and it's long.

However, depending on when your traveling, you may want to use the flight to sleep and get on the schedule of your destination. My MD gives me Ambien to help me sleep.

saucywalker,

Funny you should mention The Poisonwood Bible. That is the only other novel other than The Kite Runner that I loved!

The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson. This book tells the story of a series of murders which took place during the Chicago Worlds Fair.
Thunderstruck and Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson, were also very good. But--The Devil In The White City was my favorite. His books are great for those of us who love history and murder mysteries.

You are all amazing. I have read the Kite Runner, Poisonwood Bilble and a lot of the Grafton and Cromwell books. I think I will go to the library with these other suggestions and see how they feel to me.

My biggest problem on a plane is that the book needs to grab me from the beginning or my ADD kicks in and I loose interest.

Keep the suggestions comming even if I do not take them on the trip.

Boy do I will this site had spell check.

Here are two excellent (but non-fiction) books about Southern Africa that I read recently:

WHEN SHE WAS WHITE:The True Story of a Family Divided by Race by Judith Stone

RAINBOW'S END: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farm by Lauren St. John

On my list is:

WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN: A Memoir of Africa by Peter Godwin

I just bought, A WAY LONG GONE: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

Before I tap into Cornwell, I am going to read this book, based on dozens of strong recommendations.

This book is a few years old, but "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger was a book that really grabbed me and I thought about long after I had finished it. Thanks for the question - we are leaving in 6 weeks and I'm looking at reading material for myself and appreciate the responses!

I can highly recommend the kite runners, or also My sisters keeper(chick book). They are a great read and will keep your attention.
Also,I just bought #1 womens detective agency(?) highly recommended to me.

I (too) like to read books that take place in, or are about, the place(s) I'm going so my recommendations would all be Africa-based.

When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Godwin would be on my list, but I don't think it's out in paperback yet -- and that's one of my other requirements. If you haven't read Mukiwa by him, it's riveting -- no worries about ADD here. It's gripping from the very first sentence. ("I think I first realized something was wrong when our next-door neighbour, oom Piet Oberholzer, was murdered.") (About the last days of Rhodesia, told through his eyes.)

Alexandra Fuller's Don't Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight must be out in PB.

Flame Trees of Thika is an oldie and a goodie by Elspeth Huxley. Childhood memoire made into a PBS (?) movie many moons ago.

I have in hardcover and have not read, a serious work called Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya -- published in '05 so a used PB could be found. By Caroline Elkins.

I love my copy of a Traveller's Literary Companion for Africa, which has excerpts of a heap of books, but it's also a bit of a tease so even though it's a PB, it probably won't make the cut.

Anything African by Peter Matthiessen (The Tree Where May Was Born) is a good candidate.

Whenever I go anywhere I start making a pile of books to consider taking with me on the plane and this is the thing that poses the greatest difficulty by far from the point of view of weight. I'm leaving in six weeks (and a half) and my stack is well over a foot tall . . . Maybe two feet counting guide books.

"Don't Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight" is out in paperback and I highly recommend it also.

Forgot to mention Stuart Stevens books, "Malaria Dreams, An African Adventure" and "Night Train to Turkistan." Not only are they hilarious but he is extremely perceptive of human nature-you will be laughing out loud on the plane.

All of Wilbur Smith's books are fantastic and most are set in South Africa. One that will keep you engrossed for the 19 hour flight to Johannesburg is RAGE, another in the Courtney family saga!

Rather than lug a book or two around I keep a cross word puzzle book in my bag and pull it out and work on it

My favorite for a long flight and long trip is Possession by A.S. Byatt. Nothing like the film made from it. The book is long, fascinating, has a mystery plot, well developed characters.

If you must have fiction then I second any of Wilbur Smiths books.

However do take a look at Laurens Van der Post - "Heart of the Hunter" and "Lost World of the Kalahari(if still in print it is a passionate account of Southern Africa, the Bushmen and their culture, the splendid landscape and wildlife.

A friend bought me James Michener's The Covenant for my flight. I haven't read it yet, but I do like Michener, and she highly recommended it.

A LONG WAY GONE is amazing. Just finished
I aam in spain now

Just saying hi to Waynehazie and hope you're having a wonderful time in Spain!

