Nine Perfect Books for the Plane

October 4, 2010

One of the most important items I consider for any trip is reading material. I need a minimum of four books for two weeks, especially if there are long flights or layovers. It’s amazing where a great book can take you when travel plans go astray. Criteria for choosing those all important books are as follows:

  1. no hard covered books
  2. no books that take 100 pages to get into
  3. ideally hooked from the first paragraph
  4. weighty tomes are considered only if they meet criteria #3

9 Perfect Books for the Plane

  • To Timbukto for a Haircut: A Journey Through West Africa by Rick Antonson. Take a month long trip with the author as he enjoys and endures whatever gets thrown his way – from meetings with the Tuareg people to boating the River Niger to dealing with unscrupulous tour operators. The National Post recommends putting this book on your packing list to Africa, right after the malaria pills.
  • Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant that ever Lived by Ralph Helpher. A joint biography of a man, Bram, and an elephant born to the circus life in the late 1800′s. Bram stows away on the ship taking the elephant to India, survives a shipwreck, numerous cruel and greedy circus owners, bandits, an unplanned separation but triumphs on American soil in the end.
  • The City of Thieves by David Benioff. This is the story of two men on an incredible adventure during the siege of Leningrad. Plenty of horror but lots of humour lightens the book. It’s been called a gripping tale and I would concur.
  • Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson (to be released in paperback in late October) I think this book is even better than Three Cups of Tea. This is his inplausible but true tale of how he has managed to build over 130 schools, mostly for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Find out how he builds relationships and empowers people and whole communities. An incredible read; an incredible man.
Picture 007 Nine Perfect Books for the Plane

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson

  • Still Alice by Lisa Genova. If you fear Alzheimers this book may not be for you. It’s a fictional tale about a female college professor who develops early onset Alzheimers. The author has a PhD in neuroscience so she knows what she’s talking about. The book strikes a chord on so  many levels; we can all relate to the fear of losing our mind and most of us know someone who has been affected by the disease.  Despite the dark topic it’s a very readable and educational book.
  • Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Everything Malcolm Gladwell writes I find interesting but Blink especially so. In the blink of an eye we all jump to a series of conclusions about all manner of things- whether to buy a book, hire a person or buy a house for example. Find out what happens in our brains in those first two seconds.  You’ll find great examples backed up by plenty of understandable and fascinating research.
  • The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. The basis for the book is a historical document called the Book of Negroes,  copies of which can be found in the National Archives of Canada and at the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The author takes you on the horrendous  journey of a female slave from the shores of Africa to America, up to Canada and overseas. It’s a heart wrenching account that puts a face on slavery. This was one of my favourite books last year.
  • Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The true story of a Somali born woman who is now a Dutch Member of Parliament. A compelling read about her struggle with the Muslim faith, genital mutilation, unwanted marriage, politics plus a feminist critique of Islam from an insider.
  • Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Given many positive reviews with a synopsis below.

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics — their passion for the same woman — that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him — nearly destroying him — Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.

 

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Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Books and Book Reviews 

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7 Responses to “Nine Perfect Books for the Plane”

  1. Tweets that mention Nine Perfect Books for the Plane | HikeBikeTravel, My title -- Topsy.com on October 4th, 2010 11:15 am

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  2. Belinda on October 5th, 2010 7:35 pm

    I have two of these books already. Great choices.
  3. Cafeloony on October 5th, 2010 7:35 pm

    These are some great choices for books. Thanks for this list.
  4. Opal on October 5th, 2010 7:36 pm

    Thanks for posting. I needed a good suggestion for a book.
  5. Candice on October 6th, 2010 9:06 am

    I always love your book recommendations, adding the ones I haven’t read to my wishlist! Book of Negroes, Still Alice and Blink are great choices!
    Candice´s last [type] ..Dirt Angels and Tidal Bore Rafting in Shubenacadie- Nova Scotia
  6. Hike Bike Travel on October 6th, 2010 9:53 am

    I’m always on the lookout myself for a book that will grab me from the first paragraph. It’s inexpensive and usually educational entertainment for me. I don’t like going a day without reading for pleasure. If you have suggestions Candice I’d love to hear them.
  7. Chris on October 7th, 2010 4:55 pm

    Great recommendations- Still Alice was amazing and I loved the Book of Negroes. Our book club met last night and added Cutting for Stone to our list this year- thanks for the review. Chris

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