Book suggestions for vacation?

[Upgradable]

I leave Saturday for a week long camping/mission trip with the family and about 10 other high schoolers. I''m the "medical personnel" on the trip. Other than that, my responsibilities are minimal.

I''d like some suggestions for reading material to take along. I enjoy historical fiction, fantasy/fiction, comedic stories.......

Does anyone have suggestions about books that I could bring along? Also of note, I''m a fast reader.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

If you like historical fiction, then you should try the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It''s fantastic and the books are long so they''ll keep you occupied.

 

[Callisto]

I read "The Time Traveller''s Wife" recently and really enjoyed it. Its such a unique story line, it really keeps you interested.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:41:41 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
If you like historical fiction, then you should try the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It''s fantastic and the books are long so they''ll keep you occupied.

eh, I tried the first one. I never got why that series was so popular! I didn''t like how the treatment of the main character by that guy was considered "sexy."

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Two great books

-The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. She is a CNN correspondent who grew up with very poor, very crazy parents. It''s a memoir that is both funny and sad. I adored it.
-Any of the Sweet Potato Queens series... If you haven''t read any of these, they are hilarious!!

 

[Gayletmom]

I second the suggestion on The Time Traveler''s Wife-loved it. It is very unusual. I recently read The Lottery and I really liked it. A pretty easy read, very enjoyable and leaves you feeling good.

 

[Upgradable]

I just saw a commercial for the Timer Traveler''s Wife and put that on my list.

And I LOVED the Sweet Potato Queens books!!! They are glorious and should be read by any woman who is not easily offended!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

MC-I''m assuming you''re talking about the Jamie character? I think the chemistry between Claire and Jamie is awkward in the first book. Almost like the author wasn''t sure which direction she was going to take things. Claire quickly grows a backbone though and the story gets better. The first book is probably my least favorite.

 

[sna77]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:37:32 PM
Author:Upgradable
I leave Saturday for a week long camping/mission trip with the family and about 10 other high schoolers. I'm the 'medical personnel' on the trip. Other than that, my responsibilities are minimal.


I'd like some suggestions for reading material to take along. I enjoy historical fiction, fantasy/fiction, comedic stories.......


Does anyone have suggestions about books that I could bring along? Also of note, I'm a fast reader.

My wife loved both of these... I made her read them and she was glad I did so...

Artie Lange's "Too Fat Too Fish"
http://www.amazon.com/Too-Fat-Fish-Artie-Lange/dp/0385526571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248139597&sr=8-1

or

Tucker Max's "I Hope They Server Beer in Hell"
http://www.amazon.com/Hope-They-Serve-Beer-Paperback/dp/B002FAW6W8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248139635&sr=1-5

 

[Amandine]

Date: 7/20/2009 9:14:37 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
MC-I''m assuming you''re talking about the Jamie character? I think the chemistry between Claire and Jamie is awkward in the first book. Almost like the author wasn''t sure which direction she was going to take things. Claire quickly grows a backbone though and the story gets better. The first book is probably my least favorite.

I agree. Love the whole series.

I just finished "The Veil of Gold", by Kim Wilkins and really enjoyed it.
Earlier this summer I enjoyed Ken Follett''s "The Pillars of the Earth", it has a lot of interesting characters and the central theme is the building of a medieval cathedral. The sequel is on my list to read soon!

 

[April20]

Date: 7/20/2009 9:52:49 PM
Author: Amandine

Date: 7/20/2009 9:14:37 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
MC-I''m assuming you''re talking about the Jamie character? I think the chemistry between Claire and Jamie is awkward in the first book. Almost like the author wasn''t sure which direction she was going to take things. Claire quickly grows a backbone though and the story gets better. The first book is probably my least favorite.

I agree. Love the whole series.

I just finished ''The Veil of Gold'', by Kim Wilkins and really enjoyed it.
Earlier this summer I enjoyed Ken Follett''s ''The Pillars of the Earth'', it has a lot of interesting characters and the central theme is the building of a medieval cathedral. The sequel is on my list to read soon!

I loved the entire Outlander series, though I read the first book around 1996 and don''t remember it that clearly anymore.... maybe it isn''t as good as the rest of them. I shoud re-read it.

