How to Choose a Book for a Long Plane Ride
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, a good book shortens the miles and hours. There are so many options that it can be overwhelming to browse through a large bookstore or library. Searching online is just as daunting without a solid starting point. There are some simple guidelines and helpful resources to help anyone choose the right book for a long plane ride.
Instructions
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1
Make a list of the titles and authors of five favorite books.
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2
Make a list of favorite kinds of books. For example: mystery, chick lit, science fiction, historical fiction, literary classics
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3
Get some suggestions from the Gnook website. Go to that page and click on "Gnod's Suggestions." Type in the names of three favorite authors and click on "Continue." One at a time, Gnod will suggest about 10 authors. To get to the next author, select "I like It!", "I don't like It!" or "I don't know it" from the options underneath the name. Write down the names of authors that are unfamiliar. It is easy to get more suggestions. Just start over again and enter the names of three different authors.
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4
Go to Amazon's website and search using names of favorite authors and the list of Gnod’s suggestions. Click on interesting titles and read editor and reader reviews. Write down the titles of books that stand out with fascinating plots or curious topics.
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Make a short list of the most interesting titles.
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Check those titles on Amazon to see if any excerpts of those books are available to read at the site. Another way to read a chapter or an excerpt is to go to a local library or bookstore. Find the books and browse a chapter or two there. Of course at the library there is the option to check them out and flip through them at home.
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Choose the most interesting and readable book from the short list and get it from the library or a bookstore.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the list of favorite kinds of books (step 2) as another guide while narrowing down the list of possible books.
Collections of short stories or non-fiction books with chapters that stand alone (like a collection of sports anecdotes) are ideal for reading while traveling. They are easy to pick up and put down when there are interruptions.
Ask friends or family for recommendations. Carefully choose people who have a passion for reading.
Librarian Nancy Pearl has written "Book Lust," a collection of reading lists for any interest, mood, or occasion. She also has a website with a search feature for recommendations.
Library Thing is an online social book cataloging site. Members also write reviews and add their recommendations for further reading. This is another resource to search favorite titles and authors and find suggestions. There is no need to sign up just to search. It is, however, a great way to organize and share a personal library and reading wishlist.
Gnod's suggestion engine is so much fun that it can get slightly addicting. Try not to get stuck on this step. It will take too long to investigate all the authors.
Library Thing is very addicting.
Friends or family may be willing to lend one of their precious favorite books for the trip. Be careful not to abuse this privilege. Return the book promptly and in good condition. Yes, this is an obvious point. Unfortunately, with all the hectic details and demands of daily life it is easily forgotten or neglected.
Resources
- Photo Credit Cheryl Hedlund
