Thanks for finding this for me this afternoon. <BR>This time I got to read the whole thing. <BR>Not Europe, but a good book. <BR>The Language of Thread, by Gail Tsukyama(spelling) <BR>It takes place in the late 1930's/1940's during the invasion of China by the Japanese.There is nothing graphic/gory. <BR>It follows a young woman who is a Silk Girl( works in the silk factories) as she flees to Hong Kong with a young cousin, and the ensuing war years. <BR>Very Good. <BR>One Pair of Hands, by Monica Dickens (yes, related) <BR>Tells of her escapades when she decides to get a job and hires out as a cook/housekeeper. <BR>Takes place in pre-WW11.Funny. <BR>Colony, Anne River Siddon. <BR>Books by Isabel Allende. <BR>Books by Elizabeth Berg. <BR>A trilogy by Sue Harrison, Mother Earth, Father Sky. <BR>Follows a young girl as she grows in Alaska area, set thousands of yrs. ago. <BR>Historical mysteries set in ancient Italy by Lindsay Davis (my husband enjoys them) <BR>These are just some I did not see here. <BR>I know this post wasn't really about traveling, but everyone needs a good book or two to take away. <BR>Thanks again! <BR>Nancy <BR>

Fodors editors -- any chance someone could compile this -- or perhaps start a new 'lounge?' <BR> <BR>Too much fun - and too much reading. <BR> <BR>If you're headed to Italy, try 'Hill Country' by Anne Rivers Siddons. Or 'Resistance,' an incredible WWII novel, by Anita Shreve. And 'Le Divorce,' by Dianne Johnson, has a prequel (??) -- Le Mariage. <BR> <BR>Enjoy.

Since Robbyn mentioned books on tape, it reminded me of a driving trip when I was totally enthralled with the audio version of "Cold Sassy Tree". Richard Thomas (of "Walton's" fame) does the narration. It transported me and made my trip fly by.

Gina, I've now got cramp from clicking through so many responses - what a question. I want to start reading them all too! You really must try the Diana Gabaldon "Outlander" series as suggested further up the postings. I've read al four in the series and recommended them to many friends. i have since had their husbands complaining to me as they couldn't put the book down in bed (!), one friend came in late for work "I just had to finish the chapter" she said "then I found I'd started the next one!!" They do tend to get you hooked, so make sure you don't just take one! <BR> <BR>Have a good flight - and a great read! <BR> <BR>Esme

Harry Potter just got me through a flight. I have a terrible time concentrating on airplanes and I get very cranky and restless, so it was great. I will recommend two books by Rohinton Mistry, living in Canada and of Indian descent----Such a Long Journey and A Fine Balance. Both about medium length I guess. Both take place in modern India and are just the stories of people's lives told very interestingly and movingly. My congratulations to those who were able to read The Magus---I finally gave up. Am looking forward to trying out these recommendations, I've got my list printed. Thanks!

Janwillem van de Wetering's series about two Dutch detectives assigned to the Amsterdam murder squad.

Gina: You asked for great captivating, can't-put-down, LONG books. <BR> <BR>How about Tom Wolfe's A MAN IN FULL (800+ pages and a lot of fun to read) <BR> <BR>How about James Clavell's SHOGUN, TAIPAN, and NOBLE HOUSE...terrific novels set in Asia. <BR> <BR>or M.M.Kaye's THE FAR PAVILLIONS which I bought in a book club edition years and years ago. It was a fictional epic set in the days of the RAJ in India...this two veumes totaled more than 1500 pages. <BR> <BR>Michael

Gina: <BR> <BR>Has anyone mentioned The Leopard? It takes place in Sicily and is translated from the Italian. I wasn't able to read all the answers but want to revisit them and take some notes. My book planning (which ones to take) for a trip is as important as any other aspect of the trip.

I can highly recommend all of Mary Renault's books, particularly those set in ancient Greece/Sicily. Also, the Arthur Waley translations of Japanese and Chinese classics. Agree heartily with all said re "The Pillars of the Earth", I wanted it to keep going forever!; and James Michener's "Poland" is a VERY good read

On a (somewhat) twist to this thread (and as an excuse to bring it to the top....), have anybody picked a book from this list as summer reading? I had to check Sheila's recommended 'Corelli's Mandolin' and LOVED IT! The opening chapter about the medical procedure had me rolling and other chapters had me on tears. Great book! I am now into 'A Soldier of the Great War', and have 'Homeststead' in line.

....oops! credit where credit is due....Beth enthusiastic recommendation of 'Correlli's Mandolin' was th eone that send me running to the bookstore. THANK YOU BETH!!!

