Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

Archives for November 2016

What I Read (November 2016)

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Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. And this year I’m doing things just a little bit differently than in the past. Since I decided to participate in the 2016 PopSugar Reading Challenge, I’m also going to be listing which category my books fulfill. If you want to join in on the fun, you can check out the list of categories here! This is What I Read in November 2016, my brief book reviews and recommendations, and there were some great books.

Books Finished:

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace

2016 PopSugar Challenge: a book that’s more than 600 pages


Wow. This is an epic book, and suitable for the 600+ page challenge. I’d previously seen the movie, which was fantastic; but the book was even better. Even though it’s quite long, I would recommend that everyone tackle it. I listened to it on Audible at 1.2 speed, which helped get through it just a bit quicker. I really liked the narration.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

2016 PopSugar Challenge: a book about a road trip

 So, I read this. But I can’t say I loved it. The characters struck my as incredibly self-centered and immature. And although I read the ending three times, I just don’t understand it. There’s significance there, but it’s lost on me. I wanted very much to like this iconic road trip book.

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck


I listened to this book on Audible. The narration was fine, but not among my absolute favorite narrators. The novel was good, but not exceptional. I did really appreciate how the various story lines from different time frames were tied together in the end. A sweet Christian story that is an enjoyable way to pass the time while driving on a road trip. 

It Is Well by James D. Shipman


Taking place just before and during World War II, this novel follows a single family as they try to continue living after the death of the mother/wife and coping with the war’s effects on American society. This book also tackled the topic of domestic violence, so warning if that’s a potential trigger for you. I really liked this book, especially how real events of Wake Island were interpreted into this fictional account.

The Daughter of Union County by Francine Thomas Howard


This was one of my Kindle owners lending library picks. I really enjoyed it, although it was at times difficult to read due to the subject matter being graphic and hard to think about. The book takes place in the post-Civil War south, and definitely tackles themes of slavery, racism, and oppression of women. I enjoyed it and was able to get through it quite quickly. But it isn’t my absolute favorite of the year.

The Fever Code by James Dashner

2016 PopSugar Challenge: a book and its prequel

I read the other books in the Maze Runner series earlier this year. This prequel is the last book of the series that I hadn’t yet read, so I thought I’d pick it up for this challenge category. After reading the other books and getting snippets of memories, it was nice to finally read about Thomas’s experiences with WICKED before going into the maze. I really liked the book, but then I enjoyed the rest of the series too.

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

Holiday Gift Guide

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Do you have a traveler or bibliophile in your life? I’ve purchased some super handy travel items (and spotted some others that I want for myself) lately that I think would make great gifts for the traveler in your life. Here are the top twelve items that make up my holiday gift guide.

1. Noise cancelling headphones. Mike has this pair of Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. I’ve used them on flights and can confirm that they work great at blocking out the sound of the airplane engine, crying babies, and other annoying noises. This is one item that I’d love to get, to replace my normal, non-noise cancelling pair. Plus, I think they’re a great value at $29.99.

2. Worldwide Travel Charger Adapter. On our recent trip to Guadeloupe, we had to take adapters to charge our electronic devices. I had a whole bag full if different adapters and had to research ahead of time to determine which ones we needed. This handy little gadget works with all different types of outlets for up to 150 countries, and charges 3 devices simultaneously. It comes in three colors, blue, white, and lime green. I definitely want this item, especially for $15.99.

3. An Amazon Prime subscription. Seriously, I think that Amazon Prime is a wonderful deal. Free 2 day shipping. 1 free borrowed book per month (Kindle Owner’s Lending Library), and 1 free book per month (Kindle First). Free movies and television shows. Free music. And all of that for only $99 per year. This would be an awesome gift for travelers, book lovers, movie lovers, music lovers…pretty much everyone.

4. Portable Luggage Scale. With airlines cracking down on the number and weight of luggage, we’ve found our portable luggage scale to be invaluable to avoid excess baggage fees or repacking luggage in the airport. Especially when we go on scuba diving trips, our luggage can easily be overweight if not distributed property, so this makes packing easy. And it’s small (and lightweight) enough to fit in a carry-on or checked bag so that bags can be repacked for the return trip easily. Plus, they only cost about $7.99-9.99, depending on the brand that you purchase.

