For what I'm going to read while on vacation, I usually pick books that are set in the place I'm visiting or something from my TBR that I've been waiting for 'just the right time' to read.
However, I do have a firm 'rule' for the journey home, when I'm tired and perhaps a little sad that our holiday is over. For that, I almost always reach for a mystery novel by Dick Francis. They are the comfort food of British mysteries for me. They protagonist is always a Good Man, the mysteries are interesting but not too twisty, and the setting is usually the English countryside. Perfect escapism!
I usually over-pack for vacation (both books and underwear) because I assume I'm going to be a far more productive reader than I actually am. Generally, I pack one classic and/or challenging book that I haven't read (e.g., anything by Pynchon or Joyce) and one "fun" book (e.g. Devil in the White City, or a smaller fantasy novel like one of The Witcher books).
I also like to double-up and listen to the audiobook while I'm reading, because I find that reading along helps keep me from distraction. My reading speed is usually 1.9x to 2.2x depending on the narrator, but I'll generally read along at 1.75x because faster is borderline unlistenable and the slower reading speed makes me focus in.
Two post-apocalypse books that should be on your list are Nick Cole's "The Savage Boy" and "The Old Man and the Wasteland." the latter is a retelling of Hemingway's classic and the former is a rather touching coming of age story. Don't let the Hemingway reference throw you as it only follows the plot. While I have always enjoyed OMTS I know people like my wife can't stand it.
Skip the Lincoln Highway.
For what I'm going to read while on vacation, I usually pick books that are set in the place I'm visiting or something from my TBR that I've been waiting for 'just the right time' to read.
However, I do have a firm 'rule' for the journey home, when I'm tired and perhaps a little sad that our holiday is over. For that, I almost always reach for a mystery novel by Dick Francis. They are the comfort food of British mysteries for me. They protagonist is always a Good Man, the mysteries are interesting but not too twisty, and the setting is usually the English countryside. Perfect escapism!
I usually over-pack for vacation (both books and underwear) because I assume I'm going to be a far more productive reader than I actually am. Generally, I pack one classic and/or challenging book that I haven't read (e.g., anything by Pynchon or Joyce) and one "fun" book (e.g. Devil in the White City, or a smaller fantasy novel like one of The Witcher books).
I also like to double-up and listen to the audiobook while I'm reading, because I find that reading along helps keep me from distraction. My reading speed is usually 1.9x to 2.2x depending on the narrator, but I'll generally read along at 1.75x because faster is borderline unlistenable and the slower reading speed makes me focus in.
Anything Fredrik Backman seems to be a guaranteed enjoyment, is "Us Against You" a new one? I loved "Giver of Stars" and "The Lincoln Highway".
"Red Notice" by Bill Browder is a great one too to finish in a week.
Two post-apocalypse books that should be on your list are Nick Cole's "The Savage Boy" and "The Old Man and the Wasteland." the latter is a retelling of Hemingway's classic and the former is a rather touching coming of age story. Don't let the Hemingway reference throw you as it only follows the plot. While I have always enjoyed OMTS I know people like my wife can't stand it.