Can't wait to read some of the recommendations I've picked up from this post! <BR> <BR>I want to second the recommendation for Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible. It's a great book, with a real epic quality. <BR> <BR>I also enjoyed John Irving's Widow for One Year. <BR>Michael Dibdin is a mystery writer who writes about an Italian detective, Aurelio Zen. His series are very literary in style. <BR> <BR>And read Barry Unsworth's The Stone Virgin; it's an extraordinarily beautifully written book about an art restorer coming to Venice. The contemporary story is interwoven with stories from different historical periods. <BR> <BR>Similarly, Robert Hellenga's Sixteen Pleasures, taking place in Florence after the '66 flood. <BR> <BR>There are a slew of books out now about living/travelling in Tuscany, made famous by Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun-- but quite frankly, I found her books a bit on the saccharine side. But one of the books that were recently re-released is Kinta Beevor's A Tuscan Childhood, about a privileged childhood taking place between the 1st and 2nd world wars. <BR> <BR>I'll also add Donna Leon's mystery series, based in Venice. Hers are a lot of fun to read. <BR> <BR>Thanks for a fun post!

If you are going to Rome, must reads include I, Claudius and its sequel Claudius, the God by Robert Graves. I was just fascinated by the writing and yes, they are the books which inspired the BBC series called I, Claudius.

Hi, <BR> <BR>yes, Corelli's Mandolin is being made into a movie. Nicholas Cage is slated to be Captain Corelli. The same dood who did "Notting Hill" is doing this movie. Hugh Grant is seen reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin in the final scene of that movie (with Julia Roberts, sitting/sleeping on the park bench). <BR> <BR>just some trivia...

What a great question! <BR> <BR>Slimmer but great - Dispatches by Michael Herr; A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean; The Twelfth Juror by B.M. Gill (the best mystery I ever read); or any of Ian Rankin's John Rebus mysteries. <BR> <BR>Thick and can't put down - The Bone People by Keri Hulme; The Collected Short Stories of Somerset Maugham - while you are in Paris you'll wish you were in the South Pacific; and Berkut by Joseph Heywood (if you like those spy/drama stories - I can't believe no one has made this into a movie yet!). <BR> <BR>Non-fiction - The Dream and the Tomb: A History of the Crusades by Robert Payne; The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler (no book has ever made me think as much); Leadership and the New Science by Margaret Wheatley; and The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser (allows us to reclaim our female history).

On a recent trip I picked up SAREM by Edward Rutherfurd and couldn't put it down. On another trip I found LONDON by the same author and also couldn't stop reading it. Both really passed the time sitting around airports etc, as well as being great historical reading and they made me really want to go to England as soon as I can manage it. <BR>Carol

This thread is SO good! Thanks for starting it, Gina. I second Dan's suggestion for "The American" (Henry James). Also, in case you're interested in "The Magus," the author's name is John Fowles. He also wrote "The Ebony Tower," which I prefer to "The Magus" (though the latter is very good too.) "ET" takes place in Brittany. It's actually a novella in a collection of stories, but the stories all link together in certain ways. A terrific book. Mysterious stuff. <BR> <BR>I'd also suggest "A Moveable Feast" by Hemingway. It's not lengthy, and it's not fiction, but it's absorbing and related to part of where you're going. (His "musings" on Paris in 1920s.) <BR> <BR>A book I zipped through recently (couldn't put it down) was Dorothy B. Hughes' "Ride the Pink Horse." It's out of print, but usually easy to find at a used book store. It would fall into the hard-boiled detective mystery genre, but it's actually more of a psychological anatomy of a criminal. It's incredible. (The 50s movie based on this novel is not so incredible, though.) Also in the mystery vein, Ross MacDonald's "The Galton Case" and "The Underground Man" are major page-turners. <BR> <BR>Another book I'd recommend, though non-fiction, is Arianna Stassinopoulos' bio of Picasso. I too am afraid to fly, and found this semi-trashy book so phenomenally engrossing during a cross-country flight that when we had to abort a landing because of negative readings on the landing equipment, I just shrugged and kept reading. Now that's engrossing. (Of course, when the plane finally did land, my knees were so weak I almost fell over when I stood up.)

