Most of our Non-fictional books have been birthday & Christmas presents, as well as Gallery exhibition catalogues! J1 is very good at actually reading these missives, whereas I, being more visually orientated...tend to look at the pictures...but I REALLY look!
My reading material tends towards novels & I am a devoted follower of Elizabeth Peter's 'Amelia Peabody' series! (I am the fortunate owner of the WHOLE series, except the last...thank you Book Depository!!!) The character of Amelia Peabody Emerson is an amateur sleuth & prominant Egyptian archaeologist, allegedy inspired by the real life archaeologist & adventurer of the late 1800's, Amelia Edwards. I have not read any of Ms Edwards accounts of her travels down the Nile , but I may encounter some of them during this trip!
Speaking of the Nile, now would be an appropriate time to confess...I have never read Agatha' Christie's 'Death on The Nile'! I have downloaded it onto my ipod now though, & plan to listen to it, as we too, cruise down that particular stretch of water!
Whilst J1 embraces his new ipad & the possibility of taking a whole library of books with him, all contained within that flat, oversized mobile phone...he has yet to determine whether he will take an ACTUAL book with him ! In a sense, he has adapted to the modern version of the ancient scroll!
I cannot fathom the reading of a book without the smell of newsprint and the rapid turning of pages. My book shaped companions will be; the DK Egypt guide...(such great pictures & maps!).. and for light reading 'When we were Gods', a story of Cleopatra by Aussie author, Colin Falconer. I have never read any of his work before, so I REALLY hope he churns out a good yarn!! My slight anxiety with this book, is that on the cover is a very beautiful, voluptuous, topless Cleopatra! Heading into a Muslem country with rather conservative views...dare I read this book in public??? I may just have to whip up a slipcover to prevent her from leading any Islamic young Egyptians to lustful thoughts!!
I too love reading about the country through novels - my favourite author on India is William Dalrymple - he makes the country, its history and the story come alive. My husband has bought a IPad too (never used a computer before) for the same purpose to read and use on our travels and does he love the Ipad - I am lucky to get near it.
ReplyDeleteI too still love the smell or the ink and turning the pages but a big novel is too heavy to take but the travel guide (Lonely Planet) is a must.
We are sure with all the pre trip information you have gleaned, your understanding of the visual will be much greater. luv
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