TEN BOOKS TO READ ON VACATION
Lots of us are heading to a beach or a beautiful place to spend some time to unwind, sit back and smell the rosé. Having companion to share the experience always makes it better. If you are like me, even with a significant other, there are times when you want to kick back and just throw yourself into another world.
Here are a list of ten books that will make any vacation, better. Some of them you may have read before or have always claimed that you read, but didn't. Well, here is your big chance. Trust me, you will enjoy the experience.
1. THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Arthur Conan Doyle
You know these are great stories. They are perfect bite-sized stories for a vacation.
2. ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain
Here is Twain’s own description of this book:
This book is merely a personal narrative, and not a pretentious history or a philosophical dissertation. It is a record of several years of variegated vagabondizing, and its object is rather to help the resting reader while away an idle hour than afflict him with metaphysics, or goad him with science. Yes, take it all around, there is quite a good deal of information in the book. I regret this very much; but really it could not be helped: information appears to stew out of me naturally, like the precious ottar of roses out of the otter.
3. THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I know, I know - but believe me, reading this book, as an adult, will be an experience you will not forget. Trust me. Oh, and if you think the movie ( any of the 3 they made) gave you any idea about this book, forget it. And I saved the best for last - it’s a very easy read.
4. NINE STORIES by J.D. Salinger
Probably at sometime in your life you read The Catcher in the Rye. These stories are written by the same author. Funny, disturbing, moving - I dare you to read these stories and NOT tell your friends about them. And again - SHORT stories so the book can be picked up and put down anytime.
5. THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE by Ken Follett
Do you like thrillers? Well, this is about as good as they come. A Nazi spy finds out the date of the D-Day invasion and must be prevented from passing it on to the Nazis by a young married woman with a child. This books has across the board appeal - well written, exciting and, yes, thrilling.
6. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden
You will enter a world unlike any you have ever known.
7. GET SHORTY by Elmore Leonard
You may have seen the movie or the new TV series, but the original novel is one of the best modern crime novels by one of the masters of modern crime fiction.
8. TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck wrote many great novels, including The Grapes of Wrath. In 1960, he took off in a modified trailer with his dog Charley on a trip across America. Along the way, he discovers people and places that change his life. They will change you too. A travel book is perfect vacation reading.
9. A YEAR IN PROVENCE by Peter Mayle
Sit back and luxuriate in the world of great food, great vistas, great people.
10. MIDDLEMARCH by George Elliot
OK. this is a BIG book, but it is also one of the best novels you will ever read. It actually conveys some of the complications of real life. You will not finish it over your vacation, but you will enjoy it. Sit back, relax, there is no hurry.
And there are ten choices of what to read while you bask on the beach, chill in the mountains or stroll along the Boulevard.