Yes, it's that time of year again. I'm going away for a week and so have the joy and stress of compiling a selection of books to take with me. This year we're actually probably going to be away for less than a week, but I'm taking seven books anyway. A book a day is beyond hopeful with a 5-year-old and a 6-month-old, but I'm taking them anyway. Just in case.
As usual, I have to take a selection of non-fiction, fiction (both adult and young adult), books that I've been looking forward to reading and books I've been saving for holiday. Oh and one book that I don't really want to read, but know I should (guess which one?).
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Kinsella's books are such a ridiculously easy and enjoyable read and I also *should* read them because I write chick lit and she's so incredibly good and successful at chick lit. This isn't a duty read, though, I'm really looking forward to it.
The Lost Child by Julie Myerson
I've been desperate to read this since the pre-publication furore. I'm also currently reading the collected Guardian columns about Myerson's three children, Living With Teenagers, so this will carry on from there (assuming I can stand it and haven't thrown both books out of the window in fury).
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I write for Young Adults and therefore I really should read this, the best selling series of young adult books in, like, ever (probably). But I don't want to. Partly because I'll likely get totally sucked in like everyone else. Pah.
Hens Reunited by Lucy Diamond
I read and loved Lucy Diamond's last book, Over You, on holiday in Norfolk last year so it seems appropriate that I take her newest this year. This is one I've been saving to savour.
Just Me by Sheila Hancock
After hearing Hancock interviewed on the radio recently, I became desperate to read her first memoir, The Two of Us, about her life with her husband, the actor John Thaw (who died in 2002). I absolutely loved it, so I'm keen to read Just Me and find out how she's getting on without him.Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Louise Rennison
Like the Kinsella book, I really need to read Louise Rennison's books because she is so successful at something I'm trying to do myself. But, like the Kinsella books, they're not duty reads because they're always hilarious.
Girl With Glasses: My Optic History by Marissa Walsh
A memoir of glasses-wearing loaned to me (speccy four-eyes since the age of 6) by my friend Diane. It looks really interesting and the chapters are short, which could be handy for quick reading while baby-wrangling.
So that's my list. What books are you taking on holiday? And why?
Interested what you think of Twilight. I can't bear the idea of it, I have to say.
I LOVED Sheila Hancock's The Two of Us, and went to see her at a book festival last year (she was fabulous). I bought Just Me so she could sign it, but I haven't read it yet.
Oh, and I gave you GWG, so do with it what you will! It is interesting, but kind of choppy. But good for dipping into.
As far as I know, I'm not going anywhere but I will blog about my summer reading soon (try to contain yourself!) xx
Posted by: Diane | 29 July 2009 at 11:28 AM
I can't bear the idea of Twilight either, Diane, and I begrudged buying it, but I do think I should read it. I can't decide whether I hope I like it or not!
Oh and thank you re GWG! :)
Posted by: Keris | 29 July 2009 at 11:41 AM
LOL, you're very welcome!
Oh, and have you see the gallery of (awful!) Twilight tattoos?
http://www.geekologie.com/2009/07/sure_why_not_twihard_tattoo_ga.php
Posted by: Diane | 29 July 2009 at 11:50 AM
I have a friend who loves Twilight but I just can't go there. Meyer's politics/moral values bother me and I can't help being concerned about the anti-sex propaganda, abstinence is the only answer twaddle all these young girls are being subliminally exposed to.
Also, the film was such a bore-fest. I didn't want to hang out with angsty emos Bella and Edward after half an hour of the film- an entire book would do my head in.
But that's just me.
Posted by: Stella | 29 July 2009 at 01:01 PM
I too have been ignoring (whilst simultaneously sneering at) Twilight. It's getting harder and harder to resist. Doesn't anyone working in books or film have a duty to read the biggest thing around right now? I seem to remember I once felt exactly the same way about Da Vinci Code.
However, I saw this trailer for New Moon recently which was unintentionally hilarious - http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/new-moon/trailer - and am now thinking of having some girls over and watching the first movie with a drinking game based on how many times Bella Swann pouts.
