It’s that warm, apathetic time of year again. There’s nothing in the papers, and precious little going on elsewhere—so we troop onto boats, planes, cars and trains headed for relaxation and pleasure; and we search for a book or four to see us through the workless days and balmy nights. But what to pack? Aside from the compulsory paperback bestseller or two, what could and should we be reading this Summer?
To probe this vital matter properly, we invited an expert panel of readers, writers and thinkers to tell us what they’ll be taking on holiday with them—and what they will, at all costs, be leaving untouched. Respondents included Ian Rankin, Chris Cleave, Gideon Rachman, Nicci Gerrard, Julian Gough and Dominic Sandbrook, and you can read their responses here, among others.
My own vacation preferences are for one absurdly heavy tome—the kind of historical, philosophical work you can only satisfactorily chew through given the run-up of a vacant week and plenty of sleep—mixed with some novels of the science-fiction/thriller variety that I’ve spirited away from the office shelves when no-one was looking. But I digress. What will you be reading; and what would you like to see left safely on the shelf?
This is very lazy as people are just issuing “wish lists” but not setting priorities. I’d love to read lots of this lot and might have done in younger childless days. However what I want is one, or maximum two, absolute must-read, gripping yet not too taxing book (s) that when completed will have felt rewarding, that yield at least one dinner party discussion (among not too showy off friends) and can be managed by an exhausted single mother of an eighteen month old on holiday with childless friends who will only get to read if at all if the baby manages a nap at noon! - I’ll look out for replies
Right now i’m reading Down and Out in Paris and London. A classic, I love it.