Wanted: Good, Long Books
By kate on July 19th, 2004
Steve and I are heading to Mongolia in about two weeks, so we’re working on what to bring. One thing I’ve been trying to figure out is what books to pack.
Reading is a very integral part of travelling for me. It’s how I pass my time while on buses, planes, trains, etc. (as well as when waiting for them). I read at night in my hotel room. I read on the beach. I read more when travelling than at any other time.
And while books are often considered escapism, I find that in my memory, WHERE I read the book is often brought back when I remember the book itself. The two are always tied together, and help keep each other vivid in my memory.
That’s why it’s important that I bring good books on our trip. And, since English-language books will be pretty hard to pick up along the way, I’m going to have to bring a month’s worth. Therefore, I’m looking for a specific kind of book: the long, juicy, dense kind that when you’re halfway through, you feel like you’ve read two books already but are excited that there’s still so much to go.
Here are some examples of these books that I’ve read:
– Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
– The Brothers K by David James Duncan
– The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
– Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
I’m sure there are more, but I can’t think of them at the moment. Anyway, today I hit upon the idea of Neal Stephenson’s newest book (in paperback), Quicksilver. That’s a good one because Steve will read it, too. (Travelling with him is like having our own mini book club.)
I need one or two more such books, though. Please give me your suggestions!
Filed under: reading
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5 Responses to “Wanted: Good, Long Books”
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July 18th, 2004 at 3:56 pm
May I recommend the Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies? It’s actually three books (duh) but they almost always come in one volume these days. Great stuff. It’s very easy to find on the cheap at used book stores and I just adore the way Davies uses words.
July 21st, 2004 at 5:55 am
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll look into that one.
May 3rd, 2005 at 4:50 am
Hey, Kate. I know the request for long books to take on your trip is an old one, but I ran across it while googling for long books, myself. I’d like to mention, maybe quote, something from your request in my LJ. May I have your permission to do so? Thanx. Please get in touch.
May 3rd, 2005 at 11:16 am
Hi. Sure, you may quote my request. Thanks for asking!
For interest, here are the long books I ended up taking on the trip:
– V, by Thomas Pynchon (it was OK; I enjoyed some of the time periods better than others, and it didn’t feel like a cohesive book)
– Dreamland, by Kevin Baker (liked it)
– Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (a re-read for me, first time for my husband)
– The House on Dream Street: Memoir of an American Woman in Vietnam by Dana Sachs (chosen more for content than length; I enjoyed it)
May 3rd, 2005 at 12:45 pm
Thanks so much! The review is helpful, too. I am so jealous, btw! Mongolia! Wow!