I also recommend The Time Traveler''s Wife. Really, really loved it.

I''ve been on a Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child kick lately. I don''t know if it falls into your interests that well, but I find them rather fascinating and the plots are rather intricate without being horribly hard to follow. They''ve all been good thus far and while it is a series of sorts, you don''t necessarily need to read them in any particular order like you need to do with other series.

 

[daydreamer]

My women''s book club like both.

"Water for Elephants" is set in a depression era travelling circus.

"The Thirteenth Tale" is gothic(ish) style ghostly mystery.

"Time Traveller''s Wife" is an especially good vacation read because if you don''t read it all the way through in a short time period it''s easy to get lost.

 

[MishB]

The Time Traveller''s Wife and Pillars of the Earth are two of my all-time favourite books, highly recommended.

You might also like ''Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'' by Susanna Clarke - Charles Dickens meets Harry Potter.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I know it''s not on your list, but anyone I''ve ever turned on to Michael Connelly and his series of books revolving around the homicide detective Harry Bosch has always thanked me.

Harry is such an interesting character. The ultimate loner, he was raised as an orphan after his (prostitute) mother was murdered. He became a cop, and then a detective, with a passion for solving crimes against the innocent, often at odds with his superiors and the political system.

Captivating books.

 

[Haven]

Here''s another vote for The Glass Castle. We used to have that on our school''s summer reading list and my students always loved it. It''s pretty fascinating.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is fabulous, so far. I''m about 60 pages in.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Date: 7/21/2009 12:00:19 AM
Author: Haven
Here''s another vote for The Glass Castle. We used to have that on our school''s summer reading list and my students always loved it. It''s pretty fascinating.


Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is fabulous, so far. I''m about 60 pages in.

Your school must have a much more entertaining summer reading list than mine ever did! My mom, sisters and I all adored that book!

 

[whitby_2773]

if you like children''s/young adults'' fantasy, you might enjoy ''the terror of prism fading''...

i believe you can find it on amazon

 

[packrat]

Date: 7/20/2009 11:50:24 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
I know it''s not on your list, but anyone I''ve ever turned on to Michael Connelly and his series of books revolving around the homicide detective Harry Bosch has always thanked me.


Harry is such an interesting character. The ultimate loner, he was raised as an orphan after his (prostitute) mother was murdered. He became a cop, and then a detective, with a passion for solving crimes against the innocent, often at odds with his superiors and the political system.


Captivating books.

Ohh I think I need to add him to my list of authors to look for next time I''m at the library!

Uppy, John Sanford has a series that''s got about 20 books in it-the Prey series. They are wonderful. Do you like detectivey type books? Or..I would recommend Piers Anthony''s Adept series, or Dragonlance/Forgotten Realms or David Eddings Belgariad series.

 

[mrscushion]

Three Cups of Tea -- about an American coming to the Afghanistan/Pakistan region quasi by accident and ending up building schools for girls in impoverished, remote mountain areas of both countries.

Also, I second the suggestion of Pillars of the Earth as a great vacation read, if you haven''t already read it.

 

[Haven]

Date: 7/21/2009 12:11:23 AM
Author: OUpeargirl

Date: 7/21/2009 12:00:19 AM
Author: Haven
Here''s another vote for The Glass Castle. We used to have that on our school''s summer reading list and my students always loved it. It''s pretty fascinating.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is fabulous, so far. I''m about 60 pages in.

Your school must have a much more entertaining summer reading list than mine ever did! My mom, sisters and I all adored that book!

We do! Our goal is for students to *enjoy* reading something over the summer, so we choose about 20 books and kids can choose any book from the list. Then we have a "Day of Reading" celebration and every teacher leads a group of kids in discussion or some other type of "expression" about the book. It''s great.

I''m going to steal all these reading suggestions and add them to my list!

 

[sba771]

I just finished Nelson Demille''s The Gold Coast and my FI is reading the sequel, The Gate House- I will start when he finishes. It was a good vacation book- page turning and didn''t require in depth analysis.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 7/20/2009 10:01:21 PM
Author: April20

Date: 7/20/2009 9:52:49 PM

Author: Amandine

Date: 7/20/2009 9:14:37 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk

MC-I''m assuming you''re talking about the Jamie character? I think the chemistry between Claire and Jamie is awkward in the first book. Almost like the author wasn''t sure which direction she was going to take things. Claire quickly grows a backbone though and the story gets better. The first book is probably my least favorite.

