I’m rarely without a book at hand. I always have a CD in the car, CD player also in my studio. Libby on my laptop. Libby on my phone. STACKS of books in my bedroom (library books in one place, my unread titles in another). Even when traveling, books come with me; my packing list on the computer has books as a box to tick.
Even though I didn’t think I’d have any time for reading on this trip, I brought books. No books on CD in the car with YA but I had my laptop with Libby, had my phone. STILL brought books with me. I did make a conscious effort to bring things on the lighter side…
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- The Mysterious Affair at Styles (CD) by Agatha Christie. I’ve read this before but all my BritBox the past two months stirred up a desire to read a few of her early works again. I’m actually almost done with this. Maybe I can do an errand by myself today to finish it up!
- Serial Killer Support Group (Book) by Saratoga Schaefer. I haven’t started this yet but it’s called a “dark, witty debut” about a young woman trying to solve the mystery of her younger sister’s murder. Hopefully the “witty” is true.
- Family of Spies (Libby) by Christine Kuehn. This is non-fiction; written by the author when she discovered her dark family roots. I’m about half way through this one; although it’s not a feel-good subject (spies during WWII), it’s written pretty much as a straight-forward history. I think the author was putting some emotional distance between herself and the story.
- Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (Book) by Leslie Thomas. I also haven’t started this one yet but I have seen the first three episode of the TV series thanks to BritBox. The TV series was a little on the lighter side so I suppose the book could swing either way.
- A History of the World in 12 Shipwrecks (Book) by David Gibbins. This is the last of the “listicles” books that I picked up for Blevins Book Club. I was trying to cram it in two weeks ago and then the snowstorm happened, so I haven’t picked it up since. I’m about 1/3 of the way through. It’s not nearly as good as I was hoping. Writing is a bit dry and I was hoping for much more interesting photographs.
Of course, the chances I’ll finish any of these (well, maybe the Christie) is pretty slim, but where reading is concerned, hope springs eternal. A bit like the cat and the grocery bag from Duck’s Breath Mystery Theater!
What do you like to read when you’re traveling?
Trail Baboon 
Next week (starting the 6th) I’ll be on the train from Chicago to Los Angeles. I’ve stopped carrying books in such situations. My local library will loan me a pre-loaded Kindle. I choose from what is on there. I did this on a similar trip to California in 2025, and for a Denver round trip at Christmas. It’s lightweight, and introduced me to stuff I wouldn’t otherwise pick up. A delightful project of serendipity.
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I don’t have travel in my foreseeable future, but audio books have become how I “travel” these days.
I recently got a message that Louise Penny I’ve had on hold for over two years was suddenly available on a special deal where I could have for only 6 days. Otherwise, I would have to keep waiting. Good grief! So I figured I’d go for it, as I have a machine knitting project that needs my concentration, and audiobooks are great for that.
Got it done and have now moved on to the next in the series, which I got within days of requesting it, 🤷.
Hoping this trend continues for a bit as having a “work” series really helps me stay on task.
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i always have a stash of books on libby and the flavor varies. recent ones are dashall hammet, bill bryson, ann patchett setg godin raymond chandler. mel robbins on self help stuff, amy tans bird book and paul simons biography by malcomb gladwell has been on replay for six or seven months some art stuff and some oddball stuff on hold that ill try when it shows up. i have stacks of stuff next to my bed but hard copies are not finding their way into my eyeballs these days.
i saw a blip somewhere recently that suggested the daydream portion of the day has become mia and left peoples brains in click and scroll mode instead. it suggested starting each day with 1 hour of silence (im gonna try to try but man thats hard…) and the meditation and goal setting i try is a quick scramble at inner peace that often makes me wonder what if….
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I believe them (about the 1 hour of silence first thing), but boy, that would be hard to do before checking emails.
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I don’t think there is a percentage in being ridged in the “first thing in the morning” part, but taking a designated hour is something I might give a try.
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i go through chunks of time when audio books dont take. my brain wont let them in. i hit the go button and 5 minutes later i register that my mental to do list has grabbed hold of me and sucked all my attention into a mental landscape that has successfully put the books that are playing off into the void playing for the aliens 9 million light years away that are tuned in on picking up radio waves and learning about earthlings from distant galaxies. i bet i confuse them and will have a hard time explaining when they beam me up.
then again maybe daydream mode can get you into some addictive holes too.
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I think I would take something by Elinor Lipman (who I just discovered from a write-up in The Week magazine). And maybe the next one in the Kat Holloway series by Jennifer Ashley. And I’d bring a current issue of The Week, lightweight and dense (no ads), good for a few hours’ reading (but depressing).
And it would have to be a real book – I have yet to try reading via Kindle or Libby… my eyes get tired with screen time, and there’s already too much.
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order blue blocker glasses on zenni online and if you just need them for reading not bifocal lens they are cheap. prescription lens and frame with blue blocker about $40
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