This has been a busy summer for us. In addition to our trip to Nova Scotia back in July, we’ve also been driving up to a few cottages, owned by various friends and relatives.
And now I’m off for a weekend in New York! My cousin got married in Hawaii back in January, but I wasn’t able to go. My uncle is now throwing a reception for him in New York.
It’s a nine-hour drive there and back (the things we do for family …) and I can’t read in the car, so audiobooks will be stepping in to save the day. Here’s what I’ve loaded onto my iPod for the trip:
- In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson
- Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down, by Dave Barry
- Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, by JK Rowling
- Austenland, by Shannon Hale
- The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith
The Bill Bryson and Dave Barry books (along with a handful of BBC dramatizations of Agatha Christie’s mysteries) are for listening time with my husband – we’ll attach the iPod to portable speakers for these. He doesn’t like listening on headphones or earbuds when he’s driving and we can never get those FM transmitters to work (we can never seem to find an open FM channel to use), so these little battery-operated speakers work perfectly.
The Harry Potter book is for the Harry Potter reading challenge; I’m re-reading all the books in audio. I am about a quarter of the way through Austenland, and haven’t started The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency yet.
And for any moments I can snatch to read when we’re at the hotel, I’m taking a paperback copy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson.
Because this trip isn’t very long, I really didn’t have as many problems choosing titles as I did the last time.
What did you bring to read on your last road trip or vacation? And did you manage to read as much as you would have liked to?
I haven’t read any Dave Barry in a long time. What’s wrong with me? I hope it’s as fun as the other things he’s written. I also love Bill Bryson. Sounds like you’ll have a great reading trip.
.-= Margot´s last blog ..Update: Julie & Julia – The Movie =-.
I love Dave Barry and Bill Bryson, IIRC those are both hilarious, I hope you enjoy them.
Bon Voyage!
~Amanda
I’m a cautious packer; I always pack far more books than I need. Last time I went away, I brought nine books and ended up reading four! They were Ellen Kushner’s superb Riverside books, (SWORDSPOINT, THE FALL OF THE KINGS and THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD), plus Patricia McKillip’s OD MAGIC.
It sounds like you’ve got some good audio picks on there! Have a fun trip!
.-= Memory´s last blog ..Everything’s just a little better in New York =-.
I love Dave Barry and Bill Bryson, IIRC those are both hilarious, I hope you enjoy them.
Bon Voyage!
~Amanda
I am looking forward to your review of Larsson´s crime story.
.-= Dorte H´s last blog ..S.J. Bolton, Sacrifice (2008) =-.
I’ve become totally addicted to audio books on car trips. I hope you have a grand time!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Apologize, Apologize! =-.
Your audio books sound very entertaining. It’s too bad you couldn’t see the ceremony in Hawaii (and take along a few bloggers for company) but New York should be fun too!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “If You Come Softly,” by Jacqueline Woodson =-.
We listen to Harry Potter on almost every long drive we take but that’s because the kids love him too. As for what I read on my last vacation, I won’t list them all because my vacation lasts for months. LOL! But I read 25 1/2 books while I was gone. Took somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 to choose from though.
.-= Kristen´s last blog ..Review: Lamentations of the Father by Ian Frazier =-.
I’m listening to HP & the Sorcerer’s Stone right now, too – for the HP Challenge. And Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island is one of my all-time favorite audiobooks!
Have a wonderful trip, Belle.
.-= Carrie K.´s last blog ..Author Interview: Elle Newmark, author of The Book of Unholy Mischief =-.
I have Sunburned Country on my MP3 and I just finished listening to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And I have HP on my MP3 for that challenge. I thought the audio of Austenland was fun. I haven’t read the Dave Barry, but he’s usually a hoot. I never finished the first in that McCall Smith series. It just did not grab me in the least.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Awards! Creative Rock ‘n’ Roll =-.
We’re really enjoying the Harry Potter challenge too, though were still on book one. Reading to the kids takes longer than reading on your own. I have a copy of No 1 Ladies Detective Agency that I’d like to get into, but haven’t yet.
Hope your weekend was a lot of fun!
Cheers,
.-= Carrie Anne´s last blog ..They scream for Ice-Cream =-.
I can’t wait to see what you thought of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo! I really liked it, but it was a bit slow at the start- so if you’re feeling that way don’t quit! The ending will make you want to go out and buy the second book! It did me, but I had to wait 6 months!!
Suzanne
.-= Suzanne Levin´s last blog ..Giveaway & Review : Up for Renewal by Cathy Alter =-.
Fabulous trip you have planned! What better way to kick it off than with audio books? Hopefully that will make your trip there and back all the speedier (but in a safe way). Enjoy the time with friends and family
Wow, great trip! Hope you are having a blast! I can’t wait to read what you think of Austenland.
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..How Well Read Are You? =-.
Too late to wish you a good trip, but I hope you had a wonderful time! I look forward to your thoughts on the Bryson book in particular.
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson =-.