Hi, I'm going on a weeks relaxing holiday, where I plan to spend time reading a couple of magic books, something I rarely get round to these days. I'm very much looking forward to it. It's also my last holiday before my baby arrives. 😀 So I plan to make the most of the relaxation.
Like many people I have many books in my library that I haven't read and can't decide which two books to take. I would like one card book (nothing to difficult) and any other.

What would you guys recommend. This is what I have unread:

Minimalistica Carey
Crafted with Carey
Mentalissimo bannon
The Carey files
Dear mr fantasy bannon
High caliber

Scripting magic peter McCabe
Performing magic tony Middleton
Peek performances Richard Busch
Unreal Bruce Bernstein
Pure effect derren brown
777 Red Devil

I'm leaning towards Mentalissimo & peek performance

Thanks in advance 👍

I haven't read or heard of every book but in my opinion Peek Performances by Richard Busch is a must have for close-up mentalism.
Take some blank papers, business cards and envelopes with you and you are ready to have good time.

My choice would be Unreal & Pure effect.

What size envelopes do you need?

Yeah pure effect is tempting too. Only heard good things about it.

Scripting magic is a must if you are preparing to perform.

I agree with Scripting Magic, so you can take the time to work through it and prepare to perform, as Diego mentions.

I definitely need to scrub up on performing. I've read maximum entertainment and that was great

Another vote for Scripting Magic -- note how many times you see people desperately looking for a copy!

Typical, heaviest book to carry. Ha

I've just read fast Unreal, it is awesome.

I'd take Mentalissimo or Dear Mr Fantasy by Bannon. Both great, DMF is probably better, but I just finished Mentalissimo a few months ago and it was great.
And then I'd probably also take Unreal

If there were only one magic book that I had to keep it in this world, that will be Dear Mister Fantasy.

From Ace Assembly progressively multiple times, Dr Daley Last Trick, Beyond Fabulous 4 Ace Trick, Some precision sleight required (perfect Faro) such as the most amazing and impossible Dawn Patrol, even to the last effect The Power of Poker, each and every effect was so amazing and field tested on real audience during my performance for them in the last 10 plus years.

My highest recommendation.

How difficult are the sleights in DMF?

If my memory is correct, only two effects required perfect faro once at some point. Most of them are pretty basic beginner sleight of hand on playing cards.

Also I think there is one stud bottom deal on one of those Ace Assembly but quite easy as the effect build in the way how the cards are dealt it is just a second natural thing to do that at the momemnt.

Hope this helps.

Vernon Chronicles Volume 4

Have you read David Ben's biography of Vernon?

I agree that Dear Mr Fantasy is a little gem - almost all easy-to-do card effects. And I keep going back to Bruce Bernstein's magnum opus, Unreal, which cannot be beat by the sheer deviousness of this man's thinking. Both are brilliant!

Another vote for Dear Mr. Fantasy !

I do not own this book myself unfortunately, but I've heard it's very good. Good enough that it could accompany younon this trip