An open suitcase rests on the bed. For some, it’s packed for business; for others, pure pleasure. The savvy traveler knows the drill: mix and match, wash and wear, neutral colors, comfy shoes, and—never forget—the compression socks. The absolute necessities go in the carry-on.
Then comes the moment that makes every reader’s head spin: What books do I bring?
Standing before your bookshelf is a moment of truth. Do you choose according to the reader you wish you were (aspirational lit)? Or do you cast delusion aside and embrace companion lit— those delicious paperback morsels that glue you to a chair while your “serious” reading list snivels in the corner?
We idealize vacations, hoping our better, more intellectual selves will magically emerge. But what makes us believe that, suddenly, we’ll tackle Infinite Jest—all 1,000-plus, footnote-heavy pages? Can you honestly picture yourself wrestling that beast while dozing at the seashore? Or maybe you go the nonfiction route, aiming for the stars with A Brief History of Time. Consider the sheer irony of hauling Stephen Hawking’s tome just to sit through a not-so-brief flight delay.
Speaking of Hawking, mathematician Jordan Ellenberg created a delightful mock analysis called the “Hawking Index.” Using Kindle data, Ellenberg calculated exactly when readers abandon a book. The time spent with A Brief History is, well, brief. On average, readers tap out around page 20. So much for mastering the space-time continuum over your third glass of wine.
Vacation reading shouldn’t be a remedial course in intellectual development. It’s playtime. Just as seasoned travelers know how to capsule-wardrobe their suitcases, veteran readers know exactly what belongs in the canvas tote.
By the way, Trader Joe’s and the New Yorker aren’t the only ones who have snazzy totes. The Friends of Pack Library sell a rugged canvas tote perfect for hauling books, snacks, and sunscreen. Price: $14. Available at the Pack Library circulation desk.
Literary packing is about maximizing joy. Anything profound and urgent can wait until you’re back at your desk. Weight matters: go paperback. If you can’t hold a cocktail and the book simultaneously, it’s the wrong book for the job. You want narrative, narrative, narrative. The perfect vacation book anchors you through rainy days inside, kids screaming “watch this!” and the sunburn you swore wouldn’t happen. That doesn’t mean reading trash—though hey, no judgment—it means packing books that rejuvenate your inner reader. After all, the best vacations are measured not in miles, but in pages.
I know just the place to stock up: Bookends, the Friends of Pack Library used bookstore. The books are absolute bargains, and the shelves are packed with treasures for every taste— mysteries, thrillers, romances, historical fiction, and sci-fi, as well as nonfiction for the unimaginative (kidding). While you’re there, grab a few books and DVDs to keep the kids occupied. Every sale supports library programs and purchases the county doesn’t cover.
Pack light, read languorously, happy travels.
Friends of Pack Library 