28 May 2013

Help Me Choose Some Vacation Reading!

Lovely Long Bay on Anguilla
I've got my annual Caribbean vacation coming up, and while I've been traveling to the islands often enough that I could practically pack in my sleep the night before leaving, one thing I spend lots of time agonizing over is which books to take with me. This year I'm also armed with an e-reader (Kobo Glo), which I plan to load up with some galleys, but I will also be packing a hefty number of physical books for our two week vacation. Yes, I can pack my snorkel gear and clothing sufficient for two weeks into a rollaboard suitcase, but I check another bag filled with books.  That's just the way I roll.

We're going to Anguilla again this year, an island we feel we're coming to know, little by little, after multiple (six? seven? I lose track) trips. We love this little place in the sun and we love our daily patterns there: read, eat, walk the beach, read, eat, swim, read, eat, snorkel, read, eat, explore. Repeat for the next fourteen days. Intersperse rum drinks at will. We love Anguilla for what it isn't (loud, crowded, jetskis, nightlife, casino) just as much as we love it for what it is (peaceful, quiet, friendly, beautiful beaches, and amazing food).

I'm a little behind in pre-reading my books for vacation.  No book makes it into my suitcase without my reading at a minimum the first two chapters to ensure its worthiness.  I used to read only the first chapter but last year I got landed with a couple of duds, and then some writing friends revealed to me that the first chapter is the most-revised and workshopped and often the best part of any book. Of course.  But that's where you come in, dear reader.  If you've read anything on this list that you think was excellent or a dud, please enlighten me.  Likewise, if there's a book out there that really blows your skirt up or creams your  Twinkie or [insert euphemistic metaphor of your choice here], please let me know.

I try to take books that are mostly not-yet-published, and they will mostly be fiction, but I try to work at least one YA, one short story collection, 1-2 works of nonfiction, and occasionally one classic into the mix for variety's sake. If a book will also double as a must-read for my husband it gets bonus points and an almost ironclad guaranteed spot in my bag.  Here are the ones on my long list:

For nonfiction: Gulp by Mary Roach, The Turk Who Loved Apples and Other Tales of Losing My Way Around the World by Matt Cross, and Headhunters on My Doorstep by J. Maarten Troost (I LOVE his books on the South Pacific.  His book on China didn't do much for my skirt OR my Twinkie, though). The latter is almost guaranteed a spot because (1) it isn't published yet and (2) my husband loves his books, too.

Vying for the short story position(s) are: The News from Spain by Joan Wickersham, This Is Paradise by Kristiana Kahakauwila, and The Peripatetic Coffin by Ethan Rutherford.

My fiction offerings are pretty varied: Mo Said She Was Quirky by James Kelman, Happiness Like Water by Chinelo Okparanta, A Beautiful Truth by Colin McAdam, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes, Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat, and The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. And I'd be remiss if I didn't include Lamb by Christopher Moore.  Then there's anything I might pick up at BEA this week. The new Bill Bryson if I'm lucky.  Or possibly the new Paul Harding or Marisha Pessl.

My classic this year just may be The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.  This is the book my husband asked me to read for Christmas in 2012.  We do this every year--we read a book of the other's choosing--and while I love this tradition, I am a little bummed that this is the book he picked for me out of all of the fantastic books he read last year. However, I may put off reading Grapes and take with me something a little more fun: Zelda Fitzgerald's Save Me the Waltz, for example.

My YA options are wide open.  I had been planning on taking Code Name Verity, but it turns out that my bookstore just started a YA bookclub for adults and that's the first selection, to be discussed before we leave.  So that one is out.  The last few YA books that I went crazy for were The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde, and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, so I'm open to most things: realistic, historical, or fantastical.

So what say you, gentle reader?  Which books should earn passage to Anguilla?
This is a photo from our "home" balcony on Anguilla

27 comments:

  1. Lol, I have read nothing on this list, but I did love The Sex Lives of Cannibals by Troost and also really enjoy your euphemisms. I do really enjoy the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, but I'd imagine you've already read it. So this comment is pointless but enjoy BEA (I'm jealous - I would have gone this year except I moved OUT of the area a few days ago) and your trip (also jealous)!

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    1. I've actually not read the Veronica Roth series but have been thinking about it. Maybe Divergent will end up in my suitcase or on my Kobo. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  2. I can't help with too many of the books (most of them I've never even heard of!) -- but I will add my two cents on Grapes of Wrath. I wouldn't take it as vacation reading, as it's pretty heavy and I know it would just bum me out when I'm trying to have fun. Plus, dustbowl Oklahoma is about as opposite a landscape from Anguilla as can be, so that wouldn't work for me, either.

    Have a great trip!

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    1. Yeah, I'm really *not* excited about reading Grapes on vacation. Or any time, really. :(

      We'll just have to see!

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  3. I say go with the Jasper Fforde for your YA choice! I'm dying to read that one :) Vacation choices are sooo tough. I've been going with a variety of genre choices on my recent trips, but George R. R. Martin was my primary reading choice for the two big ones last year. It worked pretty well.

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    1. Actually, I already read the Fforde, but if you have a comparable recommendation, I'd love it. Thanks!

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  4. (And short stories! Anthologies seem to be where I make the most progress on trips. If I were going anywhere this year, it'd be the perfect excuse to by the new Gaiman edited anth, UNNATURAL CREATURES)

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    1. Interesting idea--I' don't think I've ever read a short story anthology, and now I find myself wondering how that is possible.

