25 books to read on a plane on your vacation

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Popular science essays, fascinating autobiographies, books that originated on the pages of social networks and short novels will help while away the time in flight.

1. "Brown Morning" by Frank Pavloff

The French writer and poet Pavloff wrote a short story, which he presented at an anti-fascist fair in 1997. She found a response from readers and even after 20 years it remains relevant and in demand.

Two friends watch as absurd laws are passed in their town day after day and inconceivable prohibitions begin to apply, for example, on pets of a certain color. Residents are aware of the delusional situation, but are silent in order to avoid unnecessary problems, and thereby exacerbate the situation.

2. “Women and Power. Manifesto, Mary Beard

In her essay, Cambridge professor and antiquity scholar Mary Beard dismisses the widespread assumption that feminism and gender inequality is a fashionable trend that arose only recently. She dug back into Antiquity and found out that the tradition of excluding women when it comes to political and social issues is deeply rooted in Western culture. Beard discusses what this state of affairs is fraught with in the future, why this is a problem and what to do to change the current situation.

3. "Seagull Jonathan Livingston", Richard Bach

A distant descendant of the great composer Bach all his life dreamed of the sky, so he became a pilot, and then began to write about flights. The hero of his story is a simple seagull named Jonathan, who decided to push the usual boundaries, abandon the lifestyle imposed by the flock and older brothers and fly their own way. The other seagulls did not understand and did not support Jonathan.

With his rejection of the established way of life in the pack, Jonathan Livingston inspires him to seek his own path and meaning, and not just live one day after another. Bach presented the life of people as a flight of seagulls: someone circles along their usual routes, and someone seeks more and aspires higher.

4. "Seven Etudes in Physics", Carlo Rovelli

The popular science work of the Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli has been translated into forty languages, sold around the world in the amount of over a million copies, and finally appeared in Russian. It is intended for those who find science incomprehensible and difficult. "Seven Etudes in Physics" prove that this is not the case.

The book is divided into seven thematic lessons that tell how the universe began and what an incredible leap forward physics has made over the past hundred years.

5. "House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros

The main theme of the writer's work is Hispanics living in the United States. Cisneros was born in Chicago to Mexican parents and often wondered who she really was. In House on Mango Street, the author continues his discussion of immigrants, their plight and their amazing ability to stay happy, even when life seems unbearably hard.

6. "Night", Elie Wiesel

Having survived two terrible camps, Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and lost his family to the Nazis, Elie Wiesel threw out all his rage and despair in his autobiography "And the world was silent", written in Yiddish.

Night is an abridged version of the book, which was first published in French. It was this version that brought the writer worldwide fame and was translated into 30 languages, including Russian. The reader learns firsthand about the horrors of war and that it is impossible to remain silent about the past. As well as forgetting about him.

7. "We Live in a Castle" by Shirley Jackson

The most famous novel by American writer Shirley Jackson "The Ghost of the Hill House" became a horror classic, laid the foundation for a popular plot about murderous houses and was filmed several times.

We Live in a Castle continues to exploit this theme, only now in the genre of a psychological thriller. There is no mysticism and otherworldly forces in the book, it shows the other side of horror - human anger, bile and meanness that surrounds us every day.

8. "On the Rise" by Stephen King

One of the newest works of the great master of horror tells the story of a simple middle-aged American who faced a difficult problem. Whatever he does, he consistently loses weight day after day, although this does not affect his appearance in any way. In addition, he is annoyed by new neighbors. He is not sick with any terrible disease, but it still becomes easier. If the business continues in the same spirit, soon nothing will be left of it.

The action takes place in the fictional city of Castle Rock, which is also mentioned in the novels The Dead Zone, Gerald's Game, Pet Sematary and many others.

9. "Live" by Yu Hua

The novel "To Live" was banned in his native China. Yu Hua's youth came during the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976. The events of that period were reflected in his work, which did not like the authorities.

