I travel a lot. Generally speaking, I’m on a plane every month or so. Whether it be long haul or short haul flights, I spend a decent amount of time per year in the air. So for me, it is extremely important that this time is actually meaningful.
Now, I will openly tell you, I am not the most fond of flying. In fact, that is a pretty big understatement. I hate it. The claustrophobic feeling of being stuck in a box for a number of hours without any fresh air, knowing that at any moment you could plummet to the ground: that is the stuff my nightmares are made of. But, as I have gotten older, I have found that there are certain things that can help minimize this feeling. And a good book to distract myself in is one of the main ways.
So, here are a few things I always consider when picking a good plane book.
Content
This is probably the most important aspect. When choosing any novel, content is always important. However, while I am on a plane, I tend to find it even more vital as it needs to be able to combat the feeling of boredom, claustrophobia and fear all in one. That means no horror novels à la Stephen King. However, a good murder mystery novel can have the opposite effect. Getting consumed by the twists and turns, riddles and puzzles that keep you constantly guessing can help pass the long hours on a plane ride.
Similarly, a good ol’ comedy can elevate your mood when your irritation at the person sitting next to you who is hogging the arm rest is at its highest. Cracking up in the middle of a flight and laughing out loud is utterly forgivable and in fact, can provide amusement for other passengers. So, if you are not self-conscious about that, go for a comedy.
However, I would steer clear of romances, even if they are romance-comedies. Speaking from personal experience, the plane setting tends to make even the most romantic descriptions feel cheesy, overplayed and highly cringe worthy. There is nothing worse than a book you put down mid-flight, against all your efforts, because it is that bad.
And once you’ve narrowed down what genre you are looking for, take it a step further and think about what book could enhance the experience of your trip. Think about what you could read that would add a new perspective to your trip or would forever remind you of the trip whenever you mentioned the book. Create a memory in the process of carrying this book with you throughout your travel.
Author
While content can dictate which direction you choose to go with in picking the novel, give a moment’s thought to the author. Sometimes, even the most intriguing storyline can be completely ruined by awful writing. If you know you like a specific author’s style, you can feel confident that your reading experience will not be ruined by the writing. Other times, taking a chance on the book’s content because you know the author is good can pleasantly surprise you as well and send you down a new genre rabbit hole you otherwise who never have tried. It’s worth giving it a shot.
Length
While this may not be important to everyone, I have found that I am more concerned with how long a novel is when I am on a plane. Probably because I already find the process of flying tedious that I do not want to add the act of reading to that same list. Even if the story is good and the characters gripping, knowing that I still have another five hundred pages to read, even though I am already two hundred pages in, can really be demotivating.
Size
And on a similar vein, size in this case does matter. While travelling, it is more than likely that you have already stuffed your bag to the brim. Your laptop is probably weighing it down more than you would like, and you have desperately tried to fit that one extra top or shirt that would not fit in your suitcase, along with whatever else you deemed essential. Having a large size book on top of all of that can make the notion of carrying one in the first place seem cumbersome. So, keep in mind that a pocket size book is probably your best option.
Hope this gave you a starting point in how to consider what book is going to be your next travel companion!
~ S ~
