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,

<i>&quot;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. (&quot;I think I first realized something was wrong when our next-door neighbour, oom Piet Oberholzer, was murdered.&quot (About the last days of Rhodesia, told through his eyes.)&quot;</i>

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 &quot;When a Crocodile Eats the Sun&quot;. 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 &quot;to do list&quot;.

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 &quot;denser&quot;
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 &quot;crocodile&quot;....... they are both great reads.

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

Has anyone used the new &quot;Kindle&quot; gadget from Amazon, yet? I understand you can download a bunch of books on it with minimal weight. It's a bit spendy upfront, but the downloads are supposed to be reasonably priced.