Recently read the Shopaholic Takes Manhattan - a little too fluffy for my taste - Bridget Jones was far better.<BR><BR>If you want something a touch more heavyweight, you might consider Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer. That and the Songcatcher (don't remember author's name) both made me want to visit the Appalachian Mountains and both were beautifully written books.<BR><BR>I also love books by Irish authors and just finished Mary McGreevy (again can't remember the author's name). It was so funny and a bit challenging too - set in small village in Ireland - post WWII - strong woman opening the minds of villagers. For ultra light there are always Maeve Binchey books - Tara Road etc.<BR>

I second "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. I would also add "The Lost Continent" and "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," also by Bryson. Two different books about the USA, written about 20 years apart. I found it interesting to see how the author's attitudes had changed. "The Lost Continent" is the earlier book. <BR><BR>I also like the Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries. (A is for Alibi, etc.), and have recently been reading Joan Hess for light, fun mysteries. <BR> <BR>I know what you mean about beach reading. I tried a Patricia Cornwall book last summer, and it was too violent and dark for the beach.

How about Tales of the South Pacific by Michener. It's a bunch of short stories set in, well, the South Pacific. They're all World War II influenced, but it's not much in the way of fighting and soldiering. The stories are a perfect length for a stay at the beach.

Don't men read too? I didn't read the full post but at the end most recommendations came from women. I think I'm going to read and re-read some of the late Thor Heyerdahl's books, "Report from Ground Zero" (by a former fireman, maybe Dennis Smith?) but otherwise need suggestions.

thanks James any focus on Hawaii in these stories? People should also know that there is a Michener (thx sp) exhibit at the Honolulu Academy of Art on Oahu.<BR><BR>Anybody read "Road to Coorain" by Jill Ker Conway? PBS made it into a movie that peaked my interest. About growing up on the Australian Outback.

I second "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang - it may be my favorite book out of the thousands I've read. Mao's power, all the denial that was going on...holy cow. What better way to capture the reality of the start of Communism in China than through the eyes of this woman, a daughter of a high-ranking official, and a leader in the Communist youth movement. China's history was not something I learned in school...I found it totally fascinating and disturbing ("everyone must stop what they're doing for the next 2 years and do nothing but melt down metal" - what a completely ludicrous idea!) You wondered why, as a child, your parents would tell you "people are starving in China" when you didn't eat your dinner...this book explains why. It's not just a history lesson, it's a completely engrossing story. It's fantastic. 'Nuff said.

my favorite too suzanne although I have not read thousands so I left that opinion out. Totally blown away by that book. I live in NYC and I was frequently stopped by others who saw me reading this and had to share the same reaction.

Yes, men do read. I suggested Kitchen Confidential.<BR><BR>Dennis Smith's book is extremely moving. An unbelievable read but difficult to get through some parts without feeling overwhelmed emotionally. (My brother is a member of the FDNY and several of his close friends are mentioned.)<BR><BR>I'd also suggest "A Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin.

Read these just last week at the beach: Corrections (J. Franz), We were the Mulvaneys, the Patterson mysteries starting with First to Die; also the biography of Fulton J. Sheen.

RAE,thanks for mentioning Mark Helprin - I always recommend A Winters Tale by MH, though it is out of print, so the library, a used book store, of Half.com is your best bet for finding it.<BR><BR>I second the nom for Kitchen Confidential and anything by Elmore Leonard, Larry McMurtry or Janet Evanovich.<BR><BR>If you've read Secrets of the Divine Ya-Ya Sisterhood, be sure to read its prequel, Little Altars Everywhere.<BR><BR>Happy Reading!

Woops -- even if you've read that OTHER book, "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," I still recommend the prequel!

Jim, here's another one for you. Mr. nina (well if Kal can have Mrs. Kal then I can have Mr. nina), loved Memoirs from Antproof case, another Mark Helprin book (and so did I). He also liked Giovanni's Gift by Bradford Morrow.