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  5. Grapes of Wrath is depressing as SHIT. And imo, not nearly as excellently written as East of Eden (although it does have its moments).

    YA...I mean, I'm a big fan of John Stephens's Books of Beginning, and then the Mysterious Benedict Society, but those're both for like 10-12 year olds. I don't really read actual YA.

    Oh! I also liked John Connolly's The Gates. Kinda like Good Omens, if you're into that sort of thing.

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    1. Middle grade is totally cool, too. I loved The Emerald Atlas but haven't read book II yet. I vaguely recall that you mentioned elves--either there were too many or not enough. Can't remember which!

      Yeah, I remember thinking about you and your readalong when Dh present me with Grapes of Wrath. His timing was WAY off 'cause clearly I would have joined the readalong if he'd given it to me LAST year.

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  6. Just finished "The 100 Year Old Man..." about 10 days ago (while on Vieques). It's a cute little book, but the chapters about his past life are so over the top that I found they just ended up dragging-on. It's a fun read, but if you're tight on space you may want to leave it for when you get back home.

    I'm half way through "Raven Stole the Moon" by Garth Stein, and I'm really enjoying it. Unfortunately, though, I can't give you my overall final impression yet! However, I think it would easily pass your Chapter 2 test!
    B.

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    1. Oooh, Vieques--such fun! THanks for the tip on the book--maybe I'll look for the ebook version instead of packing the physical one.

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  7. Pre-reading is a brilliant idea - I'd have a lot fewer headaches travelling if I actually put that sorta thought into my book choices. It's typically more of an "eenie meanie miney mo" situation.

    I have read exactly none of those books so I don't really have any advice, except I'd say you'd be guaranteed a good read with Lamb (just judging off everyone else's reviews). Have you read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell? If not, read that because it's fantastic. Man, I can't even offer comparative suggestions because I haven't heard of your list, so I'm just going to finish this pointless comment here.

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    1. No comment is ever pointless, especially if you can work in the phrase eenie meanie miney mo.

      I did read Attachments. I didn't love it like you and a few others did, but I did enjoy it.

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  8. My high school students universally love Divergent. I just read a short story collection by Gregory Spatz that I loved: it's called Half as Happy. I also recently read and loved The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope--that would be a good vacation read, definitely not depressing. Grapes of Wrath is a great book, but not a great beach read. And the book starts off with a turtle crossing the highway--not the most arresting beginning! Whatever you decide to read--have fun!

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  9. Gulp, Lamb, The Last Dragonslayer, and Eleanor and Park all sound like fantastic picks.

    Have fun on your vacation!! It sounds amazing :)

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  10. Totally agree with the above comments regarding "Grapes of Wrath"....it's a classic and you should read it. But it really wouldn't make your beaching more enjoyable. As for the rest of your list, I'm completely in the dark but will await your final blessings/recommendations...have a fantastic and safe trip.

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  11. A tall order seeing as you do this for me (and probably countless others) without knowing!

    I would definitely recommend "After Visiting Friends : A Son's Story" by Michael Hainey. This is an intriguing story, sentimental and funny and a sheer delight to read.

    Also "A Possible Life" by Sebastian Faulks, still my favourite book of 2013.

    Lastly - if you need a Caribbean theme - "Archipelago" by Monique Roffey takes you on a sailing trip from Trinidad through the ABC islands and then through the Panama Canal. It's not the most perfectly written book but the relationship between father and daughter is lovely and you can experience the trip without needing a life jacket!

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    1. I actually already read and loved the Michael Hainey memoir. SO good. I forgot to include the Roffey book in my post. I picked it up because I enjoy reading about the islands when I'm there. Thank you!

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  12. So envious of your trip! Anguilla was just featured as a small -- but significant -- plot locale in A Dual Inheritance! Otherwise, you're the only association I have with it! :)

    Awesome list of books -- I have to share I'd be bummed about having to read Steinbeck although I can't precisely say why -- just doesn't interest me. My wife and I do reading exchanges too -- I've got Jane Eyre and Moby Dick in my future!! :/

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    1. Really? Anguilla was mentioned? I"ll have to check it out.

      After reading this post, my husband has released me from the obligation of reading Grapes of Wrath on vacation.

      That's cool that you and your wife do an exchange, too. Jane Eyre is a pretty quick read, but Moby-Dick? Definitely more of a challenge!

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  13. In St. John now, saw your blog from 2011. Every Ting is now Gallow's Point Gift & Gormet and my friends bought it and upgraded the business significantly. Mask is still around, but a bit thin, and it's not as crowded as when you were here. 18 on the Bad Kitty tour, although we did the taxis as well. It was a Sunday and they were concerned that Customs takes forever on Sundays and we had a few people that could not swim well (or at all). Missed the caves, as well, but the crew was top notch (Chris, Jen, & Brian). Lovely island - stayed on St. Thomas one night - if you're into dive gems, Hull Bay Hideaway is like an old Hemingway bar (as I would imagine it :) Haven't been to Anegada or Antigua, on the list. thanks to my local contacts, this trip was wonderful, but I'm writing this from the deck of a villa overlooking the water, so I don't know how objective I am. Safe & Happy Travels and Book Reading!

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    1. Thanks for the update on St. John. I'd like to return one day.

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    Thanks♥

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