What a great post, great recommendations, Poisonwood Bible (beware, it will tear your heart out if your are a Mother!), Stones from the River, Shipping News, etc. etc. Only one I can't agree with is Sophie's World. My bookclub read it and the only person who got more than 1/4 of the way was the person who picked it and she had to read it for a class. But then, others love it so what do I know! <BR> <BR>My suggestion would be "The Agony and the Ectasy" I read it and "Sixteen Pleasures", when I was in Italy. Sixteen Pleasures is a good read, but the Agony and the Ectasy, which is a biography of Michaelangelo, really helped educate me on the history and the art of the region. It is amazing what that man went through for his art. I thought it read easily and really brought the info alive. Have fun. I am printing this post for my summer trip! <BR> <BR>Anyway,

I thought of some more but then saw that Paule stole my thunder, especially Barbara Leon and Michael Dibdin. But here's some new ones not mentioned. If you are going to England, The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. I made a special trip to Lyme Regis after reading it and ate in one of the best restaurants in my life in that pokey little seaside town. Also anything by Anthony Trollope. Shogun for Japan, a great, great read and really good insight in Japanese culture. For Paris, Le Divorce by Diane Johnson, and I have read favorable reviews of her sequel. <BR>Look's like I am going to have to get Correlli's Mandolin. It didn't appeal to me when I read the reviews but all the raves on this post have made me reassess it.

Great thread! I wholeheartedly agree with Harry Potter-definitely my favorites! Historical, Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, about the little boys in the Tower of London. One of my all time favorites, Rosamund Pilcher's The Shellseekers, great story, set in England. I also love the Inspector Morse series (Colin Dexter) for mysteries.

I recommended Soldier of the Great War earlier but Robert McGammon's Swan Song and Boy's Life are also really great reading.

For those traveling into the English countryside I recommend anything by Jane Austen. My in-laws live in Hertfordshire, and since Pride and Prejudice was set in Hertfordshire last year I eagerly gobbled it up and ultimately everything else Austen's ever written. I would also recommend London by Edward Rutherford. <BR> <BR>After a trip to Versailles I found a non-fiction book called Louis and Antoinette that was absolutely fascinating, a real eye opener on the French Aristocracy (hint-Louis XVI wasn't the bad guy and Marie Antoinette never said let them eat cake). <BR> <BR>I also found a little book on art appreciation very helpful for all the museums, especially for someone like me who shied away from art classes in school-made me look at the paintings in a completely and more appreciative way. Enhanced my experience 200%! <BR> <BR>

All right, Jeniffer!! We share the same favorite fiction book, 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' (Viva El Gabo!!). BTW, do you know that this book is also President Clinton's favorite fiction book? (for what is worth.....).

Going to Rome? Why not "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves? It's the "autobiography" of the emperor Claudius, who, taken for an imbecile, survives the intrigues of his psychotic royal family and its power struggles, and is the last one standing. Moving, witty, thrilling, brilliantly written, a finer evocation of Roman history you will not read. The second installment "Claudius the God" is just as good.

My favorite, long vacation books have been: <BR>* Evening Class by Maeve Binchy <BR>* The Bestseller by Olivia Goldsmith <BR>* Coming Home by John Jakes <BR> <BR>I agree with Kathleen about "The Shell Seekers" by Rosamund Pilcher. Possibly my favorite book of all time. Would be great on a trip. <BR>

This has been so much fun this a.m. to read this...I am leaving this week for several countries.. my first time and I am so excited, I have picked up a Sidney Sheldon book..Mememories of Midnight, I hope it's good! Has anyone read it? Gina, have a great time!!!!

