Read any good books lately?
 

Does anyone have a paperback book recommendation for my plane trip to Europe? Doesn't necessarily have to be about Europe, just a good book that will keep me entertained :) I like everything.

Hi aduren:

I know you said the books didn't have to be about Europe, but I loved Peter Mayle's books on Provence. They're light and very easy reading. There are 3 in the series: A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, and Encore Provence.

Have you read the Harry Potter books?

I'm trying to get to France and to the Loire...I now suffer a chateau fixation/obsession. So? I gotta read. I just bought "The Serpent and the Moon" by HRH, Princess Michael of Kent, who, evidently is a direct descendant of Diane de Portiers.
So far, I just finished page 106 <grin> she really sets out history with a fine tone.
This isn't romantacized but its not like reading a history text either.
I like it.
How about Terry Pratchett? Ever read any of his stuff? (fiction/fantasy...makes me laugh.)

I second the Harry Potter books. I can't wait for the next one. How about The Devil Wore Prada? -- for some mindless entertainment. I also just read a wonderful book called The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. It is set in Afghanistan, but also chronicles the immigrant experience in America. It is a wonderfully written book and will resonate long after you read the last page.
((c))

I'm currently reading The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri, and I love it.

I am going through all the murder mysteries that I can lately, hmmmm~
Right now is Sue Graftons R is for Ricochet.
Also love an author named Jenny Siler, all of her books..Flashback being the latest, takes place in France and Morrocco.
Peter Mayle wrote a charming book about wine in Provence called A Good Year, I really recommend that.
In hot humid hurricane Florida, there is plenty of time for reading between decorating :D

I finished: Remembrance of Paris, edited by Ruth Reichel. It's sixty years of writing from Gourmet.
The cat who went to Paris by Peter Gethers,
Paris in Mind, edited by Jennifer Lee.

Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs .... hilarious, provocative.

A Round-Heeled Woman : my late life adventures in sex and romance, Jane Juska. self explanatory no ?

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost is hilarious. Has anybody else read it?

No Treesa, but with that title, I will! :D

Have you read the DaVinci Code yet? That should keep you entertained.

Life of Pi took me through a whole week in Mexico.

In case you're going to England (or not), try Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. Very British, and very funny.

Two travel humor works by Mark Twain:

The Innocents Abroad

A Tramp Abroad

Actually, more humorous travel books than travel humor books.

this is great! I will look at all of these at the book store. I considered the Harry Potter books, but for some reason I have an aversion to extremely main stream books (I did read the first one though and liked it) I know I asked the question, but speaking of good books, has anyone read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet? Best book I ever read. These are such good suggestions, thanks everyone!

I'm currently enjoying "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi, a recommendation from a Fodorite on a book thread a earlier this summer.

I have a list of about 20 from that thread! That should keep me busy for awhile. :)

The most intriguing book I have read this year is Alison Weir's "The Children of Henry VIII". Weir has gone back into personal letters, archives, documents of every kind to find first hand descriptions of the events that led to the successes and failures of Henry's children. It doesn't read like history, but rather like a sophisticated soap opera. Weir's research is amazing as is the detail she shares in this book. I couldn't put it down.

Here's the link to that summer reading thread with lots of great suggestions!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...summer+reading

I loved a book called Crow Lake. It's a Canadian author so not sure if you can get it in US. but it's worth looking for.

<i>Searching for Hassan</i> by Terence Ward. Non-fiction. It's about an American family that returns to Iran (they lived there pre-Revolution) to find their family's former cook. A fascinating glimpse of an ancient culture currently in transition.

I prefered it to <i>Reading Lolita in Tehran</i>.

Steve Martin's <i>Shopgirl</i> is also in paperback now. It is different than I expected from him (I'm a huge fan of his writing as well as his acting)--funny, but very, very sensitively written.

SuzieC, I just started reading Terry Pratchett last week. I can't think of the name of the book, but it's the one in which the suitcase has legs. I'm not sure it's my cup of tea (I'm not big on SF), but it certainly offers an interesting take on traveling and tourism!

