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Original poster

What 2 books should I take on holiday with me?

44 replies

chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 07:44

Love reading & escaping in a book,but don't get much chance to read nowadays (have a dd with SN) but dh & I are off on our first kids free holiday in July & I want to take 2 books - a thriller type & an uplifting one (not chick lit!)

I'm a huge Stephen King fan & have read most of his,but not Revival,so was thinking of taking that,until I read some posts on here about it & a lot of the SK fans didn't like it.
I have quite a few unread thrillers on my shelves -
Cell - Stephen King,
The Twenty three - Linwood Barclay,
BirdBox - Josh Malerman
The last days of Jack Sparks - Jason Arnopp
The waiting room - F.G Cottam.
So was thinking of taking one of those.Which one would you recommend?
Would love your recommendations for uplifting books too.What did you think of -
The keeper of lost things,Eleanor Oliphant,How to be happy?
Would love some recommendations please Smile

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 13/05/2018 17:10

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Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 17:03

Sorry posted too soon!!
The enchanted April looks lovely. I will definitely put it on my Amazon wish list. I do like a feel good book that leaves you feeling happy.
I've heard different things about the 100 year old man,but I think I'll like it.
Mad vixen I used to read a lot of Picoult in my younger years Smile

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Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 16:57

Elizabeth

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madvixen · 13/05/2018 14:03

Chickensaresafehere. She is smilies to Jodi Piccoult in the subjects she chooses to handle. I came to her books via Jodi Piccoult and, in all honesty, I now prefer hers

LEMtheoriginal · 13/05/2018 10:04

The 100year old man that climbed out the window is fantastic

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 13/05/2018 09:31

I think this might not be one you'd like but my all-time favourite holiday read is The Enchanted April, which is about the transforming effect of being on holiday in Italy. It's 1920s and is written in a naively simple style but completely lures you in as the characters get happier. Makes me absolutely lovely company as it cheers me up so much. On the other hand, if I accidentally pick a miserable book I can be really tiresome until I'm finished.

Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 09:13

TeaMeBasil A Man called Ove is looking like a favourite at the moment.
Looking forward to reading BirdBox,so that maybe a contender,as I do like an easy read on holiday Grin

TheEagle I have read Bag of Bones & enjoyed it a lot.I thought Duma Key was a great one for a holiday read too.Love that book!
The girl with all the gifts I saw on a post on here about apocalyptic books & instantly thought I would like it.

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ihatethecold · 13/05/2018 08:39

I loved The snow child.
That book has stayed with me for years.

TheEagle · 13/05/2018 08:36

Oh and I read The Girl with All Gifts on holiday last year, it’s a good holiday read!

TheEagle · 13/05/2018 08:35

Eleanor Olliphant is brilliant but you’ll read it in jig time so you might need another 2 alongside it.

Have you read Bag of Bones by Stephen King? It’s got a holiday flavour (it’s also quite terrifying!)

I’m reading The Nightingale at the moment, I’m finding it tiresome and clichéd but I think if I were on holiday I’d enjoy it more.

Daughter by Jane Shemlit is a good read as well, interesting plot to keep your attention.

TeaMeBasil · 13/05/2018 08:34

I had A Man Called Ove as a holiday read and it was brilliant, still have a very soft spot for that book!

Recommend Birdbox, brilliant almost-spooky post apocalyptic read - I was gripped all the way through and it was an easy read so not too taxing for a relaxing holiday.

Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 08:30

Jilted I take it it rained Grin well it is Wales after all!
I don't mind some sad parts as long as it's not the bleakness of Cormac McCarthy's - The Road.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2018 08:24

Totally agree about matching the weather, this is why I read Agatha Christie’s A Carribean Mystery whilst holidaying in Wales last year Grin

I sped through Eleanor Oliphant but it’s far from uplifting and I did love a Man Called Ove and it does fit the bill but it’s not all uplifting.

Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 08:23

Elizabeth Good point!! I definitely don't want to be miserable & it is somewhere hot.
I remember quite a few years ago on holiday (when dd was doing a lot of day napping) & I had taken 11.22.63 with me & I absolutely absorbed it & got lost in it! It was a brilliant holiday read & I always look at it on the shelf & link it to that holiday & all the happy memories that surround it.
It's funny how books can do that.

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 13/05/2018 08:17

It's all about creating a mood... Where are you going on holiday? Don't choose a book with weather that completely contrasts eg holiday in the Caribbean reading Miss Smilla's Feeling got Snow - I have done this and it completely discombobulated me. Also, avoid psychologically realistic stories where people are miserable eg Lionel Shriver, or non-fiction about terrible times/situations.

It doesn't sound as though my reading tastes overlap with yours that much so won't suggest any but if you tend to lose yourself in a book the holiday-reading-rules (semi-match the climate, make sure any misery is short-lived and resolved satisfactorily) apply anyway. Have a lovely holiday Smile

Original poster
chickensaresafehere · 13/05/2018 08:15

theaveragewife A Man Called Ove looks good,my sort of book.
madvixen There's a lot of comparision on Amazon of Diane Chamberlain to Jodi Picoult - would you agree? And good to hear you loved Cell.
LEMtheoriginal also on Amazon people have said there is an SN edge to The keeper of lost things,is that right? I struggle with writers who have no experience of SN writing about it.

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madvixen · 13/05/2018 08:05

Cell is brilliant and really ranks in my best books of all time.
For the something uplifting, I like The Courage Tree by Diane Chamberlain.

theaveragewife · 13/05/2018 07:54

I loved The Girl Before (for your psychological thriller) not sure on definition of chick lit but I also loved Eleanor Oliphant....although I definitely wouldn’t call it either uplifting or thriller.

My favourite uplifting book is A Man Called Ove

LEMtheoriginal · 13/05/2018 07:49

I enjoyed the keeper of lost things .

Really though this is a blatant place Mark as I too need something to read on holiday.

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