# Recommend a book for a long plane flight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497 "2005-12-13T22:20:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/21 "2005-12-14T15:23:25Z")
As an alternate, you might consider taking along a book of crossword puzzles, if the reading book pans out or you need a break from it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/22 "2005-12-14T16:37:21Z")
Another vote for Neal Stephenson’s “Cryptonomicon”. And with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I’ll also recommend John Varley’s “Millenium”. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/23 "2005-12-14T17:23:25Z")
[Shadow of the Wind](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143034901/ref=pd_kar_1/102-3802887-9024113?n=283155) not funny, just interesting. Very entertaining book that I really need to buy: [Gil’s All Fright Diner](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765314711/qid=1134580932/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-3802887-9024113?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) It has everything you need for a good romp: A vampire named Earl. A werewolf named Duke and zombie attacks. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/24 "2005-12-14T18:33:54Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Ken Follets: [The pillars of the earth.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451166892/qid=1134517393/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-9086593-8432843?n=507846&s=books&v=glance) > Long, and just plain effing good storytelling. Spans fifty years and the building of one big cathedral in medieval England. Not big on lighthearted fun, but it was one of those rare books that held me in a sort of time-warp: when I looked up from the pages again, it was three hours later. I’d second this one. It’s a great book. At the other end of the spectrum, something light and funny is _A Walk In The Woods_ by Bill Bryson. You could easily finish it on the plane ride. Anything by Bryson is good. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/25 "2005-12-14T18:42:40Z")
Have you read any Douglas Adams? You can get all five books of the “Hitchhiker’s Trilogy” in one volume (and it really won’t matter if you don’t make it to the fifth 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/26 "2005-12-14T18:43:45Z")
You could do worse than Jim Butcher’s **The Dresden Files** , which is quite amusing if you’re into private eye wizards. If you get all six books it should keep you occupied for a while. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/27 "2005-12-14T18:54:36Z")
I can’t believe I’m the first one to mention (re)reading the LOTR trilogy. Though it may be too much of a downer. If you like Hitchhiker’s, there are also the two Dirk Gently books - those can be fun. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/28 "2005-12-14T18:56:04Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Have you read any Douglas Adams? You can get all five books of the “Hitchhiker’s Trilogy” in one volume (and it really won’t matter if you don’t make it to the fifth 😉 ). That’s what I came in to recommend. You said you’d prefer a novel, but how about a book of short stories? If you like Wodehouse, you’d probably like Evelyn Waugh. In paperback, his [Complete Short Stories](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316926604/ref=ed_oe_p/002-9175080-3656056?%5Fencoding=UTF8) is 640 pages long, which should be lengthy enough to keep you occupied for several hours. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/29 "2005-12-14T19:14:33Z")
Carl Hiaasen’s always fun. His stuff is hard to describe–a couple of reviews I found called his books “serio-comic Florida thrillers” and “crime farces.” I guess those are fair descriptions. Hiaasen is light reading, but thought-provoking, too. My personal favorite is _Strip Tease_ (not to be confused with the movie of the same name, which is ostensibly based on the book, but in reality, is probably the worst thing to ever happen to Carl Hiaasen.) They’re kind of long, but quick reads. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/30 "2005-12-14T22:04:15Z")
I strongly recommend: Gary Jennings, _Aztec_ - A huge, historically-accurate, sex-and-violence-drenched novel. George R.R. Martin, _Fevre Dream_ - An outstanding vampire novel set on the Mississippi River during the pre-Civil War steamboat era. George R.R. Martin, _Tuf Voyaging_ - An amazing collection of interconnected science fiction short stories. A sad-sack space trader stumbles upon the most powerful starship in the Universe, and decides to make full (and funny) use of it. Joseph Ellis, _Founding Brothers_ - Witty, engrossing Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of essays about the Founders and their relationship to one another. Michael Shaara, _The Killer Angels_ - Another Pulitzer winner, about the Battle of Gettysburg. Utterly evocative and believable. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/31 "2005-12-14T22:34:19Z")
