Indecisive wife is indecisive

ultraexactzz

Gentlemen, ladies - I need help.

My wife is going on a trip this weekend, and will have about 16 hours on airplanes while travelling. The sad bit is that she has no books to read. So, because she dared me to, I'm coming to the Forum for advice.

She wants to read fiction - Nothing dark or depressing, but nothing too fluffy and girly (ala Sex in the City). She likes Janet Evanovich and Christopher Moore and the like, and - much to my chagrin - does not read science fiction.

Any good books out there?

Robos A Go Go

Wiki says Christopher Moore developed his love of the absurd by reading Kurt Vonnegut, so how about some Vonnegut?

BlochWave

I googled the authors: Mysteries and absurdist fiction?

P.D. James writes the best murder mysteries

Kurt Vonnegut would be kinda dark, I think. That would depend on her tastes

ihmmy

check out Charles de Lint, he has some pretty spiffy short story collections (all set in the same city and most of the characters know each other), you should be able to find some used ones around there too. I seem to recall enjoying Memory & Dream quite a bit

she may not read sci fi, but how does she feel about fantasy?

jeddy lee

No Science Fiction OR fantasy?

Catcher in the Rye too deppressing? How about Siddhartha? or Fight Club?

I'm kind of failing the demographic... Uhhh... hmmmm... my wife likes... I don't know, she reads Alan Moore comic books, so that's no good.

VisionOfClarity

Stuff White People Like is a great time filler. Would she be into anything by Nick Hornby? It's good but light reading. Speaking with the Angel features one of his short stories and it's a great anthology.

Robos A Go Go

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, along with its sequel, is some good absurdist/pseudo-detective fiction.

TychoCelchuuu

All The King's Men, The Sun Also Rises, Absurdistan, A Confederacy of Dunces, Love in the Time of Cholera, Everything is Illuminated (last one might be a bit depressing for some people).

JebusUD

ultraexactzz wrote: »

Gentlemen, ladies - I need help.

My wife is going on a trip this weekend, and will have about 16 hours on airplanes while travelling. The sad bit is that she has no books to read. So, because she dared me to, I'm coming to the Forum for advice.

She wants to read fiction - Nothing dark or depressing, but nothing too fluffy and girly (ala Sex in the City). She likes Janet Evanovich and Christopher Moore and the like, and - much to my chagrin - does not read science fiction.

Any good books out there?

Terry Pratchet's and Neil Gaiman's book Good Omens

Sounds like that might fit in with the Christopher Moore stuff.

or maybe...

An Arsonists Guide to Writers Homes in New England by Brock Clarke

Might be up her alley too.

LaPuzza

I just finished reading the Know-it-all by AJ Jacobs. Its a non-fiction book centered on him reading the entire encyclopedica Britanica. It is 1/2 mini-summaries of entries with some neat facts, and 1/2 his life, from trying to work a-words into conversation at the begining, to not getting smarter than his brother-in-law, to his job at a magazine. I found it really fun for a vacation, because it was a nice break when I put down Great Gatsby or On The Road. Lighthearted without being sappy, and requires no real mental work to read. Its a top-shelf second book for a trip.

Janson

jack eddy wrote: »

No Science Fiction OR fantasy?

Yes, there are whole other genres out there!

Nick Hornby is a great recommendation. I'd also suggest Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - read that on the plane myself; was perfect for the occasion.

A Dabble Of Thelonius

Of Rice and Men by Richard Galli

Hillarious, heartbreaking and uplifting.

ultraexactzz

Great list, all - I'll let you know what she picks.

At the very least, I have a copy of Good Omens - I'll have to dig it out for her, perhaps as a gateway drug to some of Neil Gaiman's other work.

Thanks!

KalTorak

"Carry On, Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse.

Elin

Nick Hornby - great guy, if she wants nothing dark don't let her anywhere near Long Way Down. Just put High Fidelity in her hand and she'll be happy for a while.

Viscountalpha

Robos A Go Go wrote: »

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, along with its sequel, is some good absurdist/pseudo-detective fiction.

I would go with this and then lead into the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

Saddler

Anything by Percival Everett would do, and I think most his books are pretty short. American Desert might be good for a plane ride.

ceres

Terry Pratchett should win the thread, unless she doesn't like fantasy at all, even the humorous stuff.

It occurs to me that I don't read much fiction that couldn't be called sci fi/fantasy.

Recent books I've read that aren't sci fi in any way:

I'm Perfect, You're Doomed by Kyria Abrahams: About a woman who grew up in the Jehovah's Witness community (nonfiction)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory McGuire: The other side of The Wizard of Oz (fantasy)
The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris: I really just started this. It's probably pretty solidly in the 'dark' category, but I suppose it might appeal. It's not really just about vampires, but everything else that might bump in the night as well. I'm not sure what I think of it yet.