I agree. Love the whole series.


I just finished ''The Veil of Gold'', by Kim Wilkins and really enjoyed it.

Earlier this summer I enjoyed Ken Follett''s ''The Pillars of the Earth'', it has a lot of interesting characters and the central theme is the building of a medieval cathedral. The sequel is on my list to read soon!

I loved the entire Outlander series, though I read the first book around 1996 and don''t remember it that clearly anymore.... maybe it isn''t as good as the rest of them. I shoud re-read it.

I also recommend The Time Traveler''s Wife. Really, really loved it.


I''ve been on a Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child kick lately. I don''t know if it falls into your interests that well, but I find them rather fascinating and the plots are rather intricate without being horribly hard to follow. They''ve all been good thus far and while it is a series of sorts, you don''t necessarily need to read them in any particular order like you need to do with other series.

I looooove Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child!! Have you read their latest (Cemetary Dance???)? I''m waiting for it to come out in paperback ''cause I''m too poor for hardback right now

 

[LadyBlue]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:41:41 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
If you like historical fiction, then you should try the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It''s fantastic and the books are long so they''ll keep you occupied.

I found a link with the books, just wondering what is the order of the books. link

 

[princesss]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:41:41 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
If you like historical fiction, then you should try the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It''s fantastic and the books are long so they''ll keep you occupied.

You took the words right out of my mouth, HH. (It''s worth mentioning that the first 50 pages of Outlander are kind of slow, but by 200 you''re flying through the book!) I''m a little obsessed with this series. The second book is by far my favourite.

Also worth reading: This I Believe it''s a compliation of stories on people''s personal philosophies. Very interesting. Some from the 50s when Edward R. Murrow was doing the program and some from present day that were broadcast on Bob Edwards Weekend (yeah, I''m an NPR geek).

I see The Time Traveler''s Wife has been added to your list. Good choice.

I think A Year of Living Bibilically is really entertaining and interesting, as well.

 

[princesss]

Date: 7/21/2009 1:40:13 PM
Author: gaby06

Date: 7/20/2009 8:41:41 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
If you like historical fiction, then you should try the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. It''s fantastic and the books are long so they''ll keep you occupied.

I found a link with the books, just wondering what is the order of the books. link

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Hey Gaby, the order is as follows: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and the newest one releasing later this summer/fall An Echo in the Bone

 

[princesss]

And for laugh out loud funny, Christopher Moore is great (Fool is his most recent book, You Suck! is good, and A Dirty Job is hilarious) and Christopher Buckley is smart and funny (Boomsday, Thank You For Smoking, No Way to Treat a First Lady)

 

[princesss]

Date: 7/21/2009 1:43:34 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Hey Gaby, the order is as follows: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and the newest one releasing later this summer/fall An Echo in the Bone

I forgot An Echo in the Bone is coming out this summer! WOOHOO!

Time for some re-reads...

 

[Liane]

James Clavell''s Shogun is my go-to for historical fiction; IMO it''s a clear winner for best of genre.

For fantasy, it depends: do you prefer lightweight, ''80s-style high fantasy with clear-cut good and evil, or the more morally ambiguous, realistic type that''s become dominant in the past decade? (I''m also operating under the assumption that when you say "fantasy" what you mean is "quasi-medieval swords & sorcery fantasy" and not, say, urban fantasy, New Weird, or genre-bending stuff like Carlos Ruiz Zafon''s The Shadow of the Wind -- which is, btw, excellent.)

Terry Pratchett is both comedic and fantasy; if you aren''t already familiar with his Discworld books, the best starting points are probably Guards! Guards! or Small Gods.

Carl Hiaasen is also pretty good for comedic beach reading. Janet Evanovich''s first three books are funny but IMO dropped off after that (or else the shtick wore thin for me, since she hits the same notes every book).

 

[hoofbeats95]

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (author of Twilight) This book is AMAZING!