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.