Recommended books to take on holiday?

Hi all

A variation on a previous post looking for recommendations is that I'd like some ideas for escapist or lighthearted books to take with me on a week's holiday.

I tend to get stuck in a rut (like when I read about 20 thrillers in a row last year, so I'm now a bit burnt out on that genre!) so am looking for ideas and recommendations.

I have just been notified that Into the Wild is now in at my local library (I had reserved it a few months ago, took that long for me to jump to the top of the queue), so I'm thinking of taking that on holiday, but would also like to take a couple more books.

I realise Into the Wild isn't lighthearted (as I saw the film and loved it) but I do regard it as escapist in that I became totally absorbed by it (as I did with one of Krakauer's other books:  Into Thin Air).

Ideas, please?   

What about Under the Banner of Heaven by the same author?

If you like Krakauer, you might enjoy Michael Lewis too. I read Liar's Poker, Moneyball and The Blind Side by him (all non-fiction) and they are all really good and, to me, good vacation reading.

I'm also all about Bill Bryson on vacation if he has any new books out. Also Terry Pratchett.

I realise Into the Wild isn't lighthearted (as I saw the film and loved it) but I do regard it as escapist in that I became totally absorbed by it (as I did with one of Krakauer's other books:  Into Thin Air).

Ideas, please?   

Yeah, that book should be fine for a holiday, I did. I found myself getting angry at the character which definitely meant I was engrossed!

I like short stories for holiday reading.  Stuff you can pick up and put down and if you hate it you can move on to another one. I like fables and stories like The Alchemist and The Little Prince.

A friend of mine bought me Dot. Homme by Jane Moore to read on the plane to Cali - Not something I would normally buy myself but it is funny..and very light hearted



I usually like to read a good Biography...

No book recommendations, but just wanted to say that I loved Into the Wild - the movie so much I ordered it off Amazon last weekend!  Just waiting for it to turn up.  I saw it on a transatlantic flight last month & DH hasn't seen it yet.

Oh recommendations - where are you going on holiday?  I always like reading travel-oriented books myself - we've a lot of Spanish themed ones (cos we like going to Spain!), like the whole series that the Driving Over Lemons guy wrote, and a really funny one by Tim Moore - Spanish Steps:  One Man and His Ass on the Pilgrim Way to Santiago.

I like Bill Bryson too.

Wow - thanks for all of the great ideas so far, everyone!

Mrs. Robinson - we are going to Tuscany.  So it might make sense to bring Under the Tuscan Sun and I did happen to enjoy the movie!  Thanks for the holiday destination theme idea.

It seems I need to see what books Bill Bryson has released since the last one of his that I've read.

Lots of reading food for thought.... anything that doesn't fit into the holiday timespan can be read afterwards - to keep the holiday spirit going! 

I really liked Under the Tuscan Sun - the book and I've not even been!  It has recipes in it too.

Mrs. Robinson - we are going to Tuscany.  So it might make sense to bring Under the Tuscan Sun and I did happen to enjoy the movie!  Thanks for the holiday destination theme idea.

I liked the movie but the book was annoying. The book is about a middle aged woman redoing a house with her partner. Not exactly the same romantic storyline in the movie.

I like the idea of reading a book related to where you are. Usually I am too busy to read so end up enjoying reading those books upon my return. 

Banner of Heaven over Into the Wild for me. 

As someone who worked in search and rescue the guy was a a$$ who could have saved his own life by buying a $1.00 map. 

The book has some serious research issues and they refuse to remove the epilogue that states he might have been poisoned by the potatoes.  They have performed more tests and they just weren't alkali enough to do the job.

I just found the book frustrating.

I just finished P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern what a fantastic book I cant wait to see the movie.     

I cannot recommend The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring enough.  It's a hugely fascinating page-turner.  Of course, I don't know how easy it will be to find considering that Amazon isn't stocking it.  But if you can find it, get it!

Banner of Heaven over Into the Wild for me. 

As someone who worked in search and rescue the guy was a a$$ who could have saved his own life by buying a $1.00 map. 

The book has some serious research issues and they refuse to remove the epilogue that states he might have been poisoned by the potatoes.  They have performed more tests and they just weren't alkali enough to do the job.

I just found the book frustrating.

I saw the movie (didn't read the book) "Into the Wild".  I did like it, but I thought even if he had a store of nuts and seeds and dried fruit he would have saved his own life through the winter. 

I liked the movie but the book was annoying. The book is about a middle aged woman redoing a house with her partner. Not exactly the same romantic storyline in the movie.

Yeah, I never saw the movie, but I heard it was nothing like the book.  After reading the book, I decided that I probably didn't want to see the movie, because I would have been annoyed that they romanticised/fictionalised her story all up like that.  I enjoyed reading about her process of personal discovery in Tuscany & doing up the house, etc.   (and reading about the food & wine!)

If you want something lighthearted, anything by Jasper Fforde should do.  I can particularly recommend The Fourth Bear and The Eyre Affair.  They are crime novels with a difference.

Might not be your thing, but I tend to read chick lit almost exclusively when on holiday. It's nice, light-hearted, girlie poolside reading. Takes absolutely no thought and you can easily get through one a day if you're doing a lot of lounging....

If you need something a bit smarter, check out Geoff Dyer. I've LOVED everything he's ever written. It's easy-going, funny, intelligent.