The hero of the novel is a peasant who honestly talks about his past, thereby showing how ordinary people lived in the PRC in the second half of the last century. Realism intertwines with Chinese philosophy and humor, making the book truly lively and honest.

10. Three Novels by Fredrik Buckman

The author, who became popular all over the world thanks to his touching and life-affirming stories, has released a small collection of three short stories. They will not come as a surprise to those who love Buckman's easy style and sense of humor: the writer remained true to himself and continued to tell good and bright fairy tales to adult readers.

11. Sad Facts About Animals by Brooke Barker

As a child, Brooke Barker loved animals, but her parents were not allowed to keep them in the house. Therefore, she read a lot about them, and then began to draw animals and birds, supplying the pictures with interesting facts that had accumulated in her head. At first, only her acquaintances enjoyed this combination of fun and informative, but then Barker published a book.

Each page contains an author's drawing that accompanies an unexpected fact. For example, did you know that a female ferret can die if she doesn't find a mate in time?

12. Anticipation of the End by Julian Barnes

The novel, which won the Booker Prize, rewinds time and immerses the protagonist in memories. Already an adult man, against his will, faces the mistakes of the past and analyzes them from the height of the past years. Barnes wrote about life, death, the importance of the moment and that each of us does not have much time, so every minute counts.

13. "Mother of Darkness" by Kurt Vonnegut

Even before "Cat's Cradle" and "Slaughterhouse Five," Vonnegut, a master of words and a fan of confusing the reader, published the story of an American spy who worked in the propaganda department in Nazi Germany. The war was over, he returned home, but faced two important problems. First, there is no way to prove that he was precisely a spy and not a convinced Nazi. Secondly, he fulfilled his role as a propagandist too well, and now he is tormented by his conscience.

14. Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

The contribution of the British writer to contemporary prose and the development of women's literature can hardly be overestimated. Although Virginia herself did not understand how important her work became to history, time has put everything in its place. Wolfe is deservedly considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

The composition of the writer's prose is more like poetry. Novels full of emotions and often without a clear plot were then considered experimental, now - classic. "Mrs. Dalloway" is about a middle-aged woman preparing to receive guests. While she is engaged in business, thoughts are circling in her head as a flock of aspen, and each one begins with the words "what if …". The heroine goes through the moments of the past and talks about the future. Wolfe suggested looking behind the mask of the calm mistress of the house and observing the storm that was happening in her soul and mind.

15. "What Do I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami

This is not a fiction novel, but essays by a Japanese writer. He admits that when he talks about running, he is talking about himself. This book is a unique opportunity for fans to look into the most hidden recesses of Murakami's soul. Those who are waiting for advice on a correct and healthy lifestyle will not find them here. And those who are interested in the author's thoughts about life, creativity and the search for oneself, the book will not disappoint.

16. "Fuck, Father Said," Justin Halpern

When Justin was almost 30 years old, he had to move back to his parents. In his personal life, everything was not sweet: he broke up with his girlfriend. But instead of being discouraged, Halpern opened a Twitter account and began to post there the wisdom of life, which his father gushes with. For example, in his opinion, you urgently need to run away if a stranger suddenly began to say pleasant words, you should not be upset if something does not work out the first time, and original gifts are not always the best option.

Easy style and biting humor with captivating straightforwardness made Justin's father first an Internet star, and then brought his son a contract with a publishing house and worldwide popularity.

17. "The Reader", Bernhard Schlink

One of the most popular German novels is a tangled tangle of mysteries and complex moral dilemmas. Schlick writes difficult about the complex, without trying to divide the world into black and white. His heroes, like living people, are multifaceted. Sometimes they follow the call of their hearts, sometimes they act according to their inner ethics, and sometimes they do stupid things. There are no clear answers and unambiguous situations in the novel. That is why he is so loved all over the world.

