<p>Another vote for Middlesex…really interesting, well written and a little Greek history (early 1900s).</p>
<p>I loved Pillars of the Earth and maybe even preferred the 2nd one: World Without End.
But, it will feel like lugging around an anvil. Actually, I was traveling to Phoenix myself when I dragged that book along simply because I had less than 100 pages to read but could NOT leave it behind! It’s about 700 pages long.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend The Tender Bar, by JR Mohr. It’s a really entertaining memoir, in the vein of Catcher in the Rye. Lots of great vocabulary and interesting characters. It was the only book that was uniformly enjoyed by my rather picky book club.</p>
<p>Another book…a fun, kind of quirky read is “Gods in Alabama”. I would have never read it but a friend insisted. First time novel and I can’t recall the author’s name.</p>
<p>Wow, my only suggestion is to pack all these books in your carry-on to avoid overweight baggage charges!</p>
<p>Since my favorite cheap mystery series set in National Parks (Nevada Barr/ Anna Pigeon) hasn’t tackled the grand Canyon yet, I don’t have a “destination” book for you… but if someone is going to Mauii, read Molokai as you gaze across the passage!</p>
<p>And if you want to get ready for sitting around waiting for Texas weather, try A Perfect Storm (will keep you cool reading about freezing saltwater sluicing through the boat) or Isaac’s Storm - about the great hurricane on Galveston Island.</p>
<p>Yes, to Middlesex! Fabulous. But I I really recommend The Crimson Petal and the White, a very long, totally engrossing book by Michel Faber. It is historical, not about war and you will not finish it on a long plane ride, but you will want to. It is on paperback. Victorian England, incredibly well written with characters you will not want to leave.</p>
<p>theredsmileyface, that’s a really funny criticism of “Edgar Sawtelle” … I also wasn’t crazy about it - and thought it was too long. </p>
<p>I second the recommendation of Zoo Keeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman – a nonfiction story of how the director & wife of the Warsaw Zoo used the zoo facilities/grounds to help hundreds of Jews during the German occupation, right under the Germans’ noses no less. </p>
<p>Also, check out America America by Ethan Canin. A satisfying, somewhat traditional, long novel about a young man who grows up around a Kennedy-esque family.</p>
<p>River of Doubt by Candice Millard–The story of Teddy Roosevelt’s expedition on an uncharted river in Brazil (known as the River of Doubt). Roosevelt went on this voyage shortly after he lost his bid for the Presidency on the Bull Moose ticket. It’s a very exciting story of this journey–no war or carnage.</p>
<p>Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman–It’s a novel that’s based on the letters of Mary Todd Lincoln. It’s told in the first person by Mary Todd Lincoln (President Lincoln’s widow) who has been committed to an asylum by her son. She’s attempting to explain that she’s not crazy and says she’s writing her story to drown out the screams of the other inmates. It’s a very long book–you could probably drive to the Grand Canyon and back and not finish it (600-some pages).</p>
<p>I’d second the recommendation for Time Traveler’s Wife.</p>
<p>I just read White Tiger and found it fascinating, but it’s a fairly quick read.</p>
<p>White Teeth by Zadie Smith.</p>
<p>Life of Pi. Marooned at sea with a tiger - how can you beat that?</p>
<p>Anything by Jane Austen.</p>
<p>I haven’t read any early Isabel Allende, but I loved Zorro - what a romp! Also Ines of My Soul - about the founding of Chile - was just astounding. She says in her afterward that her editor insisted that she include her sources at the end, otherwise no one would believe that the story was based on real events because it is so strange and exotic.</p>
<p>Lots of great books here but she wants to carry along one book. My vote for long and interesting, not too heavy to carry along in paperback, is (already mentioned) Hawaii (if not already read). It is a good read an almost long enough to kill time on a flights back and forth TO Hawaii. (I bring five or six paperbacks on a one week vacation with flights on both ends, and usually read three of them - especially if I have connecting flights…)</p>
<p>Missypie- yes, I agree, Michener can get a bit much, and I think Hawaii was the book that started it all (Tales of the South Pacific was before that, of course, but it was in a different format). I agree with you, I really couldn’t get into his later books. But don’t throw Hawaii away, because it really is excellent. </p>
<p>It does seem like people are trying to force you into reading Michener, though! Well, as I said, Hawaii is different.</p>
<p>I thought so, although I liked Empire Falls a lot. Bridge of Sighs is (as with all of Russo’s books) filled with fascinating characters and some really exquisite writing. Straight Man, mentioned by lorelei, is also very good, although I liked Bridge of Sighs even more.</p>
<p>And I also second MarinMom’s recommendation of White Teeth, which is an absolutely brilliant book!</p>
<p>I thought Empire Falls was much better–I think it’s his best. Which is not to say that Bridge of Sighs isn’t a wonderful read. Russo is one of my favorite authors.</p>
<p>Also love Russo. didn’t like *Sighs *quite as much as *Empire Falls <a href=“which%20I%20loved%20except%20for%20drama%20at%20end–I%20could%20see%20that%20coming,%20and%20kept%20hoping%20that’s%20not%20where%20he%20was%20going.”>/I</a> *Straight Man *is his funniest (and working at a college, I adored all the skewering.)</p>
<p>I’ve mentioned this before, but for a really funny, great, worthwhile read, nothing beats *Handling Sin *by Michael Malone.</p>
<p>Anyone who loves well-written, impeccably researched historical fiction, combined with imaginative time travel will LOVE the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. The first book is called “Outlander” and then you will be hooked; there are 5 (or 6) more books, which you MUST read in sequence.</p>
<p>I can’t recommend these books enough. I am so sad that I have already read them, so I can’t look forward to reading them for the first time. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Just finished The Thirteenth Tale last night. Interesting and different.
Water for Elephants another easy vacation book.
Loving Frank is next on my list.
Still Alice is another thoughtful book on Alzheimers, very short</p>
<p>I second scout59: Kate Atkinson is WONDERFUL. In fact there are two others, but starting with Case Histories is a fine idea.</p>
<p>If you can’t find her, 1) yell at your bookseller and 2) try one of these. Some have dark parts but I think all qualify as vacation reading.</p>
<p>Modernish, longish, really engaging AND available in paperback:
Donna Tartt: The Secret History, or The Little Friend
Marisha Pessl: Special Topics in Calamity Physics (don’t let the title scare you)
Jon Franzen: The Corrections
Ann Patchett: Bel Canto </p>
<p>Classic, long but worth it, definitely available in paperback:
Jane Eyre
David Copperfield
Our Mutual Friend
North and South (the British one, by Mrs. Gaskell, not the John Jakes one)</p>
and 2) try one of these. Some have dark parts but I think all qualify as vacation reading.</p>