What a great idea - I have a list of 20 books I need to go out and get. <BR>Two favorites not mentioned yet (I think) are Daughter fo Fortune by Isabel Allende (turn of the century adventure from Chile to California)and Timeframe (medieval time travel) by Michael Crichton.

BEACH MUSIC by Pat Conroy. <BR> <BR>WOW, what a book about a man whose wife commits suicide, he moves to Rome with his young daughter to overcome the pain and returns home to the "Low Country" of South Carolina and we get introduced to his dysfunctional family. <BR> <BR>What a treat, but I am from the South.This is just plain ole good readin! <BR> <BR>Read it all, 900 pages in three days, one of which was on Delta flights from SF to Atlanta to Philadelphia. <BR> <BR>PS Just say a quick prayer at the end of the runway and forget about it. <BR> <BR>From a million miler!

ITALIAN EDUCATION--TIM PARKS <BR>This is a sequel to his book Italian Neighbors. Englishman Parks married an Italian woman and is now raising children in Italy. You can find this book in the Travel Narratives section at the bookstore.

Thanks everyone for all the good reads listed! Gina, from what you have said you like- I think I have one you would love. It's perfect before Italy and you will not put it down. "In the Garden of Papa Santuzzi" by Ardizone. Fiction that is perfect for a trip. Language that brings Italy's paradigm and rhythms alive.

I highly recommend LONDON and SARUM by Edward Rutherfurd. Especially if you are going to England. They are long books, but really interesting. This was a great forum to read, what a wealth of knowledge and ideas of books to read. Good Luck

I've just finished Edward Rutherfurd's new book, The Forest, about William the Conqueror's "new" forest; and I liked it better than London.

For a European Trip, I would HIGHLY recommend Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There"... This book is highly entertaining and I actually laughed out loud... <BR> <BR>Another book I would recommend is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett... It is a thicker book and emotionally gripping.

One book that is out of print but worth the search is "At teh Drop of a Veil" about an American girl that married a saudi arabian prince. They moved back to Saudi after one year of marriage and she retell s her experiences in the harem. It's sounds ghastly but it's really wonderful. Not Saudi bashing nor oblivious to the obvious questions that Americans would have about the culture. Tells many things about the difficulties being female would present living in an Islamic country but doesn't over do it. Thick and involving!

I just finished reading Follett's Pillars of the Earth that I discovered right here, recommended by many forum visitors. I enjoyed it, too!! It reminds me a bit of Crichton's Timeframe which also was a good read! <BR> <BR>Kathryn

Revisiting this great thread (and need to review it for summer reading ideas!). <BR> <BR>Maira, I'm so glad you loved Corelli's Mandolin! I'm one who has been enthusiastically recommending it to everyone I know ever since I read it about four years ago. <BR> <BR>Two of my favorite authors who I've seen mentioned but not in detail, whose books are easy to get lost in (not europe-themed, though) are Barbara Kingsolver and Isabelle allende. <BR> <BR>Several people recommended Kingsolver's recent epic The Poisonwood Bible, which is wonderful. I a;so highly recommend her (shorter) Southwest-set The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven, and Animal Dreams. <BR> <BR>Someone also mentioned Isabel Allende's most recent book, Daughter of Fortune, which is great, but her earlier books are even better. Especially for fans of Latin american magical realism, ä la Garcia Marquez and Borges, her first four books--The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and The Stories of Eva Luna--are must-reads. All combine moderrn Latin American (esp. Chilean) history and politics, romance and adventure, and absolutely lyrical storytelling. The House of the Spirits (please disregard the movie if you saw it), especially, is an epic, and is actually used in some university intro Latin American Studies courses. Fans of Corelli's Mandolin should love these books. Also, Allende's memoir, Paula, is fascinating and beautiful, as well as great fun. <BR> <BR>For the Italophiles (and others), I recently enjoyed the short and quick Italian Fever, by Valerie Martin. Second (third, whatever) recommendation of Le Divorce by Diane Johnson; great humor. <BR> <BR>I'm surprised noone has mentioned Smilla's Sense of Snow, by Peter Hoeg (again, disregard the movie...), a real can't-put-it-down mystery/thriller set in Denmark. I read this when it came out about six years ago, then lent it to my boyfriend for airplane reading...he couldn't help staying up to finish it after he arrived, despite the fact that he had a medical school admissions interview the next day! <BR> <BR>Happy reading. <BR>

Any new recommendations for a long flight?