I've never been one for mass market fiction but I have to say that "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett is probably the best book I've ever read...at least in the top 3. I've read it twice and my husband is starting on it for the 3rd time. If you're going to Europe, and planning on seeing alot of cathedrals this is great because the main character builds cathedrals and it takes place in the 12th century. Fascinating read! And weighing it at just over 900 pages it quite thick. Don't miss it! Has anyone else read it?

It's hard to narrow it down, with so many wonderful books to choose from, but here are a few that come to mind. Two of my favorites have already been mentioned, but I definitely recommend Halprin's A Soldier of the Great War, and Fowles The Magus. I've read the latter twice, and both times I did it in one sitting, and it's not a short book. Also George Eliot's Middlemarch, Caleb Carr's The Alienist (it's rather gruesome, but an engrossing mystery set in NY when Teddy Roosevelt was police commissioner). One of my favorite books is In This House of Brede, by Rumor Godden. It's the story of a benedictine convent, and especially if you are going to be visiting churches, gives a wonderful picture of monastery life. And don't forget The Mists of Avalon, a feminist retelling of the Arthurian legend.

Two of my favorite reads are The Ambassadors (set in Paris and New York)by Henry James and The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, whose short stories I also love, especially Roman Fever. I also love the Henry James novella, The Aspern Papers which is set in Venice. I second the recommendations of Stephen Saylor, Donna Leon, and Iaian Pears' mysteries, and would add anything by Lindsey Davis who writes very entertaining mysteries about a working-class detective in Ancient Rome. Laurie R. King has written a very compelling series of novels/mysteries about a young Victorian woman and her adventures with a retired Sherlock Holmes--the first one is called The Beekeeper's Apprentice. If you love Paris and France, you'll really enjoy Le Divorce. Finally, as I am in the midst of becoming addicted to Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels about the details of life aboard a man-of-war in Nelson's navy, I invite you to do the same. They are absolutely remarkable--but take at least two of them with you. The first in the series is Master and Commander. Thanks for beginning this excellent thread.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is beautifull. A Confederacy of Dunces is also great but I have not seen mention of Memoirs of a Geisha - could not put it down!! Cold Mountain, and, most recently, The Blackwater Lightship.

For classics, Jane Austen is my favourite. Read Persuasion and then go to Bath. <BR>My attention span is very limited when I fly. I'd like to reccommend The Green Mile by Stephen King. It is an amazing book and definitely kept my attention. My father, usually reads Dickens and Shakespeare when he reads fiction, also loved it. <BR>Have a great trip!

For me it has to be Dinner With Persephone, by Patricia Storace. Greece old and new - a journal of fantastic contrasts and wonderful insight. <BR> <BR>Rob

After 60 responses, no one has yet admitted to enjoying a good sci-fi/romance while on a long flight (or just won't admit to a guilty pleasure). I discovered the books by Diana Gebaldon and they are total page turners. Premise is a modern woman who time travels back via a stone circle in Scotland to the 1700's. They're very thick (around 1000 pages each) and so far there are four or five volumes. I have a friend who won't even read the latest one until the Next one has been published so she can continue the epic! <BR>Well, since I'm a librarian, and I was given my first copy by another librarian, I guess this all falls under guilty pleasures. Last time I flew cross country, I sat next to another woman reading a Gabaldon book! There's even a website so you can check her out <BR> <BR>http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/ga.../gabaldon.html <BR> <BR>With all this reading, you may miss your trip! Enjoy.

