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.