I probably won’t get an answer in time to help me for my current flight, but maybe I’ll get an answer in time for my layover or just get a list for my next flight.
I’m about to get on a plane and… I finished my book too soon. I was reading Redshirts by John Scalzi (liked it a lot) but got through security in record time and finished it before I am even going to board.
So, I have a 2 hour layover after my 2 hour first leg flight. Any suggestions for something that is light, easy to read, and could reasonably be described as a page turner… And is available on Kindle? I ask for light page turners because I find it difficult enough to read a book on my phone without needing to deal with the noise and distraction of an airplane.
I like both fiction and non fiction. Most genres but not particularly mystery.
I board in 20 minutes. What are your suggestions?
Eta: come one NAF. “you favorite”? In the thread title you can’t edit? Really? I’ll just go ahead and report this.
The Joy of X
A mathematician’s guide to the magic and mystery of numbers.
The Fight for English
David Crystal’s demonstration that since its inception, English has been bedeviled by Jeremiahs mourning the incipient demise of a once glorious tongue.
Euclid’s Window
A fascinating exploration into Euclid’s postulates and how they have affected the development of mathematics through the centuries.
Something from the Nightside
Book one in a series about a detective-like character with the ability to enter the Nightside, a magical scummy urban world found in large cities and a source of much malevolence and evil. The fantasy equivalent of pringles.
The five “Demon Prince” novels by Jack Vance: “Star King,” “The Killing Machine,” “The Palace of Love,” “The Face,” “The Book of Dreams.”
You can actually read 'em in any order. In the proper order, they’re slightly better, but, really, it doesn’t matter. I started with “The Palace of Love” and was instantly hooked. These are “space opera” or “science fantasy” and they’re totally lovely, utterly brilliant. I wish there were more!
I’ve read and re-read these jewels something like eight times, and I’m far from done!
I’m a slow reader, the only book I’ve ever torn through is Gone Girl. 6 days (that’s like, what, an hour for a normal/fast reader). Could not put it down, I mean, I was reading before work, during commercials, every chance I got. I’m guessing you already read it, but that’s my suggestion for a page turner, however, it’s not really a ‘light’ book.
If you want a light book, I’d suggest anything (well, anything that I’ve read so far) by Carl Hiaasen. All good books, light, easy to read. You should be able to flip through them pretty quickly. Both Bad Monkey and Skinny Dip are really good.
You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes. The follow-up is Hidden Bodies - both highly recommended. Creepy and weird and awesome and I couldn’t stop reading till I finished.
The greatest page-turner of all history was Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. I’ve heard it said that the quickest way to teach an English boy French is to give him a copy in which only the first half has been translated: He’ll learn it himself to find out how it ends. Plus, being an old classic, you can probably get an ebook of it for free.
Since they’re free, why would you not have several public-domain books loaded onto your device so that you never run out of something to read? For more suggestions, see this old thread: