I am off to India on Sunday for about four to five weeks. I am sitting and staring at my bookshelves wondering what books to take. I don't really have a number limit- I will take as many as I feel are necessary. But I just can't decide which ones! I am definitely taking Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and the second volume of the Mahabharata. Everything else is pretty much up for grabs. I was also thinking of River of Gods, by Ian McDonald, but I don't know anyone who has read that one.
Any suggestions? I prefer big complicated books on trips to India as there is a lot of time to read. Here is my TBR list in LibraryThing (just click on "My Library" at the top left and choose To Read from the dropdown), in case that helps make suggestions. Or if you just have a book you really like and suggest for travel reading, let me know! I would love to hear what you guys think!
Obviously a long trip like this means very limited Internet time. I am not sure how much access I'll have, and if I do have it, I don't know how good the connection will be. If I upload reviews, they'll probably be low-graphics and low links and littered with typos. I will edit when I get home :-)
I am hoping for one more review before I leave, and then of course, the drawing for The Shimmer by David Morrell. Please enter if you are still intersted and haven't done so yet- the link is at the top right.
I emailed you about what books you should take with you. :)
ReplyDeleteI always just choose fast-moving fiction. Anything else gets too hard to read with the distractions of being somewhere different and having people who want your attention at random times.
ReplyDeleteSo many books, so hard to choose so I say you should reread Robin Hobb :D
ReplyDeleteHey this isn't related to books but I thought I should warn you about the swine flu scare that's going around in India right now, mostly in Pune and Banagalore. I don't know where you are off too. You might already know this but It's best if you carry N95 masks along with you for airports and crowded areas. That's all :)
ReplyDeleteI think that thrillers and fantasy work best for me during a journey. You can also have some chick lit for light reading, if you like chick lit.
ReplyDeleteAbout the swine flu, I thought I'd tell you that most cases have been among people travelling from abroad or in contact with people travelling from abroad. I'm not trying to scare you or anything, and I guess you know it already, but you'd best get yourself checked once you land here.
Well, I am the type who would select books for a trip like that by what they weigh! But for the plane - definitely thrillers to keep yourself entertained because if you're bored such a long flight could be very not fun!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful trip!!!
From looking at your TBR list on LT, I think you should take The Forest House (my fave of MZB's books!), Wives & Daughters (awesome aside from the fact that it's unfinished, grrr) and Red Seas Under Red Skies (a chunkster, so that's always good! Plus, yay Scott Lynch!). :)
ReplyDeleteHave an awesome time.
If you like big, complicated books, I would recommend Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. It's a 900-page tome, full of lively characters and crazy subplots - and it is about India.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend Bridge of Birds, Affinity, or maybe Push Not the River, as I haven't gotten to that one yet, and would be curious to read your review. By the way, you have an awesome collection of books, and I notice you and I share a lot of the same books as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am ready to write my riveters post, and I am responding to your request for my e-mail, so that you can send the template for me. zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
I second the recommendation of Affinity! Also, The Blind Assassin, The Forest House and Fingersmith - very absorbing chunksters!
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip :)
I always take something on long plane rides that takes awhile to get into - older fiction or non fiction. And way too many books. Just in cases.
ReplyDeleteYour list is killing me - I keep seeing books on it. Want to send me the keys to your place? ;)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! It looks like some of the books suggested aren't on my shelves here... hoping they're on the shelves at my parents' house!
ReplyDeleteAnd Violet and Hazra- thanks for the heads up. I'll be in Delhi and Amritsar at the beginning, but in Bangalore for the majority of the time. Eek!
How about Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts? I haven't read it myself but my sister really liked it. It's a heavy tome and also a thriller, I believe.
ReplyDeleteHave fun in India! :)
Yes. Shantaram is AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteWow. Just wow. I want the cover of this book framed and hung in my house. Great review though, not sure I could have taken it seriously with such a cheesy cover. We miss you!
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