Advice for 1 Book to Bring on a 3 Week Trip
Jun 19th, 2006, 06:13 PM
#26
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If I only want to take one book, I take something by Dickens or one of Trollope's political novels. Little Dorrit would be good, as part of it is set in Italy.
Or how about some slow going Henry James? Anything in Italy would be good: Portrait of a Lady; The Wings of the Dove.
Or how about some slow going Henry James? Anything in Italy would be good: Portrait of a Lady; The Wings of the Dove.
Jun 19th, 2006, 06:19 PM
#29
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Here are a some of my favorites for extended reading: Les Miserables - Victor Hugo. The Rabbit novels by John Updike (Two volume set). Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann. A Night of Long Goodbyes - Paul Murray (This might not qualify as a long read - but it is funny yet moving).
Jun 20th, 2006, 06:33 PM
#34
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Though it's not about Italy, you might like "Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernieres, who also wrote "Corelli's Mandolin." It's quite long (500+ pages) and is a mulitlayered story about the Greeks and Turks at the time of the Ottoman Empire. It's well done, but takes time to get through. He's a great writer, because he works the history in, but also tells a great story.
Have a great trip!
Have a great trip!
Jun 20th, 2006, 06:36 PM
#35
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I'll be contrarian here...
- take a handful of paperbacks - find expats and give them the books when completed (they'll be thrilled!).
- then fill space with souvenirs
- take books that your DH or friends will read and share amongst everyone
- don't take something 'too good', instead, put your book done and people watch! (I get wrapped up in a book and can't put it down...)
enjoy!
- take a handful of paperbacks - find expats and give them the books when completed (they'll be thrilled!).
- then fill space with souvenirs
- take books that your DH or friends will read and share amongst everyone
- don't take something 'too good', instead, put your book done and people watch! (I get wrapped up in a book and can't put it down...)
enjoy!
Jun 20th, 2006, 09:16 PM
#36
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I agee with surfmom. Well what I mean is that is what I do. Even my friends in Italy love to have me leave them my English language paperback books. I just put some in my check in luggage. They get read along the trip as I love to read too. And not bringing them home makes room for purchases etc. That is what works for me.
Jun 20th, 2006, 11:06 PM
#37
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A second vote for Luigi Barzini's "The Italians". Even though I read it years ago I still recall its insights. I wish I stil had it on my bookshelf, but I seem to have thrown it away - unusual for me!
Jun 21st, 2006, 04:55 PM
#38
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Although I already made my recommendation, I personally usually don't take a long book. In fact, I usually take several small "fluff" books. Nothing so gripping that I'd rather read than "do" or that keeps me up at night so I'm tired the next day.
Since I travel alone, I like to always keep a book in my purse to read at lunch or while waiting for trains, etc.
A few small books are just like one big one. I usually pick them up at a 1/2 price used book store. Since they aren't keepers, I keeping ripping off what I have read, that way, I have less and less book in my purse as I read. When I'm done, I throw away the last bit and take out a new book.
Since I travel alone, I like to always keep a book in my purse to read at lunch or while waiting for trains, etc.
A few small books are just like one big one. I usually pick them up at a 1/2 price used book store. Since they aren't keepers, I keeping ripping off what I have read, that way, I have less and less book in my purse as I read. When I'm done, I throw away the last bit and take out a new book.
Jun 21st, 2006, 05:27 PM
#39
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Mushashi --
by Yoshikawa
The epic Japanese novel which inspired all the cool Japanese samuri movies with Toshiro Mifune, many by Akira Kurasawa, but other directors have also dipped into that huge volumee for stories. It is written in "episodes" so that you can read a portion and set it down at a clear "ending point" and pick it up again when you feel like reading some more.
by Yoshikawa
The epic Japanese novel which inspired all the cool Japanese samuri movies with Toshiro Mifune, many by Akira Kurasawa, but other directors have also dipped into that huge volumee for stories. It is written in "episodes" so that you can read a portion and set it down at a clear "ending point" and pick it up again when you feel like reading some more.
Jun 21st, 2006, 05:58 PM
#40
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Gone with the Wind - it's about 1,200 pages.
(Although I do rememer reading it all the way throughh in about 3 days when I was 12.)
I do the same thing - take a bunch of books - but throw out the ones I didn;t enjoy that much - and maik the others home to myself.
And if in England I buy tons - since you can get a lot there (at leasat of my favorite British mysteries) not available in the US. (Sometimes I'm reduced to ordering from the UK web site of amazon.)
(Although I do rememer reading it all the way throughh in about 3 days when I was 12.)
I do the same thing - take a bunch of books - but throw out the ones I didn;t enjoy that much - and maik the others home to myself.
And if in England I buy tons - since you can get a lot there (at leasat of my favorite British mysteries) not available in the US. (Sometimes I'm reduced to ordering from the UK web site of amazon.)