VisionOfClarity

Elin wrote: »

Nick Hornby - great guy, if she wants nothing dark don't let her anywhere near Long Way Down. Just put High Fidelity in her hand and she'll be happy for a while.

Long Way Down is all dark humour though and really is more humourous than dark.

Canada_jezus

ultraexactzz wrote: »

Gentlemen, ladies - I need help.

My wife is going on a trip this weekend, and will have about 16 hours on airplanes while travelling. The sad bit is that she has no books to read. So, because she dared me to, I'm coming to the Forum for advice.

She wants to read fiction - Nothing dark or depressing, but nothing too fluffy and girly (ala Sex in the City). She likes Janet Evanovich and Christopher Moore and the like, and - much to my chagrin - does not read science fiction.

Any good books out there?

If she likes Janet evanovich she'll love anything by this man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_B._Parker

the spenser novels are the best, though they're pretty macho the sunny randall novels are like the Evanovich novells but with a female protagonist that starts out competent.

Rook

Catch 22 - it's a bit of everything.

RUNN1NGMAN

Janson wrote: »

jack eddy wrote: »

No Science Fiction OR fantasy?

Yes, there are whole other genres out there!

Nick Hornby is a great recommendation. I'd also suggest Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - read that on the plane myself; was perfect for the occasion.

I was going to recommend Water for Elephants too. My wife blew through it in two days and really liked it--sounds like the perfect book for a long flight.

Dman

Monday Mourning, by Kathy Reichs

You get Bones the TV show in book form, I like it, the womenfolk seem to like it, it's hereby recommended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Reichs

Rainbulimic

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an amazing book. It can be a tad dark, but amazing none the less. I wouldn't get it if you want a lighthearted jaunt through the fictional countryside though.

mts

look for hugh laurie's book the gun seller. very similar to christopher moore in humor though probably not as fucked up

Janson

Rainbulimic wrote: »

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an amazing book. It can be a tad dark, but amazing none the less. I wouldn't get it if you want a lighthearted jaunt through the fictional countryside though.

This would've been my second recommendation. It's not that dark, and I'd say it fits the bill. And yes, it is amazing, and I am stoked for his next book to be translated.

RUNN1NGMAN

Janson wrote: »

Rainbulimic wrote: »

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an amazing book. It can be a tad dark, but amazing none the less. I wouldn't get it if you want a lighthearted jaunt through the fictional countryside though.

This would've been my second recommendation. It's not that dark, and I'd say it fits the bill. And yes, it is amazing, and I am stoked for his next book to be translated.

It's BEEN translated! Can't wait to read it.

http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Game-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0385528701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247109323&sr=8-1

Janson

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Janson wrote: »

Rainbulimic wrote: »

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an amazing book. It can be a tad dark, but amazing none the less. I wouldn't get it if you want a lighthearted jaunt through the fictional countryside though.

This would've been my second recommendation. It's not that dark, and I'd say it fits the bill. And yes, it is amazing, and I am stoked for his next book to be translated.

It's BEEN translated! Can't wait to read it.

http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Game-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0385528701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247109323&sr=8-1

Nooo! My to-read shelf is already so huge.

Dog

Seconding Vonnegut.

destlecare4

hi
try this one "Carry On, Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse.

Azegoroth

Seconding good omens, or american gods.
The Harry dresden books might work, unless she feels that they are too outlandish for her tastes.

THEPAIN73

Shopgirl would be good.

The Pleasure of My Company is even better.

Both written by Steve Martin.

Pryan

If she is anything like my fiancee, and at least in literary tastes is sounds like she might be, you should have her look into Jasper Fforde. Great literary/absurdist/mystery books.

mts

yea, Jasper Fforde is a great writer. I have been meaning to check his website to see if he has a new book coming out any time

Erios

If you're travelling, anything by Bill Bryson is wonderful.

The LandoStander

It might be risky to suggest this but how would she feel about the Harry Potter novels? My wife isn't much of a Sci Fi fan either and she really doesn't care for anything too depressing or dark, although as I understand it HP gets pretty dark as things wear on.

As far as other things, Good Omens is sounding like it's already on the list which is great.

Stardust is rather quick, but if you can get the graphic novel as opposed to just the straight novel it's all the more enjoyable, my wife really liked it.

Freakanomics is a strange little book that's again rather quick to read but is packed full of what I think are excellent debate/argument starters. Exploring links between things like Roe v Wade and Crime or the NFL and drug dealers in Chicago. I'd picked it up expecting an economics book but it's really just a bunch of interesting lines of research nicely explained.

If you're trying to avoid dark stuff in favor of more amusing or even absurd things, there's always the Xanth novels by Pierce Anthony. They're by no means the greatest novels of our time but the plays on words and the rather strange magic at work is amusing.

There's also "The Two Georges" by Harry Turtledove. A detective novel of sorts in a world where America didn't win the war for independence. Of all people my mother actually enjoyed this one a lot.