On a recent plane trip, I could not keep track of my books. I had stuffed two paperbacks into a carry-on bag: Elizabeth Bowen’s Friends and Relations and a mystery. One of the other would keep me occupied on the trip, I thought.
The bag was a tight fit under the seat. I had to crouch in the aisle to drag it out. With much flexing of knees, I managed this triumphantly. The Elizabeth Bowen, however, was not in a zippered compartment marked BOOKS. It was with meds, toiletries, and a cardigan sweater.
Once the book was out of the bag, it was out for the rest of the trip. Usually there is an empty seat next to me, and I fling the book down when I don’t want to read. This time the plane was full. And during the multiple meals and snacks that keep us from going crazy on planes, the old paperback became more and more brittle. I tried holding it on my knees under the tray. It emerged bent. During a later snack, I stuffed it into the pocket on the back of the chair. A corner of the cover tore off.
Turned out this book was no longer meant for reading. The type was dim against the tan, crackling pages. I alternately had to hold it close to my face or at arm’s length. That’s the beauty of bifocals: you are both near-sighted and short-sighted at the same time.
I finally read my mystery, which was perfect for the plane. I can’t recommend Patricia Moyes’s The Curious Affair of the Third Dog too strongly. I am so thankful I didn’t bring Proust, which I had originally considered the ultimate vacation reading. (Not on this plane.)
The Bowen fell apart completely the next day in a cafe.
Anyone have good travel tips for plane reading (and for keeping books in one piece)? I’m thinking about buying a tablet case, which would give the books some extra protection. And it would fit in my bag.
I returned home with some new sturdy paperbacks. They were unharmed by travel.
The only thing that could make reading any book at all fragile comfortable is for the plane company to give passengers space enough for sitting. They won’t until such time as congress passes a law forbidding more than a certain number of passengers on specific size planes. You had no space even to hold your book safely in.
It is always awkward when the plane is full! It was on time and efficient, but if only that pocket on the back of the seat had been a little bigger so my book didn’t get squished.
On Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 4:05 PM Thornfield Hall: A Book Blog wrote:
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Instead of the tablet case you could buy a book buddy – a padded case which is going to be far more attractive. You can get them via different suppliers on Etsy – this is just an example https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/723347310/winter-sloth-book-buddy-padded-paperback
Thank you! I had never heard of these. A book buddy would be perfect.
Sent from my iPad
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I bought one for my sister because she travels on a crowded train every day – she loves it
I looked pm Etsy and love the idea that the book buddies are padded. That would be a plus on crowded transit.
On Thu, Oct 3, 2019 at 2:46 PM Thornfield Hall: A Book Blog wrote:
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