Great thread -- I too got several great ideas for future reading, and have to say thanks to wendy and others for having the guts to mention one of my first thoughts: the Harry Potter series! I read the first one on a business trip to Miami, and even the turbulence of thunderstorms didn't faze me. (But maybe gina has also already read them too?) <BR>Going for a lighter reading side (so you forget the airplane all around you): <BR>On the historical and European side, some of the ones I have stumbled on and loved and lent out to great enjoyment are the incredible series of well-researched novels on Wales, England, and Normandy by Sharon Kaye Penman. The series begins with "Here be Dragons", with Henry II trying to assert control over the Welsh, and runs through Falls the Shadow, When Christ and his Saints Slept, The Sunne in Splendor, and The Reckoning. Each is probably at least 500 pages, and are enthralling. Begins in 13th century, runs to the 15th. You really have to begin with Here Be Dragons, and you come away with an incredible knowledge of British Isles history (and a love for the name LLewelyn!) I ended up reading them all in sequence (hunting them down when 1/2 way thru its predecessor) but never read about the last 75 pages of the last one: this is but one of my wierd ways ~~ if I can't stand for the book to end, I basically don't let it (only done it a few times, and I'm about to reread them all and finally find closure!) <BR>Another historical set I found is by Diana Gabaldon, and truly I only recommend the first one: The Outlander. British woman just after WWII with unhappy marriage touches standing stones and gets thrown back 200 years. Parts are great fun/sexy trash (you will not notice you're in the air) and mostly its the everyday life and tragedies of Scotland, leading up to the Battle of Culloden. <BR>I also recently read Stephen King's latest, Hearts in Atlantis -- hadn't read him in years, and had forgotten his way with words. <BR>

I read Pillars of the Earth many years ago and I agree, it is great. <BR> <BR>another author not mentioned: <BR> <BR>how about Dorothy Parker? she is a STITCH. and since they are mainly short stories, if you do not finish the book (get her anthology) you can always pick up the thread any old where, even days later...

just recently into Ruth Rendell's English psychological thriller/murder mysteries. I have to keep one ear on the the plane's engines, so there are many great books listed here that I couldn't read aloft. The YaYas would be a good read as well as THe Horse Whispers. And, has anyone enjoyed The Rapture of Canaan as much as I did? Maybe we should make this a special area of Fodors--it's a great idea, Gina.

Check out The Club Dumas

Hi Gina, <BR> <BR>I would recommend Penmarric by Susan Howatch. I first read it when I was in my late teens and it was one of the best books I have read; fat and engrossing!! Here is part of the description from Amazon.com : <BR> Book Description <BR> Set against the starkly beautiful landscape of Cornwall, PENMARRIC is the totally enthralling saga of a family divided against itself. At the <BR> center of the novel is the great mansion called Penmarric. It is to Penmarric that Mark Castallack, a proud, strange, and sensitive man, <BR> brings his bride Janna--the first act in a tempestuous drama that was to span three generations.... <BR> <BR>It goes on for years and years; just a great read. <BR> <BR>Other than that I would also recommend the Harry Potter books too. That type of story isn't normally my cup of tea, but I am hooked on them big time! Very entertaining! <BR> <BR>Linda

I'd like to thank everyone so very much for taking the time to respond. I ran out yesterday and bought The Power of One and Soldier of the Great War. Since I already had Corelli's Mandolin, I thought that should do it for now. I knew you would all come through for me and suggest something different. If the hotel suggestions you all have provided are as good as the book ideas, none of us can go wrong. My personal travelling favorites are Centennial and The Source by Michener, Anna Karenina,The Laws of our Fathers by Scott Turow and Beach Music by ...oh what is his name anyway? Well a big hug to you all.

Hey Wes! I was hoping to hear from you! I picture you having a houseful of books. Any suggestions?

Gina: Do us a favor and post a report when you get back -- not only on the trip, but also on how you liked the books! I really hope you like The Power of One as much as I did. (Don't ever see the movie though -- isn't it awful when they make a bad movie of one of your favorite books? The movie in my head while I was reading it was SO much better...) <BR> <BR>BTW, re: Beach Music -- Pat Conroy, right? I've enjoyed all of his books. <BR> <BR>Great thread -- I think I've got my summer reading list now, thanks to everybody here. We need to have another thread just on nonfiction. Currently reading Ordinary Resurrections by Jonathan Kozol (thought-provoking, sad, hopeful) and just finished A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (quirky, funny, sad, inventive, wonderful). <BR> <BR>

You've probably already read it but Memoirs of a Geisha was a favorite of mine. Two long books I recently read and enjoyed: Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler and Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille. Also have you tried Janet Evanovich's series about a woman PI (very funny) and Diane Mott Davidson's detective caterer series. All of these are light - but that's what I like on vacation! By the way, the posters are right about Harry Potter - extremely entertaining.

