Books on the Nightstand discussion

I am hiding from winter at a glorious location in the Southwest (US). One of the daily activities is to spend a few hours at the pool absorbing some sun, swimming a few laps, taking a nap in a cabana. I've been surreptitiously observing what the other guests are reading. Of course, I can only see the physical book covers. One day there were a lot of e-readers, but yesterday only a couple. Of the physical-book readers, a good 75% were of the mystery/thriller genre (Childs, Balducci, Alex Cross, etc). One person was reading the latest Grisham; one a self-help book; one a Canadian humorist's title; one a title I hadn't heard of (Reconstructing Amelia). These few days of observation made me think about how and why people choose books for vacation reading. How do you make these choices? If you don't use an e- reader, how do you decide which books to pack? Do you read different types of books? [My favorite thing about an e-reader is that I don't have to make these choices...other than I always carry a physical book just in case something happens to my Kindle.]. Curious to hear your thoughts.

I bought my first Kindle for that exact reason - I was going on a two-week long vacation to the UK and couldn't imagine how to pack enough books to satisfy me since I'm a fast reader and don't like to feel hemmed in by only a couple choices.

On that trip I ended up reading 19% of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare because it seemed appropriate to the setting. The only problem was that the edition I had on my Kindle didn't have a cast of characters, so I was a little confused at times. The plays were also arranged alphabetically so that's how I read them - something that has horrified more than one English major I've told the story to, since apparently I should have done it chronologically.

On most trips though, I personally like to read about the same as usual - lots of variety and enough light reading to be pure entertainment. Thank goodness for my Kindle for long trips!

I am never without my iPad, well except when I do grocery or clothes shopping. Anyway, when I go on vacations, I always bring my iPad with me because it has all of my books whether I bought them on iBooks, Kobo, Amazon or Sony that way I don't have to pick and choose which ones I have to pack in the case of physical books. And during vacations, I notice that my reading habits gravitate to who my favorite authors are and if they have a book that I haven't had the chance to read, those would be the first up on my list. When that is done, I would look at other easy light reads from new authors that I have on my iPad that I haven't gotten around to reading yet - I think I have about 20 books and counting. Then if I finish that list, then I go to the classics.

Reading for me is always a vacation from whatever else I'm doing, so I don't differentiate.

Although one on a trip to Philadelphia I did read .

Eric wrote: "Reading for me is always a vacation from whatever else I'm doing, so I don't differentiate.
"

YES. THIS ^.

I also purchased a Nook tablet to take with me when traveling, so I don't run out of reading material. And, like Cindy, I pack a physical book in case something happens to the e-reader.

I've spent this evening looking for books to take with me on a summer trip to Mexico (153 sleeps!) we just booked. We'll be staying at a very low-key resort with limited entertainment and activities for 6 days so I plan to read a lot. Some of my favorite 'beach reads' have been , , , & . Sort of all over the place, but they all completely sucked me in and for some reason (less distractions?) I have much more vivid memories of books I read at the beach or on vacation. I'm thinking might be good (or terrifying) and I'm also considering some doorstoppers I never got around to - maybe a Ken Follet, or Ian Banks or Graham Greene. Not sure yet, and with 5 months to go, I'm sure I'll do a lot of bouncing around before I settle on something. I also usually prefer a paperback on the beach over my iPad because of glare and battery-life issues. Great topic!

I always have an ereader with me and I love having lots of choices. My favorite thing to do is to find a local author or book about the area I'm visiting (I usually purchase on vacation for a souvenir) and read that while I'm there or on the plane/in the car going home.

For me, some types of vacations are more conducive to local reading than others. I'm taking a short trip to Savannah next month and was thinking of reading or maybe some Flannery O'Connor or Carson McCullars. But for the beach, anything goes. I like the idea of a book souvenir!)

Tanya wrote: "I always have an ereader with me and I love having lots of choices. My favorite thing to do is to find a local author or book about the area I'm visiting (I usually purchase on vacation for a souv..."

I always read books that are set in the area I am travelling, or written by a local author. It really helps me get lost in the book. One of the best was Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings, which I read on the deck during an Alaskan cruise.

Sue: Where in Mexico? I currently have 110 sleeps until Playa Del Carmen. Have you read Rain of Gold? It takes place in various parts of Mexico, and the western US. It's long, but I can't put it down.

Hi Lara -

We're going to Riviera Maya - sneaking away while the kids are all at sleepaway camp. I can't wait! Thanks for the book rec. I'll definitely check it out!