Has anyone read "Shelters of Stone" by Jean Auel (her latest in the "Clan of the Cave Bear" series)? It's a rather large book to take on vacation, I'm considering waiting until it comes out in paperback. On my list to prepare for our September trip to the island is "Hawaii : True Stories of the Island Spirit (Travelers' Tales Guides) by Rick Carroll.

There are actually two or three books/memoirs by Jill Kerr Conway including "The Road to Coorain". I just can't remember the titles. But all of them are recommended reading.<BR>I missed the PBS movie, unfortunately.

Think Road to Coorain was the best selling memoir have your red Iza and what the heck is going on with your tickets?

Iza so tired here "have you read" any of the Ker Conway books?

Have to throw this in if you are going to Hawaii you really want to read <BR>"The Hawaii Story by Queen Liloukilani". Light reading and not the best writing but you are reading the hand of the last sovereign of Hawaii. This made it special for me. Tells you things you don’t readily know about Hawaii, how Waikiki years ago was known as the healing place (now we know it as the healing place for professionals ) , how you must see the volcano at midnight, how the alii (sp) were raised, schooled. A good starter background to Hawaiian culture. Short at 250p.<BR><BR>Want to take in very little reading about Hawaiian history but will still like to bone up. My favorite quickie book is "The Concise History of the Hawaiian Islands" by Dr. Phil Barnes.85pages<BR><BR>You can get both of thes books on Amazon they will bring you closer to Hawaii's past.<BR>

I read it (actually listened to it read by the author - books on tape, you know). It was good. I also listened to the second part of it, called "True North" - was pretty interesting too. Too bad I missed the movie, I think it was on in CT last Monday. But maybe they will show it again.<BR>I still don't have my Hawaii tickets. Tried bidding on Priceline $900 (including taxes) from both Hartford and Newark to Kauai and got rejected! I will buy the tickets this week though. I didn't want to bid for Honolulu because we may get really late arrival or early departure and then we would have to spend the night there. So I'll just buy from Orbitz, or whoever happens to have the lowest prices tomorrow or Friday.

B is for Burglar. <BR><BR>Not because it's quality - but because it's so much fun to make fun of. Especially the exchange between the two old characters.<BR><BR>It'll take ya about 2 hors to read the thing. So why not?<BR><BR>-kielbasa man

For men - and women: No one has mentioned Tony Hillerman. Excellent writer/yarn-spinner. And a must for anyone travelling to the American southwest.

Too bad Iza, are you at least finding comfortable connections and departures? 900 sounds ridiculously high for a bid, not worth the inconvenience. Was a bid of 900 saving you that much? I know the little stuff adds up when you are with a group, not to mention the limited availability when your numbers grow. <BR><BR>to the rest of you and to make up for the hijacking of this thread...shoal of time by Gavin Daws. Drawn out in places but probably the most respected in depth look at Hawaiian History. Down side is that too much of the book is from the settlers perspective as far as I could see.<BR>

Sarah, I agree $900 was a very high bid, but it would have saved us at least $100 per person ($400 total) which is not insignificant. The ridiculous thing about it was that it was rejected.<BR>Ah well, this is going to be an expensive vacation anyway, so $400 is probably not such a big deal.<BR><BR>And to make this post on topic, any book by Joanna Trollope would be worth reading over the summer. <BR>Another interesting little novel I would recommend is "Samurai's Garden".<BR><BR>Bennie who posted the description of the book by an Irish author: Was Mary McGreevy the title of it? It sounds really interesting.

Iza, I think $400 is a big deal it all adds up. Having said that I passed on a $300 savings just to have the direct morning connection into Lih. Staying over in SFO. IF you want a second pair of hands leave your dates and restrictions. I am sure you have covered all the angles but I thought I would offer.<BR><BR>summer reading list, go online and find short stories on Hawaii by Robert Lewis Stephenson and Jack London. "Shin bones" and "Waterbaby" are two by Jack London that come to mind. I am thinking but only guessing Treasure Island was inspired by Hawaii. Only have started London Short stories but I thought this was better than a recommendation of "The Wrinkle Cure" (look at saving your skin after the beach). <BR><BR> Also just began the poison wood bible (Barbara Kingsolver), an oprah book club suggestion. Someone recommended as a good historical novel on the recent history of the Congo. I want to understand this better.<BR>

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London/Writings/MakaloaMat/shin-bones.html<BR><BR>for "Shin Bones" go to homepage for other short stories

I really really liked The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It was much better than Prodigal Summer imho. Also LOVED The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I read it in Jamaica and could not put it down.