Posted by: alison | 29 July 2009 at 01:49 PM
I am not going anywhere on holiday, so no holiday reads for me. But I have been inhaling YA books all month. I actually loved Twilight the first time I read it, but a recent re-read of it left me cold. And the movie was horrific.
Loved Basoomas. Sad that it's finished. Cannot wait to read Twenties Girl. It was on my birthday wish-list, but no one bought it for me (waah!) though I did get One Day that you reviewed recently. Looking forward to that one.
Posted by: Michelle | 29 July 2009 at 03:06 PM
Alison, that's part of the reason I think I should read it - I've been slagging it off. And that's a bit unfair.
Michelle, I'll send Twenties Girl on to you when I've finished it.
Oh and our holiday is a freebie! (We still can't really afford to go thanks to needing a new clutch for the car, but who can turn down a free holiday?)
Posted by: Keris | 31 July 2009 at 07:29 AM
I read Twilight on holiday last year [as did my teenage son and daughter] and am very interested in all your reactions. There is some danger of interpreting this through our eyes and viewpoints rather than through theirs and whilst I didn't have the "Oh my God this is the best book I've ever read" reaction, I've read plenty worse. It's also encouraged several of my daughter's friends into reading quite long books [from choice!] which they discuss together, and they've now moved en masse to other novelists which they avidly read, pass on and talk about for hours.
Just as the Harry Potter books may not be everybody's cup of tea, nobody can deny that teenage reading has been hugely increased by them, and these books too have a place. They may not be feminist or PC, but our daughters are just as capable of spotting that as we are and I firmly believe that anything that gets youngsters picking up books and enjoying them rather than ingesting the drivel on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon is a good thing!
Posted by: Wendy | 31 July 2009 at 10:54 AM
Now my holiday reading:
"The Book Thief" by Marcus Zuzak. I treated myself to this some months ago and have been waiting for the leisure to read it. It may not the usual beach read, but there you are!
"The Heretic Queen" by Michelle Moran is her second novel about Nefertiti. I've always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt and Michelle's debut novel "Nefertiti" was very impressive. Can't wait.
"The Enemy" by Lee Child. I've just read three of his books consecutively and found myself feverishly turning pages. Whilst the description of his protagonist Jack Reacher makes me want to vomit - "Women want him, men want to be him"[!!] - fortunately I'd read one of the books before some patronising idiot of a publicist thought that line was a good idea.
I'm only away for four days so that's it for now, but if you want a truly moving weepy then try "Ways to Live Forever" by Sally Nicholls. Again, don't read the blurb as it's terrible, but the books is a funny, touching, and painful account of a young boy's life with leukaemia.
Posted by: Wendy | 31 July 2009 at 11:05 AM
You're right, of course, Wendy. Why assume that teens are incapable of recognising that the relationships in Twilight aren't necessarily to be emulated, etc.
Ooh and I've met Lee Child. He came to sign books when I worked in Waterstone's. He kept his sunglasses on the whole time. Bleugh. Haven't read any of his books tho.
And I absolutely loved Ways to Live Forever. Gorgeous book. Reminded me of The Curious Incident... You've read that, I assume?
Posted by: Keris | 31 July 2009 at 11:39 AM
Ooh, I want to read Ways to Live Forever now! Has anyone read Jenny Downham's Before I Die, btw? It'll be on my next wish list, despite it sounding really sad.
The thing about Twilight is some people (adults as well as teens) seem to consume the books so unthinkingly (hence the tattoo gallery I linked to above). Then again, I unthinkingly scarfed down Enid Blytons as a kid and I didn't turn out to be a hateful racist...
Posted by: Diane | 01 August 2009 at 08:16 PM
Oh, yes, do read Ways To Live Forever, it's lovely.
I started Before I Die, but I didn't get very far. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I found the 'voice' really negative and I just couldn't get on with it at all.
Posted by: Keris | 02 August 2009 at 10:21 AM