BlogHer - Vacation Reading: Tips and Suggestions - Comments

Different Reading

Doris — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:14:24 -0500

I start in May and save my most favorite magazines. They are easy to pack, and I don't worry about leaving them on an airplane or in a hotel room because I know they will be picked up and read.

I took my Oprah stash with me and caught up on her magazines, and I decided to read the Traveling Pants books since I know my students will have read them this summer.

Now that my vacation is over I'm looking over my "teacher" summer reading books. This summer I've read Teaching with Love and Logic, with I've reread as part of a study group.

My reading plans for the rest of this month involve a marathon read of the Twilight series waiting for the Breaking Dawn release next week.

I still have two Home magazines I'm saving for a camping trip in two weeks. Then when I'm frustrated with camping, I can look at the pictures of the well decorated rooms and dream!

Doris

The Leaky Cauldron

Reading and Writing and Chocolate

Fit, Fabulous and Forty the Natural Way

Vacation books

ruddersathome — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:21:38 -0500

I always pack at least three books, and they are always fun ones. A new one by a new author, a new one by a known author and the third is always one that I've read and enjoyed, so wouldn't mind reading again if I can't get into either one of the other two.

I think the approach of leaving books for other readers is nice as well. It's nice to go to a holiday home and have a new book to read if all the ones I've brought turn out to be duds!

Sarah

Rudders At Home

Essays

the farmers wife — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:48:46 -0500

People don't usually think about getting themselves a collection of essays, but they are perfect summer reading. You can finish reading an essay while waiting for a plane, or sitting at the pool. At the end of a long day an essay is the perfect "bite" of reading. No plot line to remember till the next time you pick the book up.

There are collections by Mark Twain, George Orwell and other famous authors. I love the work of naturalist Loren Eiseley, either "The Firmament of Time" or The Unexpected Journey.

This summer I'm reading a collection of essays by a wonderful author named Cindy La Ferle. The book is titled, "Writing Home". The alternative title could be Coming Home because on each page you revisit familiar situations in our lives as women. It's interesting to read how someone else has faced those life challenges with humor and grace. I'd like to note that all the proceeds from new book sales are donated to local organizations working with the homeless.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0923568638?ie=UTF8&tag=natesbookstore&link_code=wql&camp=212361&creative=380601">Writring Home</a>

Another wonderful collection of essays is "Traveling Mercies" by Anne Lamott. It chronicles her journey of faith with humor and grit. Don't miss this one.

Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

Vacation Reading: Tips and Suggestions

sassymonkey — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:25:35 -0500

With so many bloggers travelling this weekend and throughout the summer it's time to talk about vacation reading. How many books to pack, what kind of books to pack - these are all things we need to think about when packing. Or when we find ourselves in the airport gift shop. Here's a few things that I've discovered work best when combining reading and travelling.

1. Pack more books than you think you'll need. If you normally read one book on vacation pack three. Have back-ups for those rainy vacation days and in your carry-on that "extended" layover in Chicago.
2. Avoid hardcovers. Unless it's something that you've been dying to read and have been saving it for your vacation leave the hardcover at home. Paperback is the way to go. They are smaller, lighter and bendy.
3. Leave the classics at home. Sure, being stuck in one place for hours at a time may make it seem like a great time to start that classic you've been putting off. It's not. You want to select something that you can read amid distractions - the restless child two rows over, the seatmate who keeps falling asleep on your shoulder. Pack at least one book that doesn't require effort to read.
4. Embrace technology. Be it an ebook reader or an MP3 player load them up and take them with you. You can get free access to both e-books and audiobooks with most public library memberships. Use noise cancelling headphones when listening to an audiobook. And don't forget to pack your charger or extra batteries!
5. If you'll be travelling at night invest in a good book light. Those little gadgets are inexpensive and you'll be so happy you got one.

Now on to the fun stuff and that, of course, is spying on what blogger have been reading on vacation this summer.

Amy Knupp read Stephanie Meyer's Twilight on her vacation. Great timing - there's still a few weeks left to read the other two books in the series before Breaking Dawn is released.

The Great Dark Wonder has an author recommendation for mystery lovers.

Sew Transformed hit the romance novels on her vacation.

Jennifer at Critical Mass posted her great list of vacation reads.

Kristin at is really nice when she goes on vacation - she leaves books for other readers.

My latest way to approach vacation reading is to pack paperbacks that I can then leave for others to enjoy on the airplane, in the airport, in the hotel, etc… I’ve done this for years with my magazines, and have started doing this with my books, too.

Remember vacation reading, like your vacation, is supposed to be fun. Read the chick-lit/romance/spy novel that you secretly really want to read. We won't tell anyone, we promise.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.