Nina,<BR><BR>I always carry a good book with me also when I travel. Especially love anything written by Richard North Patterson. My favorite is Silent Witness written by him. Old book but a good read.

Definately :Girl with the Pearl Earring" ! Perfect beach book.<BR>I just finished chuckling my way thru " 50 acres and a Poodle" by Jeanne Marie Laskas .City people moving to the country. Very funny .<BR>Enjoy your vacation !

How about "The shipping news." I understand they are going to make a movie from it, done in Nova Scotia. Also, Anita Shreve writes good beach books.

Iza - the Title of the book was Mary McGreevy and the author was Walter Keady. You can find it on Amazon and they have an excerpt available. My Mom grew up in Mayo and can attest to the authenticity of the writing. She loved the book too.<BR><BR>I don't know about anyone else but nothing makes me want to take a trip somewhere more than reading. <BR><BR>Anyone have any suggetions on a good book about the Amish before I take a weekend trip to Lancaster?

Eva, thanks! 5o acres and a poodle sounds perfect, since about 90% of my neighbors moved here from Manhattan and some of them are pretty clueless when to comes to home and land maintenance. They basically want to hire someone to do everything, especially if it involves a screwdriver or a ladder!

Bennie there have to be books out there about written by people who left the community. That would be me search on Amazon or borders.com. Good Luck

What's So Amazing About Grace<BR>by Philip Yancey<BR>for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of God's love for them.

Anything by James Lee Burke.<BR>Ditto Stephen Hunter esp. Point of Impact (who wouldn't love a character called Bob the Nailer) or Dirty White Boys, and James Ellroy's LA Noir trilogy.

OR Kent Anderson's Sympathy for the Devil and Night Dogs.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm not familiar with Helprin but I'll look for him at the library. Ellin, what did you think of the Sheen bio? Whenever I see him speaking on old t.v. clips I'm mesmerized.

Different Susan: I didn't like the first book "Little Altars Everywhere", as much as Ya-Ya. I was happy she left out the mother's sexual abuse in the Ya-Ya book. <BR>Also, have to add that I love anything written by Amy Tan.

For the Amish: Dr. Frau, a woman doctor among the Amish. When you punch it in on Amazon, they come up with other Amish-related suggestions.<BR><BR>General reading: John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series. Relatively short, and some good musings about Florida. A quick overview is at http://home.earthlink.net/~rufener/<BR><BR>We leave Sat. morning for the beach (though it's a bit early,) and my wife also has the Nanny Diaries packed. And i've got a stash of spies, techno-thrillers, and a mish-mash. 'Course, I can't go for breakfast across town without a book in hand...<BR>

For really light reading I love Jennifer Crusie - Her newest book Fast Women is great but so are her others. Have a great trip.

A book that everyone should read is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

Interesting that Opie should mention "A Confederacy of Dunces". It's a book written by a man from Louisiana who committed suicide and knowing that, I didn't enjoy it for a minute, thinking how miserable he was. Many people found it funny though.<BR><BR>The definitive beach book for a guy, especially if you are staying in the Destin, Florida area is "The Right Stuff". There is simply nothing like walking out to the beach at 9:00 AM, setting up your umbrella, opening the first cold Miller Lite of the day, and getting in to the experiences of real men who had the balls to fly on a rocket that had the succees rate of a an ugly prostitute in New Orleans on a hot August day. Despite that, this group of 1st born males went into space and brought America to the forefront of space technology and know how. God, they just don't make 'em like that anymore. Of course, if you are in Destin, the fact that F-15 fighters and other such aircraft fly overhead from Eglin AFB, just adds to the thrill and excitement of one of the best beach books in history.