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You are here: Backpacker Resources > Travel Books > Top 5 Books for February 2011

Top 5 Books for February 2011

1. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
   

   To my own detriment I’d never picked up a book by Agatha Christie until now, having consigned her collection to the realm of dusty, old and dated. I owe Agatha an apology. If like me you want a great introduction to this epic genre of murder mystery thrills, there’s no better place to start than Ms. Christie’s most famous offering – Murder on the Orient Express. Stranded in a snow drift, things start to go horribly wrong for the passengers onboard this luxurious commute. A rather well off business tycoon is bumped off: an event all the more peculiar given that the cabin he was stabbed to death in was locked from the inside. Cue detective Hercule Poirot who just happens to be on the train with an inkling of the victim’s dubious identity. The term ‘classic’ can be applied to this title with utter sincerity and conviction.

   Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. is published by Harper Collins (paperback; £4.40). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

2. Cards on the table by Agatha Christie
   
   

   Sticking with the murder mystery theme, this tale from the author expert in all things crime related, folds out at a dinner party. The guests here are an eclectic mix from all walks of life, brought together by extravagant host, Mr Shaitana. Said host makes the mistake of boasting to Detective Poirot that he considers murder an art form. You can see where this is going. The evening rather rapidly develops from a civilized game of Bridge to full on investigation after the host snuffs it. What ensues is a very entertaining lock in, where no one leaves until the guilty party is exposed.

   Cards on the table by Agatha Christie is published by Harper Collins (paperback; £6.99). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

3. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
    

   You know on iTunes when a recommended read is shoved in your face and you’re bit drunk? Well that’s how I came to own the audio book of Sun Tzu’s infamous masterpiece. Listening to it sober, it’s not half bad and despite it’s sixth century origins, many of its teachings are still relevant and useful today, whatever your environment. If you’re through with office politics, high school popularity contests, dorm room power grabs or general life frustration, you’ll find solace and a plan of action in this book. The onus is on evasion and victory without confrontation. Simple.

   <The Art of War by Sun Tzu is published by Filiquarian (paperback; £9.00). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

4. Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire
   

   This Pulitzer prize winning play is about to become a major motion picture and here’s an insight into why it’s garnered so much attention and adoration. Rabbit Hole is a lucid and no holds barred account of the most horrific thing any parent can face – the loss of their child. The destructively different coping techniques of men and women are conveyed in an astonishingly accurate and poignant fashion. Furthermore there’s a degree of unexpected comic relief when the time passes and the characters catch themselves laughing again. It’s not overdone, it’s a beautiful read and hopefully with Nicole Kidman involved, it won’t be under-whelmingly adapted fr the big screen like Charlie St. Cloud.

   Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire is published by Theatre Communications Group Inc.,U.S. (paperback; £9.42). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

5. A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
   

   Before delving into a description of this read, it helps to know a little bit about the author. Neil MacGregor has been the Director of the British Museum for almost ten years and before that, he headed up the National Gallery for a similar amount of time. Needles to say, his experience of worldly objects and artifacts is rather extensive, making him the perfect chap to write this book about how we as a species have shaped our world through the creation and mimicking of objects around us. Tracing back the course of human evolution over two million years, MacGregor picked out just 100 objects created by humans, from cooking pots to a golden galleons. In a nutshell it’s a fascinating history of civilizations and their legacies, based on what remains and in some cases, is still in use. Even credit cards get a look in.

   A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor is published by Allen Lane (hardback; £19.00). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

- Rob Savage