When it comes to choosing a holiday book, the possibilities are endless. Some like to read huge, hefty historic novels, others prefer fluffy love stories, thrillers, or even autobiographies. The opportunity to really get stuck into a book is one of the great pleasure’s of a holiday; guilt-free, uninterrupted and with only the lure of the ocean or sundowner cocktails to tear you away.
Making the correct choice, therefore, is vital, or you’re stuck with woeful reserve options for your holiday reading. We’ve all been there; having to resort to Frankie Dettori’s autobiography, scavenged from the hotel’s ‘library’, or looking up swearwords in a Spanish Dictionary we found on the villa’s bookshelf.
THINK ABOUT ITS SIZE AND LENGTH
Traditionally, holidays are the time when we’d probably read more than any other time period; because we’re usually relaxing, spending time at the beach, and able to devote several hours to getting lost in a good book.
That said, research by ebookers.com found that only 38% of us actually managed to finish at least one whole book on our last holiday, and over a quarter took a book in the hopes of reading it but never managed to open it (25.5%). We love the feeling of satisfaction after finishing a book on holiday, so it’s important to take one of a manageable length. Once back in England and busy with work, you might not find the time to finish it. Of equal importance, a bigger book takes up a lot of room in your suitcase, so be wary of hardbacks or a 1000 page tome.
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LOOK BEYOND THE NOVEL
Holiday book fiction isn’t the law. Consider a factual book, whether that’s something historical or one which will give you real-life inspiration. Although it may not seem so relaxing and in tune with the holiday ambiance, it can be more fulfilling and lead to a greater sense of satisfaction. We’re not encouraging starting the study of rocket science 101, but the learning of a new skill set needn’t be confined to nightschool classes back in Blighty.
USE AN APP
If you’re really stuck and don’t know what kind of book you’d enjoy, online travel company ebookers.com has come to the rescue; they’ve created a holiday book generator where you can either browse by destination, and it will suggest something appropriate to, or linked with, the area.
You can also take a quiz, and it will recommend a book based on the type of holiday you enjoy and what kind of person you are. This book generator is ideal for people who are stumped by what kind of novel they would enjoy while they’re away. They do all the hard work for you – all you need to do is buy it, then chill out by the pool or the beach and escape into your imagination!
CONSIDER A KINDLE
As we’ve mentioned already, stacks of holiday reading can take up valuable luggage-based real estate. Purchasing a kindle can greatly reduce the load, as it’s the fraction of the size of most novels, and can hold endless e-books. Whilst it takes away some of the magic of holding the hard copy, the convenience and cost-reduction makes it a very worthwhile investment indeed.
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THEY’RE CALLED CLASSICS FOR A REASON
Perhaps in order to try and show we keep up with trends, or want to appear much more intelligent than we are, most of us lie about reading a particular book, especially the classics. However these classics, available in any airport, are deemed such for a reason – they’re really bloody good!
Rather than reading the new, fashionable thriller from the Kazakhstani journalist turned informant for the Japanese secret service, consider a tried and tested bestseller. You can now impress with your guilt-free cultural capital at the next dinner party you’re invited to. And stop pretending you’ve read them all, no one has.