I think the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency should be the first book read in the series... there is a progression with the characters and their lives, so I like reading that series in order.

Clematis1;
How are you? Am I correct that you too are leaving soon for a trip? I think I remember that from our get together or from the posts?

I am back at work. I will let everyone on this board know when I have done my trip report.

I will make it revelant to this board by saying Spain has large numbers of immigrants from Africa.

I am 50 pages from being done with The Last Precinct, I almost finished it on the plane.

Definitely agree with Patricia Cornwell. Kathy Reichs is great too!

Moira

#1 Ladies' Detective Agency books are excellent, but I would read them prior to leaving; they are quick reads, and not really "thrilling," but pleasant and charming and you get a wonderful sense of the Botswana culture and way of life.
Life of Pi may not be set in Africa, but it's wildlife theme is pretty riveting and informative, and just makes you cringe more when you actually see the hyenas in real life.

For long plane rides, I always turn to the classics though: Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte read much more smoothly when you have an extended period of time to absorb them.

But if you just want something amusing, there's nothing like good ol' Harry Potter to keep you on your toes.

If you are on your way to Africa, The Africa House by Christina Lamb is interesting. "The True Story of an English Gentleman and His African Dream." I found it quite fascinating.

My father is going with us on a 12 day trip in Kenya. Do some of the camps have small collections of books left behind to read? I'm afraid his luggage might be all books if not!

Some properties do have libraries, some of which are books/mags left behind by former guests. Others, small lux camps in particular, often have a pretty decent library with a wide range of reading material.

I travel with one large novel that I hope to finish during my stay... sometimes I do, many times I don't... just too much to keep guests busy with game drives, bush walks, eating, sundowners around camp fires.

The only time I find to read is an hour or so in afternoon before game drive and at bedtime.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Wilbur Smith's books while enroute to Africa. He has written many novels especially about South Africa

Doris Kearns Goodwin - Team of Rivals (for history lovers, and fans of good writing)

What is the What - David Eggers (semiautobiographical account of a Lost Boy from Sudan)

Highly recommend "The Power of One" -- set in South Africa. It grabbed me and would not let go.

Also loved "The Poisonwood Bible" although it is even better on CD.

"The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series is excellent but I would say more of a pleasant read than compelling, "can't put down" fiction.

a suggestion regarding used books: amazon is a terrific used book (and music) resource. yes, you have to pay $2-3 for shipping, but you can usually find anything and everything available, in good condition and for a few dollars (sometimes for a few cents!) the thrift stores are great for "everyday" paperbacks but amazon will get you everything else, hardbacks included.

I also need a gripping book on the plane. I like The Kiterunner and its sequel, Water for Elephants, Love, Eat, Pray, The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. www.pbase.com/pattyroth

For travel I like books that are at the same time gripping and yet not hugely intellectual.

Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels fit that perfectly.

For me, books like Nelson Mandela's biography don't, I prefer to read those at home, over time.

I also never take books I expect to want to keep and re-read. I'd rather take books I can discard once read. Well, once both my husband and I have read them, we try and take books we'll both enjoy. Ideally, we swap them - many hotels/ guesthouses have book exchange shelves, which I really appreciate.

I adored Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy BUT I suspect it's not for everyone. I know my husband would hate it. I perhaps found it more accessible because my parents were born in India, most of my relatives are still there, I've visited there often during my childhood and I can vividly picture the people and scenes portrayed.

I picked up Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down on one of those exchange shelves on our last Africa trip and really enjoyed it. It's a surprisingly funny and genuinely interesting story about suicidal strangers. It's a lot better than that makes it sound! For info, Horby is the author of About A Boy, that was made into the film of the same name.

I also really enjoy Ben Elton books, though he seems to polarise readers. Thus far I've read and liked Past Mortem, Chart Throb (made me laugh out loud), Blast from the Past. They're quite British in terms of the culture portrayed, just to warn you.

I finally read Ian McEwan's Atonement recently and really enjoyed it. I've not watched the film as I understand they changed the ending, which would annoy me no end.

