Don't fancy chancing it last minute at the airport bookshop or leafing through the array of dog eared, musty smelling paperbacks at the holiday cottage this summer?
Then let these good folk recommend some top reads to pass the time on whichever beach/poolside/country stile you happen to be reclining on this holiday season.
Charlie H recommends: The Road Home by Rose Tremain
'All about this guy from Eastern Europe who escapes tragedy to save money, chase dreams and hit the rawness of the streets of London. It's a real tear jerker. And if you don't cry, then basically, you've got no soul.'
Jo G recommends: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
'Death tells the story all about a little girl growing up in Nazi Germany. It's a poignant tragedy that makes you think about death in a totally different way. An utterly gripping read.'
Dan recommends: What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami
'I loved this book about running. It made me think a bit about why I run, and why we do things in general. The result? I will run a little more.'
Tansy recommends: You can be as young as you think by Tim Drake and Chris Middleton
'I don't usually delve too much into books that make me 'prod myself' - far too scary - but this is a nudging gem. All about taking a youthful outlook on life and making it much more fun in the process. My brain age is apparently nearing middle age (it starts going downhill from 23) so I found it just in time. Hopefully by the end of the summer, I'll be all teenager like again.'
Gav recommends: Christine by Stephen King
'Possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury. Drives itself. Kills people. Doesn't like owner's girlfriend. Only one chapter to go. Hecking loving it.'
If after that final rave review you fancy reading more about maniacal motors, then just guess below which page Gav is currently on and if you're within 22 pages, we'll send you the book once he's finished reading it.
I've read The Book Thief, it's one of my favourite books.
Anne Franks dairy is pretty good too..
Posted by: Emma | July 15, 2009 at 07:56 AM
288
Posted by: robin atter | July 15, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I think he's on page 439.
Posted by: Dave | July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I think that he is on page 547
Posted by: Anita | July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I guess 705...if memory serves, it's a pretty chunky book!
Posted by: Laura | July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Page 488
Posted by: Laura Goldsmith | July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
306
Posted by: Sue Finegan | July 15, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I think he is on page 388
Posted by: Lynsey | July 15, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Wow, I feel like a proper geek. I've read two out of these books! Twoooo!
'The book thief' = amazing.
'What I think about...' = Really good.
Cool!
Page 511
Cath
Posted by: Cath | July 15, 2009 at 02:21 PM
paaage...461 :)
Posted by: Katie Brew | July 15, 2009 at 03:58 PM
I feel a trip to the library coming on...
I think Gav's on page 743
Posted by: Liz Jones | July 15, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Im inspired to read everything now): even if im not going on a holiday, would that ruin the fun of it?
I'm guessing Gav's on page... 655?
Posted by: Lizz | July 15, 2009 at 04:51 PM
page 465 :)
i've read the book thief! it's incredibleee
Posted by: Alexandra | July 15, 2009 at 07:21 PM
429
Posted by: rach | July 15, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Gav is on page 741 I reckon
Posted by: paul padwagga | July 15, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Gav is on page 554
Posted by: Sheila Gibbon | July 15, 2009 at 10:27 PM
I reckon page 372.
Posted by: Naomi B | July 15, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Good books to read on holiday - where do you start? Jean-Dominique Bauby: The Diving-Bell And The Butterfly - writer's body is paralysed in a French hospital, but his mind flies from richly detailed memories to wild imagination to wryly funny descriptions of hospital life. Libby Purves: More Lives Than One - English teacher takes a group of schoolchildren to Venice, in this sad, beautiful, disturbing and inspiring novel. Bill Bryson: The Lost Continent - DO NOT read this travel book to anyone driving a car, as it can cause them to laugh so much they crash. Terry Pratchett: Guards! Guards! - the City Watch are a straggle of incompetents led by a drunk, so how can they go about arresting the huge dragon that's attacking the city? William Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing - very silly, but the sunniest bit of chick-lit ever written. C S Lewis: The Great Divorce - off-beat, thought-provoking novel about a bus-load of people from Hell visiting Heaven. BUT - if you want an appropriate book to read in a leaky tent on Dartmoor, you can't beat Laura Ingalls Wilder's book The Long Winter.
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 15, 2009 at 11:55 PM
I think he's on page 721!
Posted by: Clare | July 16, 2009 at 12:19 AM
Page 453!
Posted by: Elizabeth Makin | July 16, 2009 at 01:29 AM
758!
Posted by: Sarah | July 16, 2009 at 05:44 AM
If Gav thinks Stephen King is good, he should try Stephen Laws. Best horror writer I ever read. How about page 666?
Posted by: Robin | July 16, 2009 at 07:55 AM
312
Posted by: Jess | July 16, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Paaaage 488?
Posted by: Darren May | July 16, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Page 747?
Posted by: Sharoony | July 16, 2009 at 09:54 AM
784 is my guess.
Great read: The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon (I have probably spelt his name wrong!! Sorry)
And
The Lovely Bones - Alice Seabold
These are just a couple that popped into my head.
Have a nice day y'all!
Posted by: Em | July 16, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Page 730?
Posted by: Holly | July 16, 2009 at 10:49 AM
328
Posted by: abi | July 16, 2009 at 10:59 AM
he must be finished by now! Loved Christine! But Stephen King's new stuff really isn't as good. Tell him to try Pet Semetary {sic}
that's ace.
Posted by: micho | July 16, 2009 at 11:38 AM
oooh, i'll have a bash at page 703, i hope i'm a mile out - if it's a page either way i'll kick myself - ouch!
Posted by: colette | July 16, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I think he is on page 547
Posted by: Julie Dabasiya | July 16, 2009 at 12:02 PM
i think page 440
Posted by: anna | July 16, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Page 298 ????
Posted by: Anne Yarr | July 16, 2009 at 04:51 PM
324? :D
Posted by: Nina Martin | July 16, 2009 at 05:39 PM
654
Posted by: Emma | July 16, 2009 at 09:25 PM
I think Gav's on page 701
Posted by: Karen | July 16, 2009 at 09:54 PM
i think he's on page 428
Posted by: odette | July 19, 2009 at 09:13 PM
527
Posted by: maria rice | July 20, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Could be 621?? I also read the Book Thief, realllyy good. I cried. Boyh beacuse is said and I didn't want the book to end. hehehehe
Posted by: Natália | July 21, 2009 at 06:46 PM
He's on page 621
Posted by: Harlan | July 23, 2009 at 11:08 AM
If he's got the same copy as my ex then it's 459!
Posted by: KT | July 24, 2009 at 10:43 PM
479
Posted by: Matt | July 27, 2009 at 09:27 AM