Yes, Beach Music by Pat Conroy...I was thinking about that as I was reading the thread, and other people already suggested it but I liked it so much that I want to suggest it too. I checked it out of the library before going to Germany for six months, read the prologue, and promptly bought it because I thought I would love it. And I did.

I agree with "Pillars of the Earth" and "The Shell Seekers", and add "Tai Pan", even though it's on the other side of the world. Rosalind Laker has written some wonderful historical fiction. My favorites are "To Dance With Kings," about the early days of Versailles, and "The Venetian Mask," about 18th century Venice. One about England is "Playing the Jack," by Mary Brown. <BR> <BR>What a wonderful thread. I'm printing it out and will hit the bookstores.

Check out the list at randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100best/. It is two lists in one, a somewhat distinguished board created a list of their top 100 novels 1900-1998. In addition a reader's poll was conducted and that list is included as well. It contains numerous "classics" as well as a number of books "I've always wanted to read" but you sort of forget about actually ever reading. About 2 years ago, I e-mailed my favorite college professors and asked what their favorite fiction works were. I received great and varied responses. <BR> <BR>

No one has mentioned Anne Perry's two series of mysteries set in Victorian London. I also like Barbara Wood and Barbara Michaels except for her last one.

Any (or all) of Ruth Rendell's books will put you in the mood for England for sure. Edward Rutherford's fantastic Sarum and London are great too and will give you a good sense of history as well as a great story (be forewarned they are huge books). I just bought his latest in London last week, "The Forest", it's also a big one! <BR> <BR>By anyone going to Ireland (or England too) Maeve Binchley's books are great. She really makes you care what happens to the people she is writing about. She's also done several collections of short stories that are great for plane reading if you don't want to get too involved. <BR> <BR>Jeffrey Archer also has a couple of collections of short stories, set in England, that are good for plane reading too.

Gina, I am so pleased you bought Mark Halperin's lovely novel, A Soldier of the Great War. You may find it a little strange and surreal at first, but give in to it and let it carry you along, to a beautiful, wise, elegiac ending. <BR> <BR>A story of how I found this book, by accident, literally. On a trip two years ago to the beaches of S Carolina, I sunburned the tops of my feet (the only part of me not slathered with high SPF). I bought an emergency pair of thong sandals so that I could walk, and in this little shoe store by the shore there were old paperbacks that people were encouraged to pick up in exchange for their own old ones. I needed reading material and found A Soldier in the Great War. Being a fan of historical fiction, especially of WWI, I begged to borrow this book, since I had none of my own on me to donate. The kind proprietor said, go ahead, take it. I now own that old, tattered copy and a brand new sumptuous one, but my heart belongs to the tattered original. I am so glad so many of you fodorites have loved the novel, too. I've never heard anyone else speak of it.

Great recommendations. If you like Historical novels try "The Dreyfuss Affair". True story about a French Jewish Officer accused of Treason in the early 20th century, and the efforts of Emil Zoila to prove his innocence.

Elvira, did you used to host late night movies. <BR>

How about "The Kitchen God's Wife" by Amy Tan? I couldn't put it down. Wholeheartedly agree with Harry Potter books, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy (I never wanted those characters to go away)and both Wally Lamb books. Also loved "The Far Pavilions" by M.M. Kaye, "The Eight" by Katherine Neville and "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. One of my all-time favorites is "Gone With the Wind". It will keep you busy on any flight.