Michael Crichton's Timeline - lots on Medieval France, archaeology, quantum physics. Great plot.

"The Charm School" by Nelson DeMille. Both engrossing and an easy read.

For mysteries try British writers Ruth Rendell and Margaret Yorke - both are excellent. (P.D. James puts me to sleep faster then a sleeping pill..boring!!) Maeve Binchley's books are quite delightful and have characters you can really care about, altho her last one was not as good as most of the others. She also has published several collections of short stories that are really good and easy reading for plane trips. Sue Grafton's mysteries are good (altho the last few have not been up to her earlier standards .. same goes for Grisham -- his last one, The Summons, must have been tossed together,it lacks all the punch and humor of his earlier books). Some of Jeffrey Deaver's works are good as well.

Anyone read any Ellis Peters books? They're medieval mysteries and sound really good.

Sci-fi, romance, suspense: Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint is a real page turner. Out of print but available used at Amazon or Alibris.<BR><BR>More fantasy than sci-fi but great plot and characters - you can really get lost in it: Mirror of Her Dreams (two-parter, second one is A Man Rides Through) by Stephen R Donaldson<BR><BR>Historical Fiction and mystery: Roman Blood by Steven Saylor - first in a series about a Roman private eye.<BR><BR>Also, Tony Hillerman mysteries - first one is The Blessing Way, if you like Navajo culture<BR><BR>Humorous - P.G. Wodehouse: Life with Jeeves contains three easy-read and humorous novels. Good Short stories by him are in Carry On, Jeeves<BR><BR>Don't know if you like classics, but they are classics because of their great plots and characters - so.... Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen; Wives and Daughters, ELizabeth Gaskell; Our Mutual Friend, Dickens<BR><BR>And I also vote with the Bill Bryson and David Sedaris fans.<BR><BR>The Ellis Peters Medieval mysteries are good too (but I do not think gripping).<BR><BR>Have a fun vacation!<BR>Marita

I forgot--I've taken two Pat Conroy books with me to Europe and they kept me turning the pages: Lords of Discipline and Beach Music (good Rome scenes). One reason I can't read Tom Clancy is that he writes so poorly.

Holidays in Hell, by P.J. O'Rourke.

If you're a foodie, try Ruth Reichl's memoirs, Tender at the Bone and Comfort Me with Apples. They don't demand a great deal of brain power, but they're quite engaging.

And Peter Mayle's books, such as "A Year in Provence."

If you want medieval to prepare you for the history of Europe try these books by Sharon Kay Penman:<BR><BR>The Sun in Splendor<BR>There Be Dragons<BR>When Christ and all His Angels Slept<BR><BR>They deal primarily with England and France. They are historical fiction and they are outstanding for their history and description of the medieval times. She also writes an excellent historical story with well developed characters and accompanying language.<BR><BR>US

Holidays in Hell, by P.J. O'Rourke.

"No-brainer, page-turner" - I really like Anne Rice for this. The Witching Hour was cool. Her Vampire Chronicles take place partly in Europe. She describes the characters in rich detail and there's plenty of plot, and you definitely don't have to think about it. I also really enjoyed Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum." Once I read the first chapter, I couldn't put them down!

<BR>I too am voting with the Harry Potter books (great escapism and with that sardonic British humour !). However, since the original poster also mentioned an interest in historical happenings, I must recommend Ken Follett's " The Pillars of the Earth ". It's set in the 12th century and only skirts around real historical events but has a huge cast of characters whom you can't help loving or despising. It's about a simple man's ambition to build a cathedral and the myriad of people that come into and out of his life and the lives of his family. Really interesting research on Follett's part (without being too detailed). I couldn't put it down when I read it 10 years ago and still think of it now.<BR><BR>And thanks to all of you, I can't wait to buy my first Bill Bryson book. I have an affinity for laughing out loud in public.

Hi<BR><BR>James Clavell books fit your need.<BR><BR>350 pages of intro out of 1000+, though.<BR><BR>History, plots, characters.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Mathew,<BR><BR>Thank you so much for reminding me of Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth"<BR><BR>I love that book...I read it again about every five years!<BR><BR>It is awesome!<BR><BR>US

I enjoyed these diverse books on planes:<BR>Video Night in Katmandu (or anything by Pico Iyer including The Lady and the Monk): Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes: the various Monsieur Pamplemousse adventures by Michael Bond.

Michael Slade's "Headhunter". Not a proper book.

For mysteries anything by Ruth Rendell (or better yet her more psychological suspense writings under the name Barbara Vine i.e., House of Stairs).<BR><BR>Humor - Gone for Good or Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress or Striptease, Lucky Number, by Carl Haiseen.<BR><BR>Anne Rice, Interview with a Vampire.<BR><BR>In Potter's Field, P. Cornwall.<BR><BR>Another vote for Edward Rutherfurd, London, The Forest, for historical fiction.<BR><BR>Harry Potter for sheer immersion factor, without being heavy reading.

Another vote for stuff by Carl Hiassen. His earlier works (most still available in paperback) are best. Crazy south Floridians often with an animal subplot. I've wintered in Ft. Lauderdale and he's right. The evening news almost always has some crazy animal story--and the humans are just as nuts. Love it. Like Bill Bryson it will have you laughing outloud. <BR><BR>Also if you like really bad writing, and I mean bad, the Pat Booth stuff like West Palm Beach or some such is quite amusing. One of my all time favorites was "The Crazy Ladies". Don't know if she wrote it or just someone with similar "talent" but that was an interesting, salacious read.

Green Eggs and Ham. Dr. Suess' character development leaves a little to be desired, but this story is filled with suspense and has a delectable surprise ending.