This is the tenth post in a series of 12 ways to help authors (and your writing) by reading.
When we travel, books are always on our packing list.
Travel frees up reading time. My family travels:
- with print books.
- with an ereader — Kindle or iPad.
- ready to chat about books.
We always find time in the car for an audio book or a paperback in the airport. I have the Kindle app on my phone and tablets. I have a collection of picture books and novels on the Kindle. Yes, kiddo uses tablets. Let’s ignore studies on the impact of my parenting decision for a moment, as I tell you that at 10,000 feet on a plane I’ve never received a complaint about my son’s behavior. I have heard comments like “I wish I had one of those when my kid was little.”
I love to talk to people at airports or on a plane about their reading choices. Word of mouth book recommendations equal priceless marketing for an author you enjoy. I love getting random parenting advice from fellow travelers too.
Of course, we can travel and explore new worlds without an airplane ticket or filling up the gas tank just by picking up a book. I miss the pre-9/11 days of people watching at the airport, as you waited at the gate for family members to arrive.
What’s your book format of choice when you travel?
Reading: I’m back to non-fiction this week with The Death Class: A True Story About Life by Erika Hayasaki.
If you missed any of the Reader University posts,
- I share why I’m doing Reader Universtiy here.
- My first post Reader University: Try
- My second post Reader University: Read
- My third post Reader University: Name
- My fourth post Reader University: Review
- My fifth post Reader University: Follow
- My sixth post Reader University: Learn
- My seventh post Reader University: Share
- My eighth post Reader University: Request
- My ninth post Reader University: Connect
I love reading when I travel… not that I travel often… but it’s one time when I actually have time to read. I have a Kindle and it’s very convenient for traveling, but I confess, even though I do use my Kindle, I still prefer actual books. I’m trying to get over that 🙂 But I find it hard to go back and remind myself of things on the Kindle – it’s much harder to find where something was – and given that I often fall asleep while reading, I often need the reminder 🙂
I’ve been relying more on the Kindle thanks to Little hands that make me lose my place in a print book. I’ve found for novels and non-fiction, I can read faster than with a print edition when the kiddo is awake. 🙂
I am super impressed that you get to read when you travel with a child. I take paper and pens and just hope for a quick scribble.
I may have jinxed myself Catherine. I have a few flights coming up this summer. We’ll see how it all works out.
Stacy, you would be the one I’d like to meet when I travel. Wonderful that the little one reads too in his transit. What a great gift to him to have reading as a companion. I find myself not able to read deeply when I am in airport/airplanes etc. I can only do People magazine or a good mystery. 😉
Sue on the plane he’s more likely to watch a video. But, we unleash the sheep and the other characters at bedtime.
The last time I traveled I did take my Kindle and it was a boon to have. I found having the pick of all my videos and pdfs that I have preloaded it was exciting. It was great being able to pick from any of the books,pdfs and videos at my pleasure.
Although I miss my print books as a rule. One can’ t beat a Kindle when traveling. 🙂
Yes. The Kindle is great for travel and to keep little hands from flipping through your place in a book.
I love my Kindle for traveling– I can download lots of books and magazines. But I have had it run out of power before, then I’m stuck. Sometimes you can’t beat a good, paper-binding version, can you? I too like to exchange reading lists with people I don’t know. It’s a great conversation starter and fun to see people get enthusiastic about their favorite book.
I keep all my chargers with me on the plane (thanks to one incident of bags being “left behind” on a a small plane).
I love seeing people get excited by books.
I still carry a paperback book when traveling by plane, sometimes my nook. But, I love to travel with audiobooks when we drive long distances. In fact I’m selecting books now for an upcoming spring trip. Have “The Invention of Wings,” and need to select another like “19 Minutes” by Jodi Picoult.
Audio on long car trips equals a lifesaver!
I like to bring my Kindle while traveling big time (plane, boat, train, 1 hour+ car rides) so I can read more books and save space. When we go camping, though, I bring a big stack of books (because my Kindle may go dead). 🙂
Camping and real books seems to be a good way to go. A solar charger might need to be included on the packing list for a camping trip. Of course, I haven’t been camping in several years.
My husband and I enjoy reading when we travel (and when we are home too!). I use the Kindle app on my tablet unless I happen to be in the middle of a paperback. Then I take the book AND the tablet. 🙂 On a recent trip to see my sister in NC, we listened to an audio book. I love that there are so many options now. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog for Robyn’s interview. It’s great to meet you!
I love all the options too. During a road trip last summer, Hubby and I listened to books for hours and hours and hours in the car.
I got my Kindle a couple of years ago, and for that first year I loved reading everything on it. But lately, I’ve started going back to books. So the last few times I traveled I didn’t take my Kindle. I guess I still prefer actual books. 🙂
Coleen, Nice that you are returning to real books. I’m going on a longer trip this summer and I’ll need all my luggage space for stuff, so the Kindle will be packed and ready to go.