Books I’m Taking With Me on Vacation in Southeast Asia
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
As I jet off to Indonesia and other places in Southeast Asia this summer, I look forward to many hours spent relaxing on the beach with a fruity drink and a stack of books!
I plan to bring my Kindle for lighter packing and two physical books for the beach, so my Kindle does not overheat in the hot sun. I cannot wait to dive into these books and see how many of them I can finish before the end of my trip!
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
I read Ishiguro’s book Never Let Me Go back in January and felt intrigued and mystified by it. The book explored the psychology behind students primed for organ donations, and the outcome both horrified me and made me want to read more books written by this incredible author.
So, I purchased Ishiguro’s other famous novel, The Remains of the Day and intend on reading it the second I step foot onto the first plane. The story follows a butler from Oxford, England, and his experiences serving a wealthy family there over the years. I cannot wait to decipher Ishiguro’s commentary on social status in this novel.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
I love any story about the afterlife, and I am excited to read about Mitch Albom and the five people he meets in Heaven who impacted his life on Earth. I reading a story with a deep meaning and a nostalgic feel, and this novel will satisfy my quench for these feelings.
This 2003 story has four stars on Goodreads, with over 100,000 reviews, so I want to love it as much as the other readers did when they first read it.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I should have read Lord of the Flies in grade school. However, my school did not require it, so I heard of it but never actually read it. However, the other day, someone explained its plot to me: boys crash on an island and develop a new society that goes wrong. It sounds like a fascinating concept, and I can’t wait to dive into its pages soon.
The Dead Poet’s Society by Nancy H. Kleinbaum
I watched The Dead Poet’s Society movie in high school and felt captivated by Robin Williams’ depiction of Mr. Keating. I watched the movie a long time ago, and I don’t remember how it ended. So, now seems like a great time to read it.
The book centers on students at an all-boys school and their teacher, who has a profound impact on their otherwise mundane education. The boys re-found an old writing club, the Dead Poet’s Society, and share their innermost thoughts. I am eager to read the book and revisit this world.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
While I love a novel that makes me think hard, I also love a light beach read, or in other words, a romance novel, as well on vacation. Just for the Summer keeps coming up in my recommended Kindle books app, and its pretty cover and summery title have enticed me to read it.
The premise seems interesting; one boy thinks he is cursed because everyone goes on to find their soulmate after dating him. Then, a girl named Emma decides she has to date him while traveling through Minnesota, and they end up in a whirlwind romance where they navigate the ups and downs of family life together.
The book sounds overall like a sweet story, and I’m excited to cozy up with these characters on the plane!
Dear Dolly by Dolly Alderton
I read Alderton’s memoir Everything I Know About Love and fell in love with her sense of humor and ability to storytell. Alderton wrote her story of searching for meaning in her twenties with poise and a keen eye to what people might have thought about her at the time.
Knowing how much I loved her first novel, I had to read another one written by her! Dear Dolly takes a question-and-answer approach where Alderton answers questions with honest answers and advice from her readers.
I need to know more about what Alderton thinks about the world. I look forward to doing that by reading her new publication.
Bonus: What Do I Plan to Watch on the Plane?
Even book lovers still watch movies on the plane. So, to give an honest and basic answer, I will watch Crazy Rich Asians (I am going to Singapore, of course) and Mama Mia.
I love both of these movies, and they’re very fun to watch on long plane rides because they have a light feel, and everyone wears fun outfits in them. It’s as simple as that. I will also watch a few Friends episodes while I’m on the plane. I can’t make it through a six-hour flight without Rachel and Monica!
