For a bit darker variation of the Harry Potter / CS Lewis Narnia genre - try Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. A very different take on the ideas of good and evil. Some religious groups have condemned his books as heresy. The first two are good while the third (Amber Spyglass) I thought a bit too ambitious - but you need to read all three. Pullman has just gotten a movie making deal.

"A Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin fits with several of your criteria. <BR><BR>Great story, well developed characters, and engaging. Covers the life of the main character, as told in retrospect by him, about his life in Italy before, and just after, World War I. Only lesson in the book is to focus on the natural beauty and aesthetics around us.<BR><BR>BTW, Kitchen Confidential is a good read in the non-fiction category.

Question: If a book is a no-brainer, how could it also be a page-turner?

Simple entertaining easy reads.<BR>Anything by Nevil Shute. Suspense , history , romance , humour they have it all and easy to "fall into".

I enjoy Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries and Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters' books. Also, Rosamund Pilcher's books are good. I recently read Starting Over by her son, Robin, and it was good too.

Another vote for Nelson DeMille, just finished The Lion's Game, about mid-eastern terrorist, very timely. Great read. I also love Rosemund Plicher, also recently read Winter Solstice, beautifully written. She absolutely paints pictures with words!

Anything by Rosamunde Pilcher or "The Pilot`s Wife" or "Fortune`s Rock" by Anita Shreve! Love Bill Bryson, too.

All oldies ... Another vote for Pat Conroy - Love all of his books but Beach Music is my ALL time favorite. Also, Nelson DeMille - The General's Daughter & The Gold Coast. Both are captivating from the very beginning. And, last but definitely not least by a long shot ... a great book to enthrall you - Stephen King's 'The Stand'. A long and much enjoyed read (great for a transatlantic flight).

Excellent recommendations here. I second (or third) Diana Galbaldon's Highlander series, but make sure to read them in order; Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth, or anything else by him; Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers; anything by Rosalind Laker, especially To Dance With Kings (about Versailles), The Golden Tulip (about Amsterdam), The Venetian Mask (about Venice). They are considered historical romance, but without sex. The Winner by David Baldacci is definitely a page-turner. Anything by Nelson DeMille, however, I think you should avoid The Lion's Game while traveling -- there is a bit more reference to terrorism than you may want on vacation.

Just thought of another excellent novel about 17th Century Amsterdam, Tulip Fever.

A second for Nevil Shute. I remember sitting in the back yard as a teen reading On the Beach, my mother calling me to do the dishes, and my thinking, "Why bother--the world's going to end anyway."

Glad to see I'm not the only Nelson DeMille fan out there!<BR><BR>How about Patrick Robinson -- his books are almost prophetic. Very spooky. There's the one about the American sub being captured by the Chinese, the planes exploding in the sky (well, maybe that's not the one to read on your flight...) They're technical enough to be interesting but not nearly as technical as Clancy's. You know who does what, so it's the chase that's so engrossing. Loaned one to my friend and she couldn't put it down (even read it during a pedicure).<BR><BR>I'm a huge Harry Potter fan -- but buy them in an English language bookstore Europe (you get the British edition). BTW, am I the only Harry Potter fan who won't see the movie?

The suggestions have been great. I've actually gone and bought the first three Harry Potter books. Now, I just have to hide them from myself until my trip. Thanks for the Bryson suggestion too. Will order those books on Amazon; I had trouble finding them at the bookstore,

topping for Judith

Judith...<BR><BR>Bryson is in most of the larger bookstores I've been to. He is usually in the travel section, under travel narratives, or something like that. I've seen his books at airport bookstores too, in the travel section.<BR><BR>Enjoy your books!

I was glad to see the British writer Ruth Rendell mentioned as a must-read for mystery fans (Lori!!). She also writes as Barbara Vine. Her misteries are set up in contemporary England (especially London) and are outstanding suspense and storyline. <BR><BR>As far as mystery, "The Secret History" from Donna Tartt was also really, really good. <BR><BR>Also, a book called "The Plague Tales" by Ann Benson, about how an archeological field research in London unleashes the virus that caused the Plague at a time when antibiotics have become obsolete. The story runs paralell with the story of a Medieval doctor who is trying to stop/cure the Plague epidemic ravaging his French city. At the end both stories intertwined for a great and surprising ending. Interestingly enough, this was the first Ann Benson mistery book. She was a tourist in London when she got the idea for this book after witnessing people doing work in what had been a burial ground for Plague victims.

"Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins - offbeat and funny.

My favorite book is 1984 by George Orwell. I can't put it down once I start reading it.

For popular fiction I don't think you can beat Stuart Woods.

I find anything by Susan Isaacs fun (discoverd her after seeing movie "Compromising Positions") Also all Patricia Highsmith's books about "the Talented Mr. Ripley" will keep you turning las paginas! And tho she is in a much loftier league than the above, I can never put down a book by Alice Munro.