Funny: if haven't read: Lucky Jim Kingsley Amis

if you are female: Shopaholic Sopohie Kinsella

brilliant, perfect, not long: Elective Affinities - Goethe

thanks somebody for the Janet Juska reference. Somebody told me about that book a few years ago and I couldn't remember the name of it or author.

Just finished &quot;The curious incident of the dog in the night-time&quot; by Mark Haddon.

I really enjoy &quot;The No.1 ladies' detective agency&quot;series by Alexander McCall Smith.

Time Traveler's Wife, The Devil Wears Prada, and Paris to the Moon

I keep trying to shill the works of Tim Sandlin. No one but me seems to read his stuff, but they are (to me) quirky, semi-trashy comedic genius.

I also recommend just about anything by Kurt Vonnegut. Especially his lesser-known novels like <i>Mother Night</i> and <i>Jailbird</i> or <i>God Bless you, Mr. Rosewater</i>.

Just my 2 cents...

I think we read the &quot;Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time&quot; by Mark Haddon in about 2 days, I really enjoyed it.

&quot;The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime&quot; by Mark Haddon is a startling book to read - funny in places at a first glance, then again, probably tragic - and then possibly still a little bit of tongue in cheek. Lovely read.

&quot;The last juror&quot; by John Grisham is not the typical Grisham crime story, but a rather interesting novel with some diligence invested by the author to develop real characters. Worthwhile reading.

Aduren, you mentioned that you loved &quot;Pillars of the Earth&quot; by Ken Follett. Our book group read that book after it was highly recommended by Donna Cross, author of &quot;Pope Joan,&quot; when our book group had a phone chat with Donna. Anyway, that's a roundabout way of saying that you might enjoy &quot;Pope Joan&quot; -- it's a novel about the (according to legend) only female pope. Somewhat overly romanticized, but still very interesting, and everyone in our group found it a good read. If you go to her web site (www.popejoan.com) and click on the link about the NY Times article on Donna -- that is our book group featured in the article.

You might try The Magic of Provence by Yvonne Lenard. Also Victorine, about a woman in France who runs off to indochina to be with her lover. Also, liked No Reservations, by Alice Steinbach.

Has anyone read Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen ?
I almost got that tonight at B&amp;N then I started to get Patricia Cornwells newest...I will try to read on my flight on Monday :)... testing to see if I still get airsick when I read LOL
Should I warn fellow passengers ?

Me Talk Pretty by Davis Sedaris.
My son gave it to me to read on the plane, and the other passenges beside me thought I was strange when I laughed so much. A thumbs up book.

I love it when these reading threads come up and it turns out that all these Fodorites are also avid readers( how DO we have the time?).

I was also going to suggest anything by David Sedaris, but the risk is keeping your seatmates awake all night while you snort with laughter.

JudyC and Scarlett, I thought &quot;The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time&quot; was fascinating, too!

How about Eats, Shoots &amp; Leaves? It's lightweight and funny. I enjoyed that. Another favorite was The Other Boleyn Girl. And I loved The Pillars of the Earth.
((c))

I enjoy all kinds of literature - reading is one of the joys of life. So many books so little time! Jack London and Ernest Hemingway are 2 of my favorite writers. Not just because of their great works, but of their own lives. They led lives that rivaled any adventure book you would want to read. Traveling to sites associated with them has added a lot to my travels.

Quirky titles I like include-

My Lead Dog was a Lesbian - Brian Donoghue.

Tim Cahills' books are very good.

Jaguars Ripped my Flesh
A Wolverine is biting my leg.
Pecked to Death by Ducks.

Great suggestions!

I second &quot;The Time Traveller's Wife.&quot; Easy to read, but totally engrossing!

Annette

A Brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Brilliantly written, should be required reading for every person on this earth.

For something lighter; Angels &amp; Demons and Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Harry Potter definitely!

Jaques Pepin, &quot;The Apprentice.&quot;

<u>War and Peace
Ulysses
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</u>