Light reading, but *not * in tradition of Danielle Steele type books. <BR>Stone Gap Creek, by Adriana Trigiani <BR>About a woman (35 yrs.) who is a pharmacist inthe town she grew up in (Stone Gap) <BR>Her mother, who was Italian, has just died and she finds out that who she thought was her father is *not*, but another man , who still lives in Italy. <BR>The story is about her quest to find him, and also daily life in this small southern town. <BR>Not action, not mystery, just light hearted and sweet. <BR>Another book; <BR>Pears on a Willow Tree, by Leslie Pietrzyk <BR>Story revolves around 4 generations of women in a family , who immigrated from Poland to Detroit, and have been there since, except for one. <BR>The book moves from character to character. <BR>Also, light type reading. <BR>I have been spending so much time trying to teach myself Italian, that when I put those books down, I need something totally different. <BR>Nancy

hit post button too quickly! <BR>Another book is <BR>Honk and Holler Opening Soon, by Billie Letts <BR>Also books by Elizabeth von Arnim, she wrote Enchanted April, but also has some other good books, such as Christopher and Columbus. <BR>There is also a writer/storyteller from New hampshire would does commentaries on Public Radio, Willem Lange. <BR>His pieces focus on nature and on human interest stories. <BR>He has audio tapes of his pieces (some of the stories have brought tears not only to my eyes, but my husband's, and he is not a weeper) and a book of short pieces, called "Okay, Let's Try It Again" <BR>I am in the middle of reading North of Naples, South of Rome, by Paolo Tullio. <BR>It is pieces/stories about the Comino Valley , where he grew up, after WW2. <BR>It's very interesting and enjoyable. <BR>Enjoy! <BR>Nancy

I have had such enjoyment sitting here and reading this thread that I had to write to thank you all, mostly on the otherside of the pond,for introducing me to Wally Lamb. I had never heard of him before but on your recommendation I went out and bought This much I know Is True. I am still reading it and like it so much I have given another copy to my friend as a birthday present. Thanks to you all I now have another list of books to look out for. <BR>The world must be parochial when it comes to modern fiction as some of the writers you have mentioned I had not heard of before in UK. Barbara Kingsolver falls into this category. <BR>I often read short stories when I travel and would recommend Paul Theroux <BR>and ofcourse Raymond Carver. One of my favourite English writers is Margaret Forster who is quite prolific and as well as novels which are most readable writes biography. Do look at her books. They really are great. Thanks again and happy travelling.

Loved all the recommendations, and have pared down my list, "Pillars of the Earth" being at the top... <BR>Any ideas for pre-trip reading material based on Spain/Morocco, where I will be headed in fall of 2001? I normally read Sci-Fi, but have deviated on occasion(Memoirs of a Geisha, which I LOVED). <BR> <BR>Or perhaps, movies I could rent to watch before I go? I love movies w/ subtitles, my favs so far have been: <BR>*Indochine <BR>*Red Lantern <BR>...a few others whose titles escape me at this time...mostly Asian related, due to my "Memiors..." reading experiance...

I just finished the novels of Jean Rhys (all five in one volume). These are all stories of women, set in Paris and London. I wish I hadn't read it, because it would have been wonderful read for my upcoming trip to those two places.

Lisa, do a search for "movies": there are at least three long threads with lots of movie/video rec's for pre-travel viewing! <BR> <BR>Some of my own favorite movies to "read" are "Diabolique" (the original, French one!), "Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise," "Jean de Florette" and its sequel, "Manon of the Spring," and any Luis Buneul film. Since you liked "Indochine," try "The Lover," which has a similar setting/themes. Not subtitled, but good for Morocco, is "Hideous Kinky." <BR> <BR>Okay, enough off topic, and back to the books!

Lisa, try "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway set during the Spanish Civil War and also if you plan on visiting Granada "Tales of the Alhambra" by Washington Irving.

<BR>For fans of Corelli's Mandolin (count me in!), try The Jukebox Queen of Malta. It's sort of a "Catch-22 Meets Corelli's Mandolin"---and no, not really in the same league with either of these, but still a good read.

I've really enjoyed browsing through this posting. I'll print it for future reference and bookstore browsing. <BR>I can add: The Feast of All Saints by Ann Rice as completely absorbing, and also Robertson Davies' The Deptford Trilogy.

I would like to add my personal favorite, "Exodus" by Leon Uris (it's part of the reason my daughter is named Jordana Ami).

I think we're all missing one point here--there are a very special few books that can truly be called "plane books." While almost all of the books recommended here are books I have enjoyed reading on the ground, or haven't got to yet, most of the suggestions just don't make the plane team. For a plane, you need something light with some humor, an engaging story, and no plane crashes or hijackings. I admit to being a bit of a book snob on the ground, but anything goes in the air for me. The best plane books I have found are Maeve Binchy books. It's not rocket science, but she weaves a mean story, and it helps pass the time quickly. Save the classics and insightful, mind-expanding works for home or sitting in a cafe in Barcelona.

