"Winter tucks her children in / her fragile china dolls"

[larryhammer]

For a two-week trip to Switzerland, I'm hoping to limit myself to two compact, chewy books.* Which is to say, they need to be portable, entertaining, and long enough to last me.

[Poll #1270742]

* Not counting guidebooks, of course.

---L.

Comments

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Clearly this isn't the kind of book you want to bring to Switzerland, but I found, on a friend's shelf, a book of poetry that rivaled the greatest works of McGonagall. Edward Bulwer-Lytton's King Arthur (http://books.google.com/books?id=d1gEAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA121&lpg=RA1-PA121&dq=bulwer-lytton+%22king+arthur%22+morpheus+decoy+nap&source=web&ots=lKNlgfjr7f&sig=hUhU7VozAbagh6_CgSv85tokklQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPP1,M1). Most of it scans properly, alas, despite the odd gratuitous alexandrine. However, Bulwer-Lytton is gifted in the production of the truly unfortunate metaphor and of the crashing anticlimax. Here is Sir Gawaine, explaining to Merlin why he's bothered by a raven landing on his arm. (He's not afraid of ravens, he wants you to know. He just doesn't want to associate with them.)

"Seer," quoth Gawaine, "my heart I hope is tough
Nor needs a prop from this portentous chough.

"You know the proverb, 'birds of the same feather,'
A proverb much enforced in penal laws,
In certain quarters were we seen together
It might, I fear, suffice to damn my cause:
You cite examples apt and edifying--
Woden kept ravens! -- well, and Woden's frying!"

[larryhammer]

Oh. Dear. Gods. I must find a copy of this work. Not, I agree, for traveling, but as an object lesson in the art of sinking.

I hadn't known the Infamous Baron had committed Poetry, let along Epic.

---L.

[octopedingenue]

Oh my god this is going on my Must Bookmooch List right now.

[octopedingenue]

I have an eensy Price & Prejudice hardcover from Mini Gramercy Classics for just such travel emergencies. And Conversation Pieces never fails to make me happy.

[larryhammer]

Conversation Pieces looks like something worth taking a poke at. I think I've seen it at B&N.

---L.

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

A nice thick historical novel, perhaps? I can recommend Memed, My Hawk by Yashar Kemal and The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrell.

And of course buying a Sony Reader means you never have to limit yourself to just two books—The Snare by Rafael Sabatini and Halil the Pedlar by Mór Jókai are fun books with free electronic editions.

[larryhammer]

I've considered the possibilities of an e-reader, for just such a reason.

---L.

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

Tristram Shandy FTW! Best. Book. Ever.

[larryhammer]

I agree, it's up there. And it's been a while since I read it.

---L.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

You're going to be gone for two weeks and are only taking two books?

[larryhammer]

I figure, anywhere I go, books will accrete like primordial matter around a protoplanet.

This actually worked in Iceland, too. The key is, they have to be long enough -- thin paper and chewy text is my friend.

---L.

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Three Men in a Boat, to Say Nothing of the Dog by Jerome K. Jerome?

[larryhammer]

A thought. A good one, even.

---L.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Switzerland's landscape enhances one's appreciation of the 18c authors who wrote in it and about it. I suggest The Romance of the Forest or other horrid work. Failing that (or not liking Radcliffe), Scott, poetry or prose.

Watership Down, if you have not read it, should be reserved for this winter's flu season. It is good for that, with short chapters.

[larryhammer]

I think The Romance of the Forrest was purged with the rest of Radcliff (except for Udolfo, which of course I kept). I last read Watership Down as a teen -- thus my interest.

Any suggested Scott?

---L.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

The Talisman might dovetail interestingly with some of your other recentish reading.

For a long slog, maybe Old Mortality?

[larryhammer]

Hey! I liked Old Mortality.

Don't think I've read The Talisman, though -- that's a good possibility. Quentin Durward is also on the table.

---L.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_twilight_/]

Is James Joyce's Dubliners available in the right size? If so, I nominate that.

[larryhammer]

*has flashbacks to high school*

It ... probably is.

*more flashbacks*

---L.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Thinking of other good books I have read lately, you might like Erik Orsenna's Portrait of the Gulf Stream, which is a small (pocket-sized) hardcover (maybe in paperback too).

Have you read any Jose Saramago? I seem to recall recommending The History of the Siege of Lisbon to someone.

[larryhammer]

Just Baltasar and Blimunda -- been on my list to read more of.

The possibility of Cook's Voyages has come up, which we already have in a pocket hardcover.

---L.