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Original poster

Holiday reading recommendations - no chick lit

107 replies

BugBearisBugBear · 22/04/2008 18:34

Imagine you're off to sunny France next month with DH, the DCs and the grandparents for a week. You have little time to read, but because of the gps you are hoping to manage at least a couple of afternoons lounging by the pool. You can only take one book because of weight restrictions. So the book you take must be gripping and not one you will give up on after 40 pages.

What would you recommend?

Am not into chick lit at all. I read the Booker shortlist/literary fiction blah but want something easy to read and non-depressing. It must not be at all challenging.

OP posts:
bozza · 23/04/2008 22:19

Oh and we were there for a fortnight....

bozza · 23/04/2008 22:18

Ah - I think it is that "sociable in the evenings" thing that might be the difference. Yes DH read Harry Potter through, and then so did I. I am a much faster reader than DH though. Our children were 6 and 3 so that bit older than yours. They stayed up late in the evenings (10ish) but that meant that they laid in a bit in the mornings and we made DD have a late afternoon nap and DS have a quiet time (listening to music/reading) when we could lay on sun loungers and read.

Lots of reading on holiday is a big treat for me. But War and Peace was a bit tongue in cheek really.

snickersnack · 23/04/2008 22:15

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a perfect holiday read. Entertaining, slightly literary, interesting premise, long enough to keep you going for a week. I loved it.

I think Joshua Ferris would be a let down if it was your only book. Great idea but got quite bogged down in its own cleverness towards the end.

Original poster
BugBearisBugBear · 23/04/2008 22:10

A big book would be good, but not War and Peace - nooooooooooooo.

Did your DH get time to read the Harry Potter though?

My kids are 3 and 16 months, I don't honestly think I will be able to read more than one book... we're only there for a week. And because the gps are there, we have to sociable in the eves.

OP posts:
bozza · 23/04/2008 22:04

Can you really only manage one book in your luggage? I could not survive. I think you need to be looking at LOTR or War and Peace. We flew to France last summer without any grandparents and I took four books, read them all, plus DH's Harry Potter (the big one that was just out) and the Karin Slaughter I found in the villa and my magazines then went roaming Aigues-Mortes looking for English Language reading material. Found a guide book and that was it. Knew I should have done French a-level.

Original poster
BugBearisBugBear · 23/04/2008 21:48

Has anyone read this? is it a good book?

OP posts:
cyteen · 23/04/2008 21:35

How about Les Liasons Dangereuse? It's a classic, but I doubt you'll be bored...chock full of aristo scheming and cruelty. I love it.

For hilarious+interesting, I'd recommend French Revolutions by Tim Moore - it's travel writing of the Bill Bryson kind (but much, much funnier) where Moore cycles the Tour de France route. Loads of fascinating info about France and it's fantastically amusing too.

sarahloumadam · 23/04/2008 21:24

This Book Will Save Your Life - A.M.Homes. Not a self-help book! review here

Beetroot · 23/04/2008 21:12

notes form an exhibition/rough music sweet obsurity

TotalChaos · 23/04/2008 20:02

oooooh or how about the Balkan Trilogy or Levant Trilogy by Olivia Manning.

TotalChaos · 23/04/2008 20:02

I liked The Song as it is Sung by Justin Cartwright.

Original poster
BugBearisBugBear · 23/04/2008 20:00

Riddle of the Sands/Agent Zigzag a bit boy book for my tastes I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
BugBearisBugBear · 23/04/2008 19:57

God no, not classics they always feel like hard work to me.

Last one was Bleak house took about 7 weeks to read and swore never to go near one again.

Before that it was Madame Bovary, made me want to commit murder.

Mind you, DH read it in French. That's true masochism.

OP posts:
Original poster
BugBearisBugBear · 23/04/2008 19:54

Patrick Gale - do you mean the Notes from an Exhibition one?

OP posts:
moondog · 23/04/2008 18:31

Oh is it?
Bummer.
I'll read it anyway.

ellingwoman · 23/04/2008 18:30

Mr Pip is SO bad

moondog · 23/04/2008 18:28

How about doing some classic?
I am a huge fan of owt by Zola.
Books are just gripping.
Extra Brownie points for being in France and reading them obv.

moondog · 23/04/2008 18:27

MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Tis killing me but i love love love it.
Going for the PhD next.I just can't stop it from calling to me.

MrsMattie · 23/04/2008 18:26

Recently read Margaret Atwood's 'Alias Grace' on holiday and was totally gripped.

FluffyMummy123 · 23/04/2008 18:26

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moondog · 23/04/2008 18:25

How about Mr Pip which supposed to be fab?

It is set on the Pacific island I lived on until 18 so i am dying to get into it (which will after i finish my next damned essay.)

FluffyMummy123 · 23/04/2008 18:23

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Beetroot · 23/04/2008 18:22

Patrick gale

ConfusedMover · 23/04/2008 18:22

Anything by William Boyd.

FluffyMummy123 · 23/04/2008 18:22

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