As all readers know, one of the hardest things about travel is deciding which books to pack, how many, paperback or hardback, long or short. I am at that stage of my preparation, so here's my stack up for consideration.
Those are (from bottom to top)
The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (reread from ages ago)
Home by Marilynne Robinson (I LOVED Gilead, so . . .)
This Rock by Robert Morgan
A Woman of Means by Peter Taylor
Against Happiness by Eric Wilson
Trailerpark by Russell Banks
True at First Light by Ernest Hemingway (1 of 2 I'm considering for The Classics Circuit Lost Generation Event and a TPR Challenge entry)
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (also a reread from ages ago)
Angels and Insects by A. S. Byatt
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
What do you think? Should I go with several short books to have selection or a few choice long ones? What will keep me focused if it's 3 AM, and I can't sleep on the plane? Also, as I don't have an e-reader (although I could probably borrow one from the library), I was thinking of downloading something to my ipod's kindle app. Would it be worth it? Or would the tiny screen bother me over time? If I did so, what piece of e-fluff should I pick up?
Let me also take this moment to announce that troutking has won the draw for the signed copy of Erin Tocknell's new book. Congratulations, troutking! Confederate Streets is on its way to you!
I love both travel and picking the books to take with me too. I'm taking a long trip in late August, and am already thinking about books to take. It's one of the best parts of preparing for a trip. I do always take too many though. Better than running out. Although the time I did run out (on a trip to New Zealand) I bought an amazing local memoir.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what I'm packing, it is stressful for me, so I would have to respectfully disagree, Louise. It just feels so final, somehow, to make decisions about what to bring and what to leave behind, and oh no, what if I really actually need that once I get there??? I always take too much - of everything. It's ridiculous. :)
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