I need your help. I leave for the big European adventure on Wednesday. I have my iPad all loaded up with ebooks. But I can’t decide which print book to take. Yes, I said book. Singular. I am trying to travel super light so I am only going to bring one print book with me. For take offs and landings and any other time an ebook is impractical. I need the book to be long enough to last the trip but interesting enough to keep my attention. I have narrowed the pile to 5 books. This is where you come in. Let me know in the comments which book I should or shouldn’t bring. I want arguments for and against any of these.
- The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
- Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
- Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
- American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
- American Gods by Neil Gaimain
Please, please, please help my with this decision. (Haha – I just realized that two of these books have “American” in them).
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This week is Audibook Week, hosted by my lovely friend Jen at Devourer of Books. You should all head over tomorrow there and check out the good times that will be had. Here at my books. my life., I will be posting a discussion post about audiobooks in the morning and an audiobook review in the afternoon. I wanted to give you all a warning that this will result in a lot of posts this week. But they will be full of win. I promise.
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And finally, I will be keeping the blog going while I am gone this month but I won’t be around responding to comments and such like I usually am. I’m not leaving quite yet but I wanted to give you all a heads up.
my books. my life. 
Hm, I think I vote Cutting for Stone.
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The only one I’ve read is American Wife, but I thought that one was amazing.
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The only two I’ve read are House of the Spirits and American Gods. I think American Gods would be better, because I read through House of the Spirits really quickly. It’s a long book, but one that doesn’t read like a long book! American Gods isn’t my favorite book, but it definitely will keep your interest. (And it’s a lot of other people’s favorite book.)
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I don’t know how helpful my vote will be. I would either read The House of Spirits (which I’ve read and absolutely love) or American Gods (which I really want to read, but haven’t gotten around to).
Have a great trip!
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I’ve only read Cutting for Stone in that group and while there were about 100 pages I had trouble with, I ended up really liking it. Have a wonderful time in Europe, I can’t wait to read all about it
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Such a difficult decision! I haven’t read any of them so I’m not sure I can help. Cutting Stone is supposed to be excellent.
Have an amazing trip, Michelle! 🙂
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I haven’t read any of your 5 print books you want to take on your European Vacation 🙂 But I have loved everything I read by Neil Gaiman. And I also have House of Spirits by Allende–bought it a couple months ago but haven’t read it yet. So I’d have to recommend one of those two, without having read either of them so I really don’t know 😛
Oh, and I know this is a book blog, but I think it’d be fun to see some pictures of your travels while you’re away! Even if they’re completely un-book-related 🙂
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I probably won’t update the blog with pictures while I am gone but I will try to get some on facebook so look there.
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I would have to say bring Cutting for Stone. I have heard so many amazing things about that book, and have wanted to read it myself for such a long time. I would advise against American Wife, as it is a bit slow and more of a character driven novel than a plot driven one, which isn’t bad, if that’s what you are looking for!
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I’d say American Gods. It’s not so heavy and not my favorite Gaiman, but it is still a very good read!
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I have read Les Miserables, American Wife and Cutting for Stone. Out of those three, I would recommend the last two! Les Miserables is good, but it didn’t really engross me or keep my attention.
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Please please please read The House of the Spirits. It’s compact and absolutely fantastic.
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I vote Cutting for Stone, but only because it is the only book out of five that I have read. I did love it. So did Rebecca and Amy. Um.. Not sure what else to say except that I hope you have a very good trip! And also, that you should add a stop in the Netherlands next time. (Not that, I admit, the country itself is that interesting).
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I would love to stop by The Netherlands but we just couldn’t swing it this time. I think your country is interesting. Plus it has you!
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American Gods is a good one. I am also putting in a vote for Les Mis.
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My favourite out of that list is ‘Les Miserables’. I wouldn’t recommend that though – it is too heavy to lug around. The two ‘American’ books and ‘Cutting for stone’ seem to be of the right size. If I think about it again I think ‘American Gods’ by Neil Gaiman looks like the best choice. Gaiman is always good and the book is of the right size 🙂
Have a wonderful trip! Hope you enjoy the sights, sounds, smells of Europe! Looking forward to seeing the pictures.
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The only one I’ve read of the five is American Wife. It was good but not great. I’ve heard great things about Cutting for Stone, though.
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I vote Les Mis, since it’s the biggest, and it’s a major classic and it would feel good to accomplish that!
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i vote for american wife because it is engaging but relatively mindless. it is for reading on a plane, right?
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I am leaving this comment not because I have read any of these {but I saw Les Mis on Broadway, does that count?!} and can’t make a wise recommendation for you, but I’m commenting because I. Am. So. Stinkin’. Excited for you!! And just a bit jealous! But excited about this huge trip. I cannot wait to hear all the details of your adventures! 🙂
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Says Ms. I-go-to-South-Africa-and-Italy-all-the-time. 😉 Thanks!
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Touche’! 🙂
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Les Miserables is a fantastic classic that you really need to read. But for now, I vote for Cutting For Stone, I’m almost done listening to it as audiobook, it is extremely well written, hauntingly beautiful.
And the audiobook is so well done as well.
Emma @ Words And Peace
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I haven’t read any of these but none of them really seem like page-turners. Is that what you’re looking for? A page-turner or just an epic story?
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I’m reading Cutting for Stone now and really liking it. It’s long, plus it’s not a super fast read, so it should last. My second choice would be American Gods. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s the next Gaiman on my list. I also hope to read Les Mis at some point but know I’d hate to be stuck with something so dense as my only reading choice. Might just be me, though! Have a great trip!
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I would suggest Cutting for Stone. Like others mentioned before me it is long and good. I felt like it was a book to savor. I wanted to know what happened next, but it wasn’t a book I felt I just had to rush through.
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