If you’ve not read it, _Mists of Avalon_ would be great. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/32 "2005-12-15T00:50:10Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > Millions, > I’ve got a cross-Atlantic flight a-coming and I need a book recommendation. Yes, yes, I always come crawling to you guys for literary wisdom, but so far I’ve discovered Terry Pratchet, rediscovered PG Woodehouse, and was recommended Chris Buckley, who remains solidly in my favorite author list. So far, so perfect. > > In fact, I’m again looking for something in the above vein. Something fun, not necessarily brain-less (see above) and, preferably looooong. Something I can enjoy on a half day of travel to lands where I speak only bastardized versions of their languages. > > Currently, I’m thinking of getting a nice thick Neil Simon volume with about 6 plays in it. But I’d rather a nice juicy novel. It doesn’t have to funny, but, you know, nothing Russian. This is a vacation. > > And I just finished Good Omens, so you can’t go there. If you like Woodehouse, try E.F. Benson’s 1930ish writing. I dont’ know what the smaller collections are called, but the compendium of his stories about social maneuverings in a small English village is titled “Make Way for Lucia.” I’m sure his stuff is out of print, but you can probably find it on Amazon used books. Forgive me if these books have already been mentioned, I just skimmed the thread: Anything by Annie Proulx “Running with Scissors” by August Burroughs Most things by Cormac McCarthy Hilary Mantel’s “Beyond Black” and “Giving Up the Ghost” If you like humorous travel writing, most anything by Bill Bryson For a really, really big book try “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/33 "2005-12-15T00:54:08Z")
There are some really good suggestions, above. You may not care for them but some of the James Michener novels have been wonderful long reading for me… “Hawaii” “Chesapeake” “Centenneal” Not today’s faves, for sure, but just a suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/34 "2005-12-15T00:58:51Z")
\*\*Centennial! \*\* :wally ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/35 "2005-12-15T02:36:04Z")
In my experience, short stories tend to be better for trips than books. If you’re not interested in the one you can flip to another, and if you get distracted by weather or the airplane’s in-flight entertainment system, the weather, or a seatmate you can pick up later without any huge loss. In that vein, I’m going to recommend any short story collection by W. Somerset Maughm. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/36 "2005-12-15T03:01:53Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Carl Hiaasen’s always fun. His stuff is hard to describe–a couple of reviews I found called his books “serio-comic Florida thrillers” and “crime farces.” I guess those are fair descriptions. Hiaasen is light reading, but thought-provoking, too. My personal favorite is _Strip Tease_ (not to be confused with the movie of the same name, which is ostensibly based on the book, but in reality, is probably the worst thing to ever happen to Carl Hiaasen.) > > They’re kind of long, but quick reads. My vacation books! I only allow myself to read them on vacation. Lucky Me is my favorite so far. Great for plane travel - they don’t take a lot of brain power, but they don’t insult your intellegence (unless you happen to be a Florida redneck - he spends a lot of time insulting all flavors of felonious Florida rednecks). The Jasper Fjorde Thursday Next stuff is interesting. The first is wonderful, by the third its a stretch. The first one is The Eyre Affair. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/37 "2005-12-15T16:31:33Z")
On the Gaiman tip: I was recently loaned Neverwhere. Better? Worse? On par with the Anasasi Boys or American Gods? ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/38 "2005-12-15T18:11:55Z")
So I’ve got a 6-hour flight next week (Hawaii yay!) and I picked up Richard Russo’s the Straight Man. Dammit, I knew I should have waited - I was just going to look at the first couple of pages, y’know, see what kind of story I was looking at - then it was one chapter, then two… So, uh, any other books similar to this to recommend? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/39 "2005-12-15T18:22:35Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > On the Gaiman tip: > I was recently loaned Neverwhere. Better? Worse? On par with the Anasasi Boys or American Gods? I’d put it closer to American Gods. It’s quite a bit darker and gorier than Anansi Boys. I enjoyed the premise, but found the villains a bit tediously sadistic. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497/40 "2005-12-15T21:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > On the Gaiman tip:I was recently loaned Neverwhere. Better? Worse? On par with the Anasasi Boys or American Gods? I take it you enjoyed **Good Omens** , co-written by Gaiman. \*\*Neverwhere \*\*was Gaiman’s first novel. In it are images you’ll never forget, places that will stay with you. It’s comically dark, not horror-dark. I’d never read anything dark previous to reading **Neverwhere** , and I adored it. If you have the book, by all means read it. Then know that his other books expand upon the promise of imagination and humor found in his first novel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-book-for-a-long-plane-flight/335497.md?page=3)