Some other books I've read and enjoyed:

Lost Nation by Jeffrey Lent
I picked this up in one of those cheapy outlet book stores for a pound or two. I really enjoyed it, though the plot doesn't sound great if I explain it. Based in the 1830s, it's about a man known as Blood. He has lost his family, and feels guilty because of the circumstances, though he wasn't there when it happened. He somehow hooks up with a young prostitute, it's the story of their survival, the relationship. It sounds lame but I liked it as a throwaway book that kept me reading.

One for my baby - by Tony Parsons
I hate chick lit and the description suggests this might fall into that category (though it's written by a man and the central character is male). A man finds the perfect woman to spend his life with, but loses her. The characters are so well drawn and I love the use of language.

Oh, other authors, Dean Koontz can sometimes deliver. I liked Forever Odd and some of his other titles.

More:

Misfortune by Wesley Stace
What an odd but intriguing book! It's about a baby abandoned at birth to die on a scrap heap but rescued by an eccentric and very rich lord who takes the baby boy back home to be his heir. Except, for various reasons that you learn early on in the book, he convinces himself it's a baby girl rather than a baby boy, and that's how the child is brought up. As a girl, completely unaware of his real sex. This is all set in the 19th century in a stately home not far from London. The story is tied up rather too neatly at the end but then again that's the pleasure of fiction - one can follow the realms of fantasy if one wants to! Very odd but I really enjoyed it!

Labrynthe by Kate Mosse
A historical fiction centred on the French Catholic crusades against the Cathars/ Albigensians of Southern France in the 12th century or thereabouts but told by linking a modern day girl to her counterpart back then. I'm not usually into this kind of book at all but I have to say I really liked this one - it flows well and I did learn quite a bit about a chapter in history that I was completely unaware of.

Well, it's not fiction, but 'God grew tired of us' is a gripping true story about the 'lost boys' of Sudan, and their experiences when they finally get to the US really highlight the cultural differences in an eye-opening way.

I wouldn't exactly call it a page-turner but I'm in the middle of "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun" and it's a brilliantly written memoir of Zimbabwe that no fan of southern Africa should pass up, esp. in light of what's going on there now.

LAleslie, did you read "Mukiwa" first? Mukiwa was written first and is earlier in his life.

I'm partially quoting Pula from earlier in this same thread,

"Author: Pula
Date: 05/20/2007, 05:40 pm

When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Godwin would be on my list, but I don't think it's out in paperback yet -- and that's one of my other requirements. If you haven't read Mukiwa by him, it's riveting -- no worries about ADD here. It's gripping from the very first sentence. ("I think I first realized something was wrong when our next-door neighbour, oom Piet Oberholzer, was murdered.") (About the last days of Rhodesia, told through his eyes.)"

I've read many of the books listed in this long post and Mukiwa and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun are probably my favorites.

Another strong recommendation for "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun". I started it on my recent flight to Botswana and finished it tonight on the train home from work. A brilliant narrative that illustrates the daily struggles of many noble Zimbabweans to survive under Mugabe's reign of terror. I need to add Godwin's Mukiwa to my reading list.

Sundowner, I haven't read Mukiwa but will put it on my list. But I've promised myself to stop reading Africa books for awhile because it's painful: Makes me want to go to back again, and we look to be on the verge of a Depression, so I'm saving my money. And I haven't seen Asia or India yet!

I hear you about being painful. I agree. But you must buy one more book

I've just been looking the photos Chris Willis took in China (Sep 07) and now China has moved closer to the top of the "to do list".

i would recommend Michael Chabon's The Amazing Advenutres of Kavalier and Clay. its long enough, witty and deep, and especially if you have ever been a comic book reader.. very good.
my first response when looking at the post was #1 ladies detective series, but, as the books are short, you might want something a bit "denser"
i concur with River of Doubt, the T. Roosevelt journey down the amazon, fascinating..
Team of Rivals, the history of Lincoln and his cabinet, intriguing, but i don't know if i would call it a plane read.
i have lately been turned onto audio books, (though i don't know if you could keep your Ipod fully charged), you could get alot on it, without the bulk.

I read Mukiwa after "crocodile"....... they are both great reads.

On my way back from Kenya - I read "The white Maasai". The follow up book was pretty unimpressive, though.