I wouldn’t say I panic or anything, but forefront in my mind as I pack for an extended vacation are the books that will be coming along. The weird thing (about me) is that, oftentimes, I am going somewhere where everything is available for purchase should I forget something. Books are available from shared libraries and book stores.
But still. I think about it. Overly think because "What if???". And for my vacation packing to feel complete, be complete, and for my vacation fulfillment to be optimized, be fulfilling, I need to bring enough books. And like clothes, I want options.
That said, I am leaving on a ten day, coast-to-coast, road trip to visit some girlfriends in Florida. That’s a long time, and I want to be prepared so that requires enough books.
Since I am leaving this Friday, I just now pulled the books I am going to bring. May add a few others, but here’s the list:
The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes (I loved, loved, loved The Sense of an Ending. I really liked The Levels of Life. I feel confident about this one.)
The Ravishing of Lol Stein by Marguerite Duras (The Lover was wonderful. Plus who doesn’t want a spicy book to read alone in bed while visiting girlfriends? Is that too ewww? Whatever. It made the cut.)
Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick (Women, life, memories, a potential classic)
What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi (Started this at least a year back and want to finish it after setting it down one and a half stories in. Short stories about keys. To a heart. To a house. To a secret. Yes!)
Enigma Variations by Andre Aciman (I told you about my fascination with small press publications. This is one. It is told in five vignettes/stories, all which take unexpected turns. It had me at "Sexuality is not black and white.".)
That’s it so far. Any suggestions? I’ll have some “alone” time so searching out an unusual book shop is definitely not out of the question. Wait! Do you know any in the Jupiter, Fort Meyers, or Naples areas?
4 comments:
I always have a book with me on vacation, but with two kids and a husband in tow, I rarely get to read! We are renting a house this summer in Michigan with a beautiful screened in porch, and I'm actually hoping for a rainy day so I can sit and read!
That's how I feel during family vacations. We just got back from one in mid-February and, over the course of one week with grown kids and husband, the only real reading time I had was on the airplane. Otherwise, someone always wanted to walk the beach, play cards, etc..
Pure Michigan! How wonderful! I love a good rainy day for that. Also love late afternoons when everyone's had a little too much sun and we all retreat to a quiet, shady spot like the porch you describe! I hope you get the reading time you are looking for because, if you're like me, you're always searching for it.
I love books, but I carry my Kindle on vacation cuz I can load it with a ton. But I almost always buy a real book wherever I am at.
I have had a few Kindles in my day that filtered down to my kids and now, I believe, are no longer functional. They've inherited my love of holding an actual book now too. Great thing is it is at their own expense!
Just opened Sleepless Nights sitting at the gate. It's 6:22 a.m. Been up since 4:45! Not a morning person but I have a cuppa joe and, at this moment, feeling fine!
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