Books Travel

Great Books and Music For A Road Trip

17th May 2019
Books and music I listen to on #roadtrips. Perfect for family travel.

I’m going on a road trip with the family today.

You’d be forgiven for thinking we do this a lot, because we do. This time we’re looking for a house (yes, still) and taking the kid to Edinbrick to see a bunch of Legos that aren’t already in my house.

I’ve said before that I’m trying to get more organized.

But there are two places where I already have color-coded lists. Blogging, and planning a trip.

I LOVE traveling. Planes are good, but our trips are mostly family road trips at the moment.

We load up on snacks, the kid falls asleep, and I get about 6 hours of guilt-free daylight reading in the car.

Reading in the car is kinda a new thing for me. The more time we spend on the road, the more time I can tolerate reading in the car.

The car is where I get most of my reading done these days. For real. And at night.

Reading in the car at night on a road trip happens on my Kindle.

Even though I bring six real books with me, too.

Before we get on the road, I thought I’d share some road trip books and music. In case you can read in the car, with music on.

Because I can read with music on, too. I kinda have to because Neil can’t drive without music on, and I can’t drive a car, so he wins. This time.

(The product links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, I make a small commission if you make a US or UK purchase through them. Read my disclosure here.)

Recent road trip books.

These are books I’ve read while traveling, not necessarily about road trips, but I can do that, too.

Where The Crawdads Sing – This book deserves all the hype. I started it while we were traveling. So absorbing, I forgot where I was because I was in the story. In the car, late at night, lit by my Kindle.

Thirteen – Also started on a road trip. Sometimes I start a book when we start the car, to see if I can finish a book by the time we get where we’re going. This is part of a series, the first is The Defence.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making Of The Princess Bride. Listened to this on Audible, which is interspersed with cast and crew interviews. This audiobook, like the movie and the book, is a must. First time Neil turned off the music and switched to a book on the road.

Right after that, we listened to Still Foolin’ Em, written and read by Billy Crystal.

Music For Road Trips

The first thing Isla requests on any car journey, before she falls asleep, is The Beatles, Here Comes The Sun.

She falls asleep to that and then we put on our wedding mix which lasts for hours and doesn’t have a track list, but ends with the song Isla was born to. Because I went in early and didn’t have time to put together c-section music, we used wedding music, which was ace.

We also have full albums from Low, (ours) and Eric Bibb (mine), Slowdive (his), and Chris Stapleton (mine, but almost ours)

So, I might get to where where we’re going with a few finished books, and we’re both chilled out and connected which sets the tone for the rest of the trip.

What do you listen to on the road?

Books, music, crickets?

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20 Comments

  • Reply Ritu 17th May 2019 at 12:05 pm

    I couldn’t read in the car before… Major headache!
    But recently found out I can read on my kindle with no issues!

  • Reply fancypaperblog 17th May 2019 at 9:18 pm

    I had never heard of EdinBrick- looks amazing

    • Reply Lorna 17th May 2019 at 9:23 pm

      I think last year was the first year, found it when looking for FriendsFest, after I discovered that FF wasn’t in Scotland this year. Looking forward to the Lego, and I’ll obviously report back. Wish we could meet up for adventures with you and the fam!

  • Reply Lutheran Liar 17th May 2019 at 10:51 pm

    I love listening to NPR, Geek that I am. That’s National Public Radio, which I had to stop to think about, ‘cause nobody here ever calls it anything but NPR!

    • Reply Lorna 18th May 2019 at 8:26 am

      NPR is the best. I listen on the internets.

  • Reply Rebecca Moon Ruark 18th May 2019 at 3:25 am

    Because I’m old and even older in spirit, I’m that woman who goes to the library before trips to stock up on books on CD–for me and the boys. Most middle grade books are better than most adult genre novels these days, so I enjoy both (mine when they’re asleep, though the boys are great at waking up when some character is using all their expletives in one long string!). My husband’s the same as yours–has to have music, if he’s driving, so I’m usually listening to Van Morrison while reading. Pretty nice. Have an awesome trip–fingers crossed for the house!

    • Reply Lorna 18th May 2019 at 8:58 am

      Thanks! Also Nevermoor books by Jessica Townsend might please everyone!

      • Reply Rebecca Moon Ruark 19th May 2019 at 1:59 pm

        Ooo, thanks for the suggestion. Will have to check them out!

  • Reply justmuddlingthroughlife 18th May 2019 at 4:57 pm

    I very rarely read in the car as I’m always driving.. I used to listen to my iPod, till it stopped working properly,. If I’m alone I will usually listen to radio 4.. I like You and Yours, Home front and The Archers.. and other radio plays.. yes I’m boring.. The kids always want the local radio station on with music..

    If I’m parked up waiting I will read whatever is on my kindle or current book… or Facebook… right now I’m reading a book on time.. research for my book, on my kindle… and yes it is confusing and I’m not sure if I really understand it all..

  • Reply Chronically Dannie 19th May 2019 at 7:15 am

    I always make road trip playlists for when my mom and I travel for my doctor appointments! I try to keep them a good mix of stuff we’d both enjoy, songs from her childhood and songs from mine. It’s worked pretty well for us so far. 😊💕

  • Reply Carol 20th May 2019 at 2:26 am

    I’ve enjoyed this little slice of your life…

  • Reply lindahobden 20th May 2019 at 9:25 am

    I can’t read whilst travelling- car, train or plane! But I love listening to music – radio is fine! 😊

  • Reply Laurie Stone 20th May 2019 at 10:12 pm

    Just read “Crawdads” and loved it. Also love “Here Comes the Sun” and very embarrassed I don’t know the other songs! (Generation gap, I fear). You’re making me want to load up my Kindle and go somewhere!

  • Reply observationsinretail 21st May 2019 at 4:09 am

    If I’m on my own, I’m usually listening to a good audiobook. If I’m roadtripping with others, I’m rocking out to some Queen.

  • Reply Rachael Stray | https://rachaelstray.com/ 21st May 2019 at 12:21 pm

    The playlist idea is brilliant! We created a list of songs for the DJ to play for the wedding but we didn’t make a playlist as such but I think it’s a fab idea. Once bump is here and a bit older we will be heading down to visit Steve’s parents so will definitely want some music to entertain us!

  • Reply Carol Cassara (@ccassara) 21st May 2019 at 6:03 pm

    You have spurred my imagination today!

    • Reply Lorna 22nd May 2019 at 9:55 am

      Thanks! In what way?

  • Reply Debbie Harris 29th September 2019 at 4:30 am

    I have finally finished the Crawdads and absolutely loved it! It was great to read as a distraction after coming home from seeing Melanie and Dottie in England and then breaking a tooth late on a Friday afternoon and unable to do anything about it until Monday hopefully 🙁 Thanks for the recommendation 🙂

    • Reply Lorna 29th September 2019 at 10:22 am

      Awesome, glad it helped in a small way. Also try The Most Fun We Ever Had, by Claire Lombardo.

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