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My Thanksgiving Road Trip Reads

If this post goes up as scheduled on Wednesday morning, the boyfriend and I will be starting the second leg of our Thanksgiving road trip to Wisconsin. We left home on Tuesday night and won’t be back until Sunday. The blog is going to be pretty quiet while I’m gone, but I did want to share the books I decided to bring with me.

  • The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee — This one has been on my shelf for a long time, but I can’t quite get started with it. I think I just need some sustained reading time to get into the book, which seems perfect for a car ride.
  • Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller — This one wasn’t on my radar until a favorite podcast, NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, mentioned it in a recent show about memoirs. It made me curious.
  • Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood — I love Margaret Atwood, but I don’t read her very often because I feel like I have to ration her books out slowly… what will happen when there is no Atwood left? A road trip seems like a good time to bust some out.

I also checked out a few audio books from the library for Boyfriend and I to listen to. Picking out audio books for the two of us has always been hard because we have pretty different tastes in books. He usually likes things that have some sort of subversive element or that are really funny, and I’m more plot-oriented. I also never think to reserve books ahead of time, so selection is limited.

But anyway, here’s what I grabbed from the library this week:

  • Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich — With a title like that, how could this book not be at least mildly entertaining?
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson — Boyfriend likes to hike, so I’m thinking that plus Bryson’s sense of humor might make this one a winner.
  • The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer — I really want to read this one because I’m curious about the connection to the Greek play, but I think the plot will grab his attention too.
  • The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen — This was a random grab. Anyone read/listened to this one that can give a verdict?
Other than in the car, I probably won’t be reading much this weekend. We’ve got too many plans to spend time catching up with friends, eating Turkey, and watching football to have much time for books. But honestly, that’s more than ok with me; I can’t wait to be reinvigorated seeing the people I love.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Diane@BibliophileBytheSea November 23, 2011, 5:30 am

    Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving. I enjoyed the eBook of Emperor of All Maladies –hope the audio is good as well.

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:14 pm

      I actually have that one in print, and so far it’s really great. I’m glad it’s the one I decided to read.

  • Emma November 23, 2011, 8:54 am

    wow, A Walk in the Woods for a road trip? sounds great. here is my review, I enjoyed it a lot, more than other books by Bryson I tried after that one: http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/a-walk-in-the-woods/

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:14 pm

      Oo, I’m glad it’s good. We didn’t get to it on this trip, but maybe we will another time.

  • Stephanie November 23, 2011, 9:00 am

    Of the print books you took, I have only read Oryx & Crake. It was awesome. I still need to read The Year of the Flood!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:15 pm

      I want to read that one so bad. I love Margaret Atwood.

  • Steph November 23, 2011, 10:31 am

    Since American Thanksgiving is so close to Xmas, I’m surprised it’s such a big deal in terms of travel. Tony and I never go visit his folks because it’s such a slog (13 hours by car), and I just can’t bear making that kind of trip more than once a year!

    I actually read The Uncoupling not too long ago, though I’m not sure when I’ll get to it on the blog as I’m so far behind! I thought it was mediocre, but it might be fine for a long car trip and I can’t see the audio format being a hindrance. But I cannot imagine reading The Corrections via audiobook. I could see how the dialogue sections would work well, but some of Franzen’s prose can get insanely intricate, so for me, that’s a book I feel I have to read with my own eyes.

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:16 pm

      I’ve never traveled much before now, but this holiday seemed to work out better for taking a long trip than Christmas will, just because of my job and vacation days.

      I was skeptical about The Corrections, but the plot sounded like something the boyfriend might like. We didn’t end up getting to that one, but it’s on my list to read sometime.

  • Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm November 23, 2011, 4:51 pm

    I’m impressed that you can read in the car! I get sick.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:17 pm

      It sort of depends. Sometimes it gives me a headache, but most of the time I’m fine in short bursts.

  • Trisha November 23, 2011, 4:57 pm

    I really enjoyed Fuller’s memoir. I hadn’t read too many books set in Africa when I first picked it up, and I was really intrigued by the setting (and the characters who are so unique).

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:18 pm

      I read another memoir set in Africa, Robert Godwin’s When the Crocodile Hits the Sun, which I also really liked.

  • Maphead November 23, 2011, 7:32 pm

    Alexandra Fuller’s memoir has been sitting unread on my shelf for far too long. Maybe this will inspire me to finally read it !

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:19 pm

      I didn’t get to it over vacation, which was a bummer! It looks so good.

  • softdrink November 23, 2011, 8:06 pm

    Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs is good (although it needs a shorter title…her books all seem to have ridiculously long titles). She had a very interesting childhood. It’s up there with Glass Castle (although not quite as good, imo).

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:20 pm

      Yes, that is a long title. Like Glass Castle? That’s a big endorsement.

  • Kailana November 23, 2011, 9:04 pm

    I hope you have a great trip. Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:20 pm

      Thanks, we did! Same to you!

  • Vasilly November 24, 2011, 12:11 pm

    Wow! I get carsick so fast that it isn’t funny. Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:21 pm

      Bummer! I’ve never really had that problem (knock on wood!).

  • Kathleen November 24, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:21 pm

      Same to you (a little bit late!)

  • bermudaonion (Kathy) November 25, 2011, 7:10 pm

    I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:21 pm

      Same to you!

  • Esme November 26, 2011, 11:10 pm

    A Walk in the Woods is hilarious. I could not get into the Emperor book. Happy Thanksgiving.

    • Kim November 29, 2011, 8:22 pm

      Good to know, thanks!