A long flight is a rare thing: hours with nowhere to be and nothing asking for you. It is the best reading time you will get all month. The trick is to pack the right book for how long you will be in the air and how tired you will be.
For two to four hours: something quick and clever
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1979) is funny, fast and easy to put down when the trolley arrives. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) is a short, gentle story you can finish before landing and think about for days.
For six to eight hours: a story with a good pull
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1872) is the obvious choice for a journey, and it still races along. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) is a clever space adventure that is hard to stop reading. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (1937) is a mystery you can enjoy with a cup of tea at 30,000 feet.
For overnight flights: something warm and long
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) is a big, comforting novel about a man confined to one hotel. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989) is quieter, and its slow journey through the English countryside suits half-sleep. Pick one you will not mind reading in short bursts.
A few small tips
- Take a paperback as well as your phone or e-reader. Check your airline's rules on devices, and a paperback never needs charging.
- If you can choose, a window seat gives you the light and something to lean on.
- Pack a light sweater or blanket. Cabins are often cold.
- Bring two books. It is better to have a spare than to read the airline magazine twice.
Your library may have most of these, and a small paperback weighs almost nothing in your bag.
