I'm heading off with my young lady to the land of Eejit tomorrow. I call it that not with any disparagement of the character of it's people nor with any malice toward ancient triangular tombs, but because it's clearly too hot (current temperatures reading somewhere around 972 degress celsius, I think) to exist there at the moment and I am, therefore, an eejit.
Still, I imagine I'll do a fair amount of reading out there. In my air-conditioned room with my back against the open fridge. I've a few books already lined up but could probably make room for one or two more. The ones currently about to be breaking out the factor 40 include The Liar by Stephen Fry which I've just bought (excited about that one), Schopenhauer's Telescope by Gerald Donovan (think it's about genocide or something - that's the kind of fun guy I am to be on holiday with), The Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire by Arundhati Roy (a series of speeches and essays concerning the Iraq War and global justice, wa-hey!) and A Pelican at Blandings by P.G Wodehouse (who isn't a sucker for British upper-class humour from the 1930s?).
I reckon there's probably room in the suitcase and time enough for one more book and I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I'm open to pretty much anything except dodgy chick-lit. Cecelia Ahern is welcome to come as long as she leaves her laptop, her notebook, her vocal cords and her dad behind. It's rare that I come across a book that I immediately think I should recommend to just about everyone. If anyone feels they have come across such a book please recommend it to me and I'll try to pick it up at the airport bookshop in the morning. Absolutely anything at all.
Of course, if you mention the Da Vinci Code I will hunt you and I will find you.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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10 comment(s):
Can't recommend Persepolis enough - and if there was still room, Thomas Pynchon's V...
Enjoy the holiday - looking forward to the next drink.
Definitely recommend a novel by Dan Brown, the Da Vinci Code. Fantastic read filled with thrilling car chases, historical inaccuracies and an intelligent girl with a cute accent. What's not to like?
Otherwise, if you haven't already, give Imperium by Robert Harris a go. Khaled Hossein's Kite Runner and for a real treat in writing Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges.
Also can't recommend Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon enough. Danny Wallace is always a great read too.
I'm currently battling with The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse. It shall not beat me.
Enjoy the holiday!!
It would be light reading compared to your list but worth a read...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Madrid-C-J-Sansom/dp/1405005467
David- Persepolis, now there's an idea. Is it not a graphic novel? Not that that would put me off.
darragh- historical inaccuracies, you say? Sounds right up my alley. But I might just stuff it right up your alley.
I like the other recommendations, the missus has the Kite Runner so I'll borrow that. Can't help expecting it to be ruined by the fact I've already seen the movie though.
I've heard good things about CJ Sansom, if I see it in the bookshop I'll pick it up and make a swift judgement based solely on its cover.
Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt is really good.
Failing that, there's always a previous novel by Dan Brown, Angels and Demons featuring thrilling car chases, historical inaccuracies and an intelligent girl with a cute accent. Hang on a second...
It is indeed a graphic novel - but what is they say about a picture and a thousand words? :)
Kitty Cat, welcome to Chancing my Arm and thanks for the comment. I know freakonmics is supposed to be good alright ut I might limit it to one non-fiction book for the trip. Mind you, that might make for easier reading than The ordinary person's Guide to Empire.
This Dan Brown fella sounds great altogether, I hope things take off for him.
David - right, I'm about to go and see if the local bookshop has Persepolis. If so, it'll be one of those happy occasions where I get to read the book before seeing the movie. cheers.
I'm probably little late with my suggestion, but I'd give Robert Harris' Ghost a go. It's a light thriller, with some decent tension.
Also, can't go wrong with Hitchiker's Guide.
use your time to write one instead.
Heheh. Love the comment by the last respondent.
Thanks for your comment last week Andrew ... I came specifically looking for this post to see what your readers had come up with in terms of books. I've seen Persepolis the film so although the novel is probably as excellent as the film was I probably won't look for it.
The Ghost by Robert Harris had a mention on my blog as well. Hm.
Great blog by the way!
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