18. "Adorable suicide with friends", Arto Paasilinna

A truly black comedy about a group of strangers who decided to go to the next world together. The retired military man gathers the "Suicide Club", rejecting the opinion that death is an intimate and personal matter. The impromptu circle makes its last trip to Europe by bus before saying goodbye to the world. Finnish writer Arto Paasilinu approached the topic of death with humor, trying to prove that there is no time to die, because there are so many things around.

19. "Oskomina", Nora Efron

In Russia, Nora Efron is known more as a screenwriter and director of romantic comedies. From under her pen came the scripts "When Harry Met Sally", which made Meg Ryan famous, "Michael" with John Travolta as a sloven angel and "Sleepless in Seattle" with America's favorite Tom Hanks. But Efron began by writing novels.

Oskomina is an almost autobiographical story in which the writer put her personal feelings about the second divorce. The main character, being pregnant, learns about her husband's infidelity. In addition, she attends group therapy in an attempt to get rid of the neurosis. While she is giving birth, the husband buys expensive gifts for his mistress. Nora talks about the unpleasant twists of fate as if it were a funny anecdote.

20. "Dr. Sachs" by Jack Kerouac

One of the most important American writers of the last century, Jack Kerouac, is loved by readers and underestimated by critics. His work is compared to jazz - spontaneous, full of improvisation and non-standard moves. In Doctor Sachs, Kerouac mixed childhood memories, biblical motives of the struggle between good and evil, and Goethe's Faust. The result was a novel that the writer himself called his beloved.

21. "Plumber with fervor and fervor", Slava Se

The famous blogger of the times of LiveJournal Vyacheslav Soldatenko, or Slava Se, really worked as a plumber, and wrote down stories from life in his live journal. He was noticed by the publishing house "AST" and offered to publish the book "The Plumber, His Cat, Wife and Other Details." The author was skeptical about the idea, but only up to the first three thousand copies sold. Since then, he has written seven books. This one - about the adventures of a philosopher-plumber who looks into the depths of human souls and without whom the world will definitely collapse - is the freshest.

22. Vinegar Girl by Ann Tyler

The main character endures a lot of things in her life. A scientist father demands as much attention as an unreasonable child. The younger sister grew up spoiled and vulnerable because their mother died shortly after her birth. At work in kindergarten, the heroine is not appreciated by the bosses, although the children do not like her soul. But she steadfastly endures until her father insists on a fictitious marriage with his colleague so that he can legally stay in the country.

Tyler's book is about sacrifice and power, the only chance you can grab if you start taking care of yourself and not everyone around you.

23. "Awakening" by Kate Chopin

In the early part of the last century, with the birth of the women's rights movement, Kate Chopin became an influential author in her native States. During the life of the writer, "Awakening" was not prohibited, but subjected to serious censorship. Chopin's works became popular only after her death.

In its boldness, the novel can compete with "Anna Karenina", because here we are also talking about a love triangle, in which a woman, her husband and a young lover find themselves. In the 19th century, the story of a married woman who falls in love with a young man was shocking. “Awakening” raises topics that are still relevant today: the distribution of gender roles, the search for oneself and the rejection of the courageous and dissimilar people by society.

24. The Fault in the Stars by John Green

John Green debunks the myth that writers are reclusive. He willingly communicates with fans through his YouTube channel and shares his plans. It was there that he announced the forthcoming novel "The Fault in the Stars".

A girl and a boy with cancer attend the same support group. Soon they have a common goal - to get the writer from Amsterdam to finish the unfinished book. Despite a serious illness, they find the strength to pursue this dream. Green has an incredibly touching novel about teenagers, love and death.

25. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

The debut novel by American writer Jesse Andrews tells the story of a teenager's life in the first person. The main character tries with all his might not to stand out from the crowd and not to attract attention: he could hold out like this until graduation, and then real life will begin. In secret from everyone, he shoots an amateur movie. In his plans to remain invisible, Earl's friend, who is not like people, interferes, as well as Rachel's terminally ill childhood friend. The book is both funny and sad, full of hope and adolescent despair, original and with familiar motives.