5. Packing Cubes. I was skeptical when I initially saw these on other travel bloggers’ lists of necessary items. But the more I thought about how messy luggage can get when you have to repack luggage, and how I hate having clean and dirty clothes mixed together. So I eventually caved in and bought this set of packing cubes. And I love them! They have made packing for a trip so much easier, and made my luggage neater in the process. This set of 6 cubes is $29.99, but if you think you’ll need fewer, there are other sets that are a bit cheaper.

6. External battery charger. I just have a tiny little external battery charger that will add about 1/2 a battery to my smart phone. It works fine for day-to-day use, since that’d be about all I’d need to get back home. But Mike has a bigger external battery charger like this one that is fantastic for traveling. It will charge a couple of different devices at a time, and get them from empty to a full charge. This one is priced at $39.99, which looks like a good value in external battery chargers.

7. Dry Bags. Because we scuba dive, we use these frequently to keep our clothes or other items dry on the dive boats. But I’ve also used mine to keep phone, towel, and kindle clean and dry when going to the beach. So I know that these would come in handy for snorkelers, or anyone who just wants certain items kept clean and dry.

8. Kindle Fire or Kindle Paperwhite. I love my Kindles, both of them. The Kindle Fire is nice, in that you get text to speech, and that you have a small tablet for watching movies or checking e-mail. But it’s a backlit screen, so it’s not great for reading outside. For reading outside, a Kindle Paperwhite is excellent, as the screen is not backlit and it isn’t so tiring for your eyes. The Fire is $33.33; and the Paperwhite is $99.99.


9. Point and shoot camera. I have this Samsung point and shoot digital camera. I really like it. It has about the most functionality that you can get in a point and shoot, takes great pictures, and it will fit in a small purse or in a pocket. After doing some research, and thinking about my needs when it comes to a camera (primarily portability), I decided that a big DSLR camera isn’t really a good fit at present. These range in price from $159.00 to $274.99 depending on the particular color that you want.

10. Amazon gift cards. I read a ton on my Kindle, but especially while on trips. And I love listening to Amazon music, some of which is free with Prime music, but some of which is not. So I am always happy to get an Amazon gift card, so that I can stock up on ebooks and tunes before I leave.

11. Infinity scarf with hidden zippered pouch. I don’t have this item, but really want it. It sounds like it would be perfect for holding cash, credit cards, and a passport, to keep them safe from muggers, without looking like a dopey tourist with a money belt. At $11.00, it’s inexpensive enough to buy in a couple of different colors to wear with different outfits.

12. Airline gift cards or hotel gift cards. I use IHG and United credit cards and love earning points rewards points. If family or friends wanted to purchase gift cards for us for hotels or airlines, we’d definitely get a lot of enjoyment out of it, as those are often the two largest drivers of cost. So I think that hotel and airline gift cards would make an awesome gift!

So there you have it. 12 items that I think would be excellent gift ideas for travelers and book lovers. Hope this holiday gift guide makes your shopping a bit easier.

What I Read (Guadeloupe)

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When I travel, I always find time to get a bit of reading time in. Car trips, flights, and relaxing by a pool or on a beach afford ample time to read fantastic books. Here is What I Read while traveling to Guadeloupe. I hope you too will enjoy these three great books.

Books Finished:

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan

Did you know that the Manhattan Project was staffed in large part by women? I didn’t; but this book showed what jobs a few of them women did, and what they’re lives were like. A fascinating look at World War II on the home front. 

The Passion of Marie Romanov by Laura Rose

A fictionalized account of the life of one of the Romanov children, this book was a quick and engaging read. It appeared that the author had done a considerable amount of research into the subject matter before writing the novel, book is an accurate depiction into what her life was like. 

The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland by Rebekah Crane

I truly loved this book. It made me laugh and cry, and on an airplane at that! It follows the stories of several teenagers who are sent to a camp in Michigan for those with mental health or emotional problems. But there are compelling reasons behind the teens’ actions. And the characters e that you want to root for.  I recommend giving this book a chance, even though (or because) the plot is unique and quirky.

 

Books Abandoned:

None.

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