20 blissful hours of peace on a long haul flight- what to read?

[SimplyNigella]

I used to be a prolific reader but since having DS I don't have the time or the mental capacity to read like I used to. However, I have a 20 hour round trip coming up where I plan to do nothing but read and possibly sleep.

I'm a fast reader so want to have a couple of books lined up. My tastes are varied, previous long haul favourites have been Half of a Yellow Sun, The Poisonwood Bible and various Kate Atkinsons.

Any recommendations, ideally available on Kindle?

I like William Boyd, I'm currently reading An Ice-cream War, set in WW1 mainly in British East Africa. I know nothing about that part of the world in that period, so far very enjoyable.

How about Curtis Sittenfeld, American Wife? It's loosely based on Laura Bush, it's a good read. And I remember it being quite thick. And her book Prep is also good.

The Thorn Birds? We used it to keep the toilet door closed in a student flat because it's so heavy. But I'm not sure it's very good, you might be disappointed to be stuck on a plane with it.

Wow. So jealous. I would love a long plane ride without my baby in tow! Have you read americanah? It's excellent. I've just finished the mandibles by Lionel shriver and it utterly captivated me. 10 hours would have flown by.

My local library has a great online e book library. I can borroq up to 12 books for 4 weeks on my ereader. It's perfect for holidays. Not sure if all libraries do this but worth checking.

I've just downloaded An Ice Cream War for a bargainous £1.99, thank you, and I will check out Tea's recommendations now. Shame I don't have any doors to wedge shut

I always enjoy Maggie O'Farrel's books.

Welsh I loved Americanah, I need her to publish more books immediately as I've read everything of hers. I do like Lionel Shriver so will check that out too, thank you.

I'm not sure our library offers that but it's such a good idea.

Everyone else on this work trip is moaning about the flight but it's the first peace and quiet I will have had in 3 years and I can't wait.

mother thanks for reminding me, I loved Instructions for a Heatwave.

The Dust Diaries by Owen Sheers. wonderful!

I'm reading Maggie O'Farrell's latest novel, The Must Be The Place, and am really enjoying it. It is one that needs to be read in big chunks, as it jumps around a lot in time and place and there's a lot of characters to keep track of. It is so well written and completely absorbing. I don't want it to end.

I really liked This Must Be The Place. I agree with reading in large chunks, otherwise you'd lose the thread a bit.

The Versions of You by Laura Barnett was good.

Moving by Jenny Eclair was another I enjoyed.

I have just brought 'commonwealth' by Ann Patchett which is supposed to be good.
I agree Moving by Jenny Eclair is good, and I thought Life, Death and Vanilla Slices by her was excellent.

Just discovered Graeme masterton. Crime thriller. But not for the faint hearted

If you like crime/detective then Tana French - I discovered her last year and have since devoured all her books. I think Into The Woods was the first one, set in Dublin, she has a lovely writing style.

I have enjoyed Coptown by Karen Slaughter. It is about a force in America in the 70's. Ther is a lot about the sexism and racism of the time. Despite that it was a fun read. I felt sorry for Maggie whose brother and uncle were cops. The uncle was a right racist homophobic sexist knucklehead.

Ann Patchett, state of Wonder. Amazing book and similar in style to Barbara Kingsolver.

Thanks for all the recommendations, my Kindle is bursting and I am actually hoping for delays at the airport now so I can get all my reading done.

Donna Tart, the Goldfinch, the Secret History.

Sharon Maas - Of Marriageable Age

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.

If you haven't read Sarah Dunant then I totally recommend her. Her two novels about the Borgias are fabulous - Blood and Beauty and In The Name Of The Family.

And there 3 other books set in renaissance Italy - In the Company of the Courtesan, Sacred Hearts and The Birth of Venus. I love her, she's such a great writer, they're so atmospheric and fully researched but I feel they wear their learning lightly.

William Boyd's masterpiece is Any Human Heart, it's glorious.

I just bought The Goldfinch for my holiday. Really looking forward to it.

Last year I read The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse - set in France. I love it.

All Our Wrong Today's if you like science fiction.

The Game of thrones books by George R R Martin. They are at least 800 pages long per book. I love the show and have just started on the books and they are amazing so well written he is a fantastic author and has one heck of a imagination.

I Am Pilgrim as someone else mentioned. I also enjoyed Station Eleven.

Camilla Lackberg writes good thrillers.