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Reader's Paradise

Long Trip?

20 years ago

Will be on the road for 22 hours. Looking for non- fiction books on tape for DH & I. Anything good lately? A not too complicated novel would be good. Don't want to be too distracted from the road.

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Comments (6)

cindydavid4
20 years ago
I don't usually listen to audio books, but the times we have its been in the car. The ones that come to mind immediately are Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (original radio program) and Last Chance to See, also by Douglas Adams
susandail_m
20 years ago
Amazing, cindydavid4. The two audio books that ALWAYS went in the car when we took long trips (two adults & three kids) were (ta da): HitchHiker's Guide (original radio program we taped from the original while we were in grad school), and Last Chance to See! Even today the kids think of these as "car books", and we pass them on to friends who travel with kids.
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My Lehman's catalogue arrived yesterday, and I thought of you. It started out as a business which catered to the Amish and Menonites in this country - German religious sects which settled here in the 17th century. They still exist in large communities in Pennsylvania and areas in the Midwest. They do not use electricity, automobiles, etc. (they really do drive horse & buggies in the slow lane on the highways). Fabulous farmers. They are the reason there is still a market here in serious plow horses, horse drawn plows, etc. I was in PA driving around with an elderly friend who had lived there all of his life (he was "Pennsylvania Dutch", and totally in the modern world, but still was able to speak the ancient German dialect, and spoke English with a slight German accent, despite the fact that his family has been here since the 1660s!). We passed a lovely farm house with at least 2 dozen Amish men climbing all over it doing sort of construction type things. I asked my friend what was going on, and he said "They are taking the electricity out", because it had been purchased by an Amish family! Anyway, the Lehman's catalogue has every tool & gadget you can imagine in a version that does not require power, as well as all sorts of wood stoves (with cooking ovens & tops), etc. etc. It was advertising a book about how to live without electricity, too. I thought you might find it amusing - they have a web site. Jackie
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I use a combination of Bing and Google. I like Google because it offers traffic conditions for local driving and I like Bing because it seems more user friendly to me and their satellite data is more current which I need for my work.
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Taking a long trip with a baby, please offer suggestions/advice
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Without a doubt, I'd take 2 cars. For a hundred reasons. It will be impossible to time stops convenient for all of you. In one car, you stop for the girls to use the bathroom, they will wake up a sleeping baby. In your own car, even if you pull over with them, you won't have as much noise. That goes for drive time as well. 4 and 5 year olds just don't sleep as much in the car as parents would like them to. They will play, sing, and fight, all of which will keep the baby from sleeping when you want him to. Like dogs in the neighborhood, one starts yelling, they all chime in! It's going to be hard, but that would not stop me if the trip were important to me. I think I'd try to get him using a sippy cup or bottle or sport bottle w/straw -something else he can drink from besides me (if you are breastfeeding). It will help "get him by" for a little while until you can stop. Mine would drink from a straw at 6 mos, they really pick it up quick. Travel as much during sleeping times as possible. Stash some interesting new toys to take out as needed, things he can explore for the first time. Expect to set next to him a lot, most of the time he is awake. Keep diapers and wipes in the side pocket of the door, or something, where you can get to them very quickly. Take some plastic bags to dispose of them. During big driving days, dress him in layers to help keep him as comfortable as possible in heat or air conditioning. If you don't have them, get shades for the windows. When we travel, the sun always seems to be in the wrong place for the baby to go to sleep or street or headlights wake them up just as they are almost asleep! Very frustrating, so shade them well. Keep an old blanket with you, so if you stop at a park or rest area (or any grassy spot) you can let him stretch. When we've travelled with our kids that young, nothing settled them down better than a chance to be on the back or tummy, change them in the fresh air to "air out" that tired bottom. And take a really big bottle of Excedrin -you'll probably need it LOL!
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A question about long trips with a baby...please help
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Comments (1)
I did my traveling when my child was younger and older than what your baby is right now. A lot depends on how your baby behaves, personality wise. If he's a quiet easygoing baby you will probably have a great time. If he is a little more needy you may find that it is more work than fun. It also depends on how much fun you have with the people you are going with. It probably would be nice to have two cars. That way if people need a break from each other during the trip they can have it. Also, once you get to your destination both families will have the freedom to do and go as they please. All I can tell you for sure is that taking a vacation with a baby is not like taking a vacation without one. A baby is work and on this vacation you will be taking your work with you. Try to have a positive outlook, be flexable, don't expect this vacation to be like any other you've taken before and keep your sense of humor.
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twobigdogs
20 years ago
I have to vote for an oldie but a goodie...Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

And Bill Bryson is ALWAYS fun. My favorite suggestions would be:
1. Notes from a Small Island
2. I'm a Stranger Here Myself
3. In a Sunburned Country

Where are you headed? Have a safe trip.
PAM
cindydavid4
20 years ago
susan! separated at birth no doubt! That is funny.

I love Bryson's books (tho I really did think Stranger was more snarky than it needed to be), but have never listened to him. I bet he would make a good reader. Actually, listening to travel narratives could be a good idea.
J C
20 years ago
Check out Mark Kurlansky's work - Salt and Cod come immediately to mind. I know what you're thinking..."A book about salt?!?!?!" Trust me, Kurlansky writes non-fiction that reads like a novel.

Also, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, which was on the bestseller lists last year and combines the true stories of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and a serial killer could be very enjoyable on a car trip. It is not terribly gruesome as the author spares us most of the details. I never expected to like this book but I loved it.
rosefolly
20 years ago
Are the two of you Tolkien fans? I find his books work beautifully as recorded books. In fact, I prefer listening to them to reading them. Even The Silmarillion worked for me as a recorded book.

Another novel I really enjoyed listening to was Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses. Do not be put off by the silly movie they made of this stark and haunting coming-of-age novel set in Texas and Mexico in the 1950's.

You might also enjoy some of Larry McMurtry's novels in this format.

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