Need a book to read in the desert. for Questionland Seattle

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Need a book to read in the desert.

I'd like to take a book or two to the playa and I'd love a suggestion.

My five favorite books from the last five years are The Sparrow, Middlesex, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and just recently, the Story of Edgar Sawtelle.

Thank you!
xo,
Honey

HoneyLee asked in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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You might want to try "Desert Notes/River Notes" by Barry Lopez. It is an odd and interesting book IMO.

Kristin Bell answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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Quarantine, by Jim Crace

doggo answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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The Desert Year by Joseph Wood Krutch.

Ed B answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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Paul Constant

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This could be really dorky, but I read Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire—-some of the best writing about deserts ever, in my opinion--when I traveled to the desert, and so I'd have to second soundslikepuget's recommendation below. It wound up being a really inspiring choice, but you have to be the kind of person who takes a book about France to France and doesn't feel shame about reading it in public, if you know what I mean.

If you're looking for entertaining, well-written novels (the kind you seem to really like), I'd highly recommend The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint. It's funny and sad and very moving. (Along those lines, Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn is a must-read for people who like both Kavalier and Klay and Edgar Sawtelle.)

Richard Powers's The Echo Maker, is slightly more serious book about brain injuries, but it's marvelous and beautifully written. I'm not a fan of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, but as a rule, people who enjoyed Time Traveler's Wife tend to enjoy it.

And Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping is one of those books that is deceptively simple when you read it, but it sticks with you forever after. I really dug on Colson Whitehead's John Henry Days, but if you're looking for something a little less cynical, you might want to try his Sag Harbor, which is an awesome sunnny-day book.

Paul Constant answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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If you like non-fiction, I'd suggest

Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey

soundslikepuget answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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Kobo Abe's The Woman in the Dunes

stinkbug answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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You might be interested in Michael Chabon's other works. "Wonder Boys" is my favorite. "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" is slightly incoherent, but lots of fun to read.

Tom Sackett answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report

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