Need some books to keep me occupied on flight to Australia and back

[nikki1978]

I am a bit of a nervous flyer and will be in the air for about 48 hours altogether during my holiday next month. Can anyone recommend some good books? I could easily get through 2 per journey so 4 good books will sort me out. Usually I read a lot of chicklit just due to wanting something easy to read while the kids are around. However since they won't be coming with me to Aus I would prefer something a bit more meaty Some of my favourite books recently have been A Thousand Splendid Suns and Time Travellers Wife - just so you have a vague idea of my taste!

Any ideas gratefully received!

Well do not forget that you will have your inflight entertainment system thingy to keep you occupied. Hours and hours of tv and movies and music. I now just take a couple of magazines for take off and landing rather then my usual 6 books per flight.

not meaty, but have you read bill brysons' down under. might prepare you for what lies ahead and quite a few funny bits to keep you entertained during the long flight.

OK - a few suggestions

Half of a Yellow Sun
The Book Thief
Kite Runner
Memoirs of a Geisha
The Island

and a bit of a random one to add (but one which our book club all really enjoyed here

Meaty if all very well but my experiance is that 2hours (let alone 27) of breahting recycled cabin air meant that chicklit is all I'm good for.

Anyway, for better than average chicklit with an Aussie theme, I'd recommmend Ship of Birdes, JoJo Moyes, about the 1000 aussie briedes of Brit servicemen all sent over to the UK post WWII.

Carrying on the Aussie theme (and why not if you're flying there!)
Hotel Albatross, Debra Adelaide
Goulds Fish, Wanting or The Unknown terrorist by Richard Flanagan
He died with a felafel in his hand: John Birmingham (one of my favoirte titles ever!
Promised Lands: Jane Rogers
Any works by Helen Garner
Non Fiction, if you want a bit of history The Fatal Shore (way better than the somewhat tired humour of Mr Bryson)

Agree with Milkmade - I'm not normally a chicklit girl, but long flights turn your brain to mush. Marian Keyes has a new one out I think?

Failing that, A Town Like Alice wouldn't require much concentration.

Maybe LouIsAWeetbixKid, but I have always found I only like one or two of the films but then I haven't travelled that far for over 8 years now so maybe I am forgetting how big the selection is!

I actually have The Kite Runner but never read it for some reason so I will definitely take that. I really like the look of the book your club liked too Tillyscoutsmum!

I will scan Amazon for all of your suggestions to see what takes my fancy.

Thank you ladies!

Ooh yes I am a Marian Keyes fan - although I would rather not carry big hardbacks so might have to give that one a miss....

Thanks ladies, am flying on Saturday and have gone for:-

The Kite Runner
The Island
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Tales of the Humpback Whale
Lovely Bones

Should keep me going there and back plus some holiday reading

I am also definitely going to read the Rosie Swale Pope book and He Died with a Felefal in his hand when I get back (couldn't get them in WH Smith where I had gift vouchers for).

Thanks again for your suggestions!

What about the Stieg Larsson trilogy (Girl with the dragon tattoo). They are a swedish crime thrller. Not the sort of stuff I normally read but you need something light when travelling and these are a bit pulp fiction but a real page turner. Kept me enthralled for a 9 hour flight from US. The writing wont win any booker prizes but it is a good story and great for hols. Plus there are three of them so about 30 hours reading in total I reckon!

Have a good flight and remember moisturiser and lip balm!