Coryographies Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I'm off to France for a month, and I'm doing the packing thing. I dont have a lot of room for books, though I probably wont have much time to read while I'm there, so I'm just bringing 2. One for pleasure and one for study. But I wanted to pose a fun question... if you had to pack only 2 books right now for your summer vacation, out of books you already own now, what would they be? Think fast! Quote
poppyshake Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I'll try .. hmmm I would take The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Gillespie & I by Jane Harris .. both for pleasure Quote
chaliepud Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Definitely Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness as I'm only two chapters in and probably The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn.. Quote
bree Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) The Pickwick Papers and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry As I intend to read these two after I'm done with Paddy Clarke. Edited July 13, 2012 by bree Quote
Chrissy Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson, a book I have had for quite a while now but am yet to read. Still Alice by Lisa Genoa, another must read soon book. Quote
chesilbeach Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 ONLY TOO BOOKS? ON HOLIDAY? Are you kidding me? I'd stay at home rather than agree to that rule! As I'm going through my TBR I only have a handful of books left and I guess I'd have to pick Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks, because it's 800 pages long so at least it would be a couple of days reading, and The Music Of The Primes by Marcus Du Sautoy because maths books always require study and concentration to get the most out of them. After that I'd be hoping that wherever we stayed had a selection of books I could borrow. I've come out in a cold sweat just thinking about limiting myself that strictly - thank goodness for my Kindle! Quote
Chrissy Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I've come out in a cold sweat just thinking about limiting myself that strictly - thank goodness for my Kindle! My thought was, yes I would take two tree books, but my Kindle would find it's way into my bag too. It always does! Quote
chesilbeach Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 My thought was, yes I would take two tree books, but my Kindle would find it's way into my bag too. It always does! I'd even resort to the Kindle app on my phone just to provide additional reading, otherwise I'd be stalking people in cafés so I could read over their shoulder! Quote
poppyshake Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks, because it's 800 pages long Oh my! There's something about an 800 pager that screams the opposite of 'read me' He really ought to be punished for that. Quote
Coryographies Posted July 13, 2012 Author Posted July 13, 2012 It all sounds good! Maybe it's a very short vacation? Like a long weekend perhaps I'm seriously only taking two books, for a month, partly due to my bags not being big enough and not owning a kindle... but also as I said I dont think I'm going to get much reading time. And hopefully I'll make some buddies and can chit chat I'll be taking The Evolution of Language (proceedings of a recent conference, I'm writing an essay and forcing myself to read though it, yawn) and Language the Cultural Tool by Daniel Everett. Noticing a theme...? Quote
vodkafan Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Enjoy your holiday Cory. Good luck with your essay. Quote
bobblybear Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 If I was limited to only two books, that rules out my Kindle. So, looking at my bookshelf I would take I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (coz it would give me a chance to finally read it - I'm embarrassed by how long it's been sat on the shelf ) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (also, for how long I have had it sat on my shelf ). Quote
Eleonora Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 It's really tough.. probably I would take The end of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas and Sartoris by William Faulkner. I love stalking my mind.. Quote
Janet Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Burmese Days by George Orwell and English Journey by J B Priestley. I really want to read both of these soon but other books keep getting in the way!! Quote
poppyshake Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 If I was limited to only two books, that rules out my Kindle. So, looking at my bookshelf I would take I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (coz it would give me a chance to finally read it - I'm embarrassed by how long it's been sat on the shelf ) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (also, for how long I have had it sat on my shelf ). I don't know about the Wally Lamb (also have it on my wishlist) but as for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell .. you would be in for a treat. I would be wishing you either terrible weather or brilliant (I expect you would prefer the brilliant bobbly ) so that you couldn't do anything but sit and read. It does need to be persevered with early on but once you do it's glorious. Quote
TarquinDelouche Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 The Naked And The Dead - Norman Mailer (I first read this on holiday and every time I reread it I'm reminded of the beach hut. The Master And Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov (I've been trying to reread this but always get sidetracked. I feel I need a holiday with no distractions to get through it again. Quote
bobblybear Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 .. you would be in for a treat. I would be wishing you either terrible weather or brilliant (I expect you would prefer the brilliant bobbly ) so that you couldn't do anything but sit and read. It does need to be persevered with early on but once you do it's glorious. Sounds like it's time to bump that one higher up on my TBR list. Quote
chesilbeach Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 I agree with poppyshake about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, bobblybear. It's an absolutely fantastic book, and nice and long without being over long, so would be perfect for a holiday read Quote
bobblybear Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 I've just had a flick through it, and it does look like a great read. I may make it my next one, after I finish Argleton. Quote
Little Ms Stitch Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 I think my choices would have to be The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien. Both are brilliant books - and The Hobbit is long enough to keep me going for a wee while. Quote
poppyshake Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien. The Hobbit is long enough to keep me going for a wee while. .. ooh and refresh your memory for the upcoming film Quote
Heffalumpi Posted July 20, 2012 Posted July 20, 2012 It would have to be Labrinyth by Kate Mosse, and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Quote
Talisman Posted July 20, 2012 Posted July 20, 2012 When I went to Iceland a couple of years ago, all I had room (and weight) for was 2 books, and to be honest, I was out and about walking and travelling so much that I didn't have time for reading anyway. The 2 books I took were a Lonely Planet guide and an Icelandic novel, so I would be inclined to something similar. Quote
Timstar Posted July 20, 2012 Posted July 20, 2012 funnily enough I am going on holiday next week and will probably only take two books. Most likely: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. (wanted to read for ages) Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance. (I've made a start on it and want to power through). Quote
frankie Posted July 20, 2012 Posted July 20, 2012 Oh this is way too tricky! There's no way I could choose the books logically, so I'm going randomly: Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry A Mencken Chrestomathy by H. L. Mencken Quote
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