Here's another vote for Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. It's my favorite book! It's about this loser man that still lives with his mother in the French Quarter. He doesn't think he's a loser (au contraire!). The book chronicles his misadventures as he tries to get and keep a job. It's really hysterical! <BR> <BR>

For "Should Have"... <BR> <BR> <BR>PS: THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all who raved about Corelli's Mandolin. It's the best book I've read in a long time.

And thanks to whomever suggested "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver, about a white American family from the 1950s-era segregated south, who move to the Congo to be missionaries. Although it's out in paperback, I bought it on tape so I could listen to it on my walkman while working out, and it is absolutely transporting. It has taken over my dreams and my daytime reveries too; it's all I can think about now. I am already in anticipatory mourning for the day the book ends and I have to find something else to read. Also, the book meets all the original criteria -- thick, fiction, and cannot-put-it-down. A terrific travel read!

Some suggestions for long, good books: <BR>The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand although it's a bit heavy. <BR>Gone with the Wind by Margeret Mitchell. If you haven't seen the movie in a while, this is long and good. <BR>Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. I would recommend Ivanhoe first b/c it's very good amd very diffucult to put down. Not much "literary value" as my English teacher puts it but I like it a lot. It's very long so that's good for what you want. One precaution is that the first three chapters or so are kind of boring but I really think you'll enjoy it. <BR> East of Eden by Steinbeck? It's my favorite book, and very good and involving. <BR> Also, I just read a book called Five Fortunes that was very engrossing but I can't remember the author. It was a new book though. <BR> Also, I must say I disagree w/Dan over Madame Bovary. I had to read it over the summer and I absolutely do not like it. Maybe it loses a lot in translation?

To the top!

after reading this thread i went to my book shelves and pulled out a few of my favorite fiction books. i have a method---i generally give paperback books to friends and i have a rule---when i give you a book you can't give it back, unless i specify upfront that i want it back. i buy way too many books. if i kept them all i'd have to buy a second house. i only keep the really great ones. these i really enjoyed or i wouldn't have them in my bookshelves still--- <BR> <BR>I Know This Much Is True-Wally Lamb-about adult twin brothers. one brother has emotional problems and the other brother (who is the narrator) thinks he's responsible for him. dysfunctional family history, etc. very good book. <BR> <BR>While I Was Gone-Sue Miller-Narrator is a 50ish female, married to a minister. Three daughters who are all out of the house now. An episode from her 1960's youth comes back to haunt her. <BR> <BR>A Widow For One Year-John Irving--Author of The World According To Garp, Cider House Rules, just to name a few. Written in the voice of a woman novelist who was born after her parents lost two sons in an automobile accident. Very good. <BR> <BR>Welcome to the World, Baby Girl-Fannie Flagg---An Adult girl whose mother mysteriously disappeared when she was in college. BTW, Fannie Flagg's other books are very good also---Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistlestop Cafe, and Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man. <BR> <BR>The Horse Whisperer-Nicolas Evans--The movie was terrible, but the book is great!!! A young girl has an accident on her horse and takes the horse to a man who works with horses with emotional problems. <BR> <BR>Also, not a keeper, but I just read and enjoyed---Tara Road---based in Dublin mostly. <BR> <BR>For suspense try any of Stuart Woods books---better to read them in the order of publishing because several of them have recurring characters. First one was Chiefs---was made into a mini-series several years ago. <BR> <BR>

Wow, what great suggestions. I'm in heaven and not even planning a trip. But now I have BIG reading plans for the next fifty years. I second "A Walk in the Woods" although I haven't read it yet. It's written by Bill Bryson, a prodigal ex-pat, who left Iowa for England and recently returned. One of my favorite authors for his humor. He also wrote The Mother Tongue. <BR> <BR>Another suggestion: The Mind of the Traveler, from Gilgamesh to Global Tourism, by a professor at FIU, Eric Leed. Not fiction, but thought-provoking, eye-opening, and, for me, a delight after taking his "History of Travel" class 10 years ago. <BR> <BR>I'm surprised to see Follett's Pillars of the Earth. It was wonderfully researched, and as an Engl Lit major with a medieval history minor, I thought it would be fantastic. The characters, however, were about as one-dimensional as I've ever read. BIG disappointment; but Follett's disappointed me ever since Eye of the Needle. <BR> <BR>When I travel, like some others, I try to read history books about my destination, but also try to find fiction set in the destination to create a romantic ambiance. Have a great trip and some great reads!