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Flying for hours is miserable if you are stuck in a tight economy seat. 

It is noisy, uncomfortable, and frankly, completely draining. 

To keep from losing my mind on long trips, I always pack a great book.

​But not just any book will do. The ones listed below are long enough to fill the time and exciting enough to keep you awake. 

These are all books I have actually read on past flights to get me through the journey. 

Check out the best book styles below to make your next flight breeze by.

Best Books for Long Flights 

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

This book follows three generations of a rich British family starting in the 1880s. 

They care a lot about money and social status, but their wealth cannot buy them happiness or love. 

I will be honest with you, I found this one a bit slow and dry at times. It really feels like it goes on forever! 

However, because it covers so many years and has so many family arguments, it is a great choice for a long haul flight.

By the time you finally finish reading about all their drama, your plane will probably be ready to land.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

What if you could restart your life every time you died? That is exactly what happens to a woman named Ursula, who is born in England in 1910. 

She dies over and over again in different ways, but then she wakes up and tries living that part of her life again. 

I absolutely loved this clever concept, and the story kept me hooked the entire time. 

It is a very long book because she relives so many moments. It is the perfect size to keep your mind busy while sitting on an airplane for hours.

Ulysses by James Joyce

This famous book takes place during just one single day in Dublin, Ireland. 

It focuses on the thoughts and actions of a man named Leopold Bloom. 

Even though it is just one day, the book is incredibly long and packed with details. 

To be fair, I found it really confusing and difficult to understand, so it was not my favorite. But it takes a lot of time to get through.

If you need a giant book to pass the hours on a massive journey, this one will definitely do the trick. 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

This story is about the Barnes family in Ireland, and they are facing a lot of trouble. 

Their business is losing all its money, the parents are unhappy, and the kids are making bad choices. 

The book looks at everyone’s secrets and past mistakes. 

I really enjoyed how real and interesting the characters felt. 

It is a huge book, but the story moves quickly because you want to see what happens next. 

This heavy book is just right for a long flight when you want to get lost in a family drama.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

This beautiful book tells the life story of an adopted Irish man named Cyril Avery. 

We follow him for seventy years as he struggles to find out who he is and where he belongs. 

It also shows how Ireland changed over the decades. 

I truly loved this book because it made me laugh and cry. It is quite long since it covers a whole lifetime, which makes it perfect for a long haul flight. 

You can easily share Cyril’s big journey while you make your own long trip in the sky.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Set during World War II, this lovely novel follows a blind French girl who has to escape Paris with a dangerous jewel, and a young German orphan boy who is smart with radios. 

Eventually, their lives cross in a very moving way. 

I really liked how hopeful this story felt, even during dark times. It is a pretty thick book, but the short chapters make it easy to read.

It has the perfect length to keep you entertained from takeoff all the way to your final destination.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

This grand story takes place in a beautiful area of India from 1900 to the 1977. 

It follows three generations of a family that suffers from a strange curse: in every generation, at least one person drowns. 

I really enjoyed learning about the history and the medicine in this book. 

It is a massive epic with lots of pages, so it is a fantastic choice for a long haul flight.

You will have plenty of time to dive deep into this family history while crossing the ocean.

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

This book connects two different women. 

One is a brave female pilot from the past who wants to fly all the way around the world. 

The other is a modern Hollywood actress who is playing the pilot in a movie. 

Personally, I did not enjoy this one very much because it felt a bit too long and disconnected. 

However, since it spans across so many different years and places, it is a very big book. 

It is definitely long enough to keep you occupied during a lengthy flight across the world.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This moving book starts with a young, pregnant Korean girl named Sunja who moves to Japan for a new life. 

It follows her family across four generations as they fight to survive and succeed. 

I absolutely loved this book because the characters are so strong and loyal to each other. 

Because it covers so many years of family history, it is a very thick novel. 

It is the perfect length for a long haul flight, and the great story will make the time fly by.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Set in America during the 1950s, this fun story is about an eighteen-year-old boy named Emmett who just wants to pick up his little brother and move to California. 

Instead, two friends from his past surprise him, and they all end up on a wild ten-day road trip to New York. 

I really enjoyed the adventure and the great characters in this book. 

It is a big, thick novel that will easily last through a long haul flight and keep you happy the whole way.

​You don’t have to suffer through your next long-haul flight with nothing but a bad back and terminal boredom. 

Having a great, immersive book in your bag is the easiest way to make those endless hours in the air actually enjoyable.

​These books got me through some of my longest, most exhausting flights, and they can do the exact same for you. 

Don’t wait until you’re at the airport terminal paying double the price – check out the full list above, find your match, and get ready for a much better flight.