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| Back home in my garden |
While we were on the ship in the Mediterranean in July, I didn’t have time or energy to read. We were busy seeing ancient ruins, modern villages, beautiful island scenery, and just watching the water. Long plane trips are a good time to read, though on the two 9-hour trips between Boston and Athens, I mainly slept — one book each way including airport time!
Since we returned, I have read a few books — especially my chosen follow-up to the trip, which was to read Homer’s Odyssey. Here are the books I’ve read recently.
Airplane Reading
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| Gary Shteyngart’s latest book, Vera, or Faith is different from his earlier books. Vera is a ten-year-old girl with some symptoms of Asberger’s like flapping her hands, and being very very intelligent, perceptive, and socially uncomfortable. But there’s no medical theme, you have to diagnose her as you read. She’s a person. Good book! |
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| During the trip I read two detective novels by Anthony Horowitz. I’ve enjoyed the Susan Ryland dramatizations, as well as the third, newest one in the series. I also liked one with another detective at the center. I suspect I’ll read more. |
After the Voyage
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| Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s horror novels are (oddly) relatable. I think I like the others better than The Bewitching: it’s too conventionally a horror tale, with evil monsters and a naive smart girl to defeat them. It was just published. |
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| When we came back, I wanted to read a book about traveling around the Mediterranean. Odysseus was in a slightly different area, on the other side of Greece, but nevertheless I found many of Homer’s descriptions very easy to picture, based on experience. Notice that I read my old, dog-eared version of this ancient classic. |
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| Detective Tom Janssen is entirely new to me. I enjoyed One Lost Soul by J.M.Dalgliesh. It even has some pretty good food scenes. |
Before the Voyage
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| Autocorrect: Stories by Etgar Keret is an interesting book by the Israeli author. I read it and a couple others before we left, and I reviewed it July 9. |
Blog post © 2025 mae sander
10 comments:
I have always found it hard to focus on books on airplanes. I don't know why since I can read just about anywhere. Have a great week!
I was trying to decide if I wanted to read Vera, or Faith so I am glad to hear you liked it.
Very interesting reading. Enjoy the books.
I am able to read on an aeroplane and enjoy doing so. Nothing bugs me more than being seated next to someone who is determined to strike up a conversation. Just leave me alone, please!
Hello Mae,
I tend to read on the long flights. I see a few books I have finished, The Marble Hall Murders and One Lost Soul. Thanks for sharing your reviews and books. Take care, have a wonderful week!
I really want to read the Odyssey, and I'm glad you shared it. I liked One Lost Soul and I just picked up the newest Horowitz book. I liked the other 2 a lot also. The Bewitching sounds pretty good too. It sounds like a good book for Halloween. :) Thanks for sharing Mae. hugs-Erika
I try to choose two books to read on the plane, each short enough to read to conclusion during the trip up or back home. I vividly remember reading The Odyssey in college---all those wonderful stories that reveal so much about human nature and the nature of the universe. I would love to read it again. I've been curious about Vera, or Faith. Good to see you liked it!
I love Horowitz's books but haven't been able to find Marble Hall in paper (I'm saving those). I liked that series and also really love the Horotitz Hawthorne books. I try to pick plane books I can leave behind en route and (if possible) one I've bought on the travels for the trip home. These look like some good ones. (Marble Hall will be on PBS soon.)
A nice eclectic list! I may try that Dalgleish one.
I'm glad you liked the Gary Shteyngart novel. I might add it to my TBR since you enjoyed it. I enjoy book reading on plane flights - it seems to be immersive. thx for your recap of books.
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