Lara wrote: "I always read books that are set in the area I am travelling, or written by a local author. It really helps me get lost in the book. One of the best was [book:Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Mea..."

We are on a gorgeous quiet beach in Hawaii. I finished Stoner last night (thanks to your recommendations). I have my Kindle all loaded up and will start Goldfinch today.
Aloha y'all.

I, too, like to look for books by local authors, or books set in the locale I'm visiting, or books about local attractions. While on a trip to New Mexico, I became (more) enamored with Georgia O'Keeffe... her life and work, and her homes in NM. By the time I visited those places, I had a wonderful context to fit what I was seeing with what I had already learned from reading. To me, at least some of our travels should contribute to our life-long education.

Oh, I'm jealous! I recently finished Stoner on audiobook and Goldfinch earlier in the year. Both such great reads. And...Hawaii!! Enjoy!

Gail wrote: "We are on a gorgeous quiet beach in Hawaii. I finished Stoner last night (thanks to your recommendations). I have my Kindle all loaded up and will start Goldfinch today.
Aloha y'all."

Sue wrote: "For me, some types of vacations are more conducive to local reading than others. I'm taking a short trip to Savannah next month and was thinking of reading [bookcover:Midnight in the Garden of Good..."

Hi Sue, I lived in South Carolina for a few years, very near Savannah. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a great choice. But you may find the locals a little boring compared to what John Berendt found!

I don't tend to read any differently while on vacation, but I am more likely to choose something on my TBR pile that takes place there. I am heading to India in a couple of months (the night I get back from Booktopia VT!) and am going to look for an Indian book - I have read A Suitable Boy and A Fine Balance and enjoyed them both. I do have a Nook, so big books are not an issue.

Meg, the Goodreads History book club was reading recently. I bought it (it's a trilogy I think) but got sidetracked with other things and didn't get very far. You might check that out. Or . That was excellent, but definitely towards the depressing side.

I bring my iPad and iPhone (for eBooks and audiobooks) as well as a couple of paperbacks. The paperbacks I leave at the place where I'm staying if it's a B&B or cabin. I also make a point of visiting the local bookstores and library sales if open to the public. Some purchases I bring back home while others are left behind. If I want to keep a lot of my purchases, I ship them home. I think my personal record for shipping was five large boxes from NYC!

Anyway, I tend to go for lighter fare (romances, urban fantasy) when I'm on vacation, though to be honest, lately I've been wanting to read less and do more while I'm away: My reading has been pretty much while I've been en route, not when I'm actually at my destination.

Victoria wrote: "Meg, the Goodreads History book club was reading recently. I bought it (it's a trilogy I think) ..."

Thanks, Victoria. Both sound great.

I took a few History of India classes in college, and I remember liking most of the books for it - Train to Pakistan, Cracking India, and City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi come to mind (first two are fiction, third is non-fiction travel writing). I liked Dalrymple enough that I just recently picked up The Age of Kali: Indian Travels and Encounters and definitely enjoyed it - he mixes travel experience with real research on the history, politics, and social issues of the places he visits.

Last summer we went to Europe for 6.5 weeks. I took one actual physical book that I planned to leave wherever I finished it (and did). But for the first time ever I read a bunch on my iphone--a mix of Project Gutenberg titles (several by Zola, it seemed fitting) and things I could get from my library. Basically, I read a bunch of things from my tbr that I would not have otherwise picked up, as with the library I didn't want to be in a queue since wifi was spotty. And then I bought a book in the airport on the way home.

I normally have quite the library queue, so with car trips I just take what I have. I also now have Oyster, so I am never without a ton of books.

Meg, I recently finished Shantaram and found it fascinating. I've passed it around my office and everyone is loving it.

Loved Shanataram, could not believe that so much of it was based on a true life story

Thanks Andrea and Ellen, I do need to read that book. :)

Cory (Bigler) '00-'05 wrote: "I took a few History of India classes in college, and I remember liking most of the books for it - Train to Pakistan, Cracking India, and [book:City of Djinns: A Year in ..."

Thanks Cory. That class sounds fascinating.

I always take my Kindle(s) and iPhone so I will never run out of books as long as I have a device that has battery left. I also pack 4 - 5 paperback books just in case I were to be stuck at an airport with no battery power :). I tend to read lighter far (chick lit anyone?) when on beachy vacations. Otherwise, I don't tend to change my reading habits on vacation.

I take the thickest paperback book if a lot of walking is involved (e. g. New York City) or air travel.

If it's a car trip, and I'm not driving I'll pack several of whatever is in from the library or has my interest at the moment.

And, if I'm driving, it becomes audio books. Long audio books.