Four Books, All Slim, At Least One of Them Not Crime

[Patricia Abbott]

Last year on Mystery Circus I asked for ideas for books for our one carryon bag trip through Eastern Europe and got fabulous ideas which made our trip terrific. Here it comes again if some new people might want to help us out. We will each carry two books. They must be slim paperbacks that we can interchange. No more than 3 of the 4 should be crime and preferrably 2 of the 4 since my husband does get tired of it. What four books would you take? No more than 250 pages please. We are aging travelers. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Patricia Abbott]

I have to say, usually I have at least heard of a book, but these are mostly new to me. Thanks a bunch.

[Steve Mosby]

I'd suggest:

1) TARANTULA, by Thierry Jonquet. (Might have suggested that back at Mystery Circus, along with SENSELESS by Stona Fitch)
2) COME CLOSER by Sara Gran
3) THE AFFIRMATION/THE GLAMOUR by Christopher Priest
4) RED by Jack Ketchum

Margo Lanagan's short story collection, BLACK JUICE, also clocks in at under 250 and is pretty exceptional. And if it's out in paperback by then, SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn.

[Patricia Abbott]

We are big Sara Gran fans. Never heard of Priest. Have to check that out.

[Steve Allan]

Memories of my Meloncholy Whores - Garcia Marquez
The Pleasure of My Company - Steve Martin
The Whore's Child - Richard Russo
Miami Blues (or any Hoke Moseley) - Charles Willeford
Enduring Love - Ian McEwan (just over 250, but those extra six pages are worth it)
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - Vonnegut
The Real Cool Killers - Chester Himes

[Patricia Abbott]

Just wrote a long reply and lost it. But suffice it to say, I knew you would come up with some good literary picks. Thanks, patti