Backpack

By: Emily Barr

Narrated by: Emma Fenney

The wonderful first novel from the critically acclaimed author of The Sleeper and The Sisterhood.

It's New Year's Day and the year isn't kicking off well for Tansy: her mother's dead, she's a cocaine addict and her boyfriend has just left her. A trip around the world seems like the only option except that she's not interested in seeing the world, just escaping from it, and the last people she wants to hang out with are backpackers.

Like a lot of travellers on the Lonely-Planet-led Asian Grand Tour, Tansy is intensely irritating at first. Always on the look out for the "real" Vietnam--the one in which she can walk around "like a model, fanning myself gently, strolling into ancient temples and learning about inner peace"--she is opinionated, narrow-minded and remarkably naive (for a supposed media luvvy). Once she has shrugged off her addiction to lines of coke, skinny lattes and Nicole Fahri jumpers, she becomes more appealing. So by the time she's fallen for Max, a fellow traveller, she'll have won you over and you'll be just as worried as she is about the serial killer who appears to be on her trail.

Emily Barr has written columns and travel pieces for the Observer and the Guardian for several years, and her previous novels have all been critically acclaimed. She lives in Cornwall with her husband and three children.

©2001 Emily Barr (P)2014 Audible Studios

Discovered Emily Barr

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Although the narrative is a bit rapid, the storyline is amusing and entertaining.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This is an interesting story from a developing writer. It is one of her first books.

Have you listened to any of Emma Fenney’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First listening to Fenney.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An excellent travel lit. with some very personal touches and good dry humor.

Any additional comments?

So happy to have discovered Emily Barr. Her stories, especially "The Sleeper" have something for everyone. Her writing is entertaining in every way. Also, a sure listen/read for lovers of British writing and narration. "The Perfect Lie" is also wonderful travel lit. (Venice).

Loved the narrator !

Where does Backpack rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

fantastic book for a " traveller" you will relate!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It definitely kept me listening!

Which character – as performed by Emma Fenney – was your favorite?

I loved Tansy

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

didnt want to stop listening

Story just ok

I'd read another book by this author and really liked it , but I felt this book was a bit lazily written. The main story is the girl traveling and changing outlook, but the sub plot was under the surface and could have been woven in so much better than it was - it was just eluded to until the end. Narrator is great.

A old favourite of mine brought to life

I was reminded of Backpack by Emily Barr when I saw she had recently released a new book. I bought Backpack as a paperback many years ago now, a few years after its initial release (I’m thinking 2007?). When my Audible credit came up this month, it was time for a revisit.

When I first saw this book waaaaay back when, I remember thinking it was chick-lit (yeah yeah judging books by their covers and all that), so probably not something I’d be interested in. But after I’d read the blurb and it talked of backpacking through Asia with a murderer following close behind, I took the plunge and bought the book.

Once I started reading it I was so glad I did. Since then, I've read it every few years... and the Audible experience just being the most recent. While it is categorised as “Women’s Fiction”, I feel everyone can (and should!) enjoy this.

Tansy, in the beginning of this novel, is a fairly unlikable person. Her mother has just died, and she’s hard drinking / hard drugging herself to forget about it. Convinced to take some time off from her life and go travelling with her boyfriend, she books a backpacking trip through Asia. Her boyfriend pulls out at the last minute and she’s forced to travel alone.

She arrives with impractical clothing and despising everyone, especially the backpackers who she believes herself to be above. Of course along the way she meets many interesting people who she begins to trust and love. As the novel progresses, news of murdered backpackers that look a lot like Tansy are showing up dead, in places she has visited. Of course she becomes less of a douche along the way, and embraces the backpacking way of life.

So part mystery / suspense, part self-discovery, part comedy, this novel deftly blends all three together into a thoroughly enjoyable read. The descriptions of life on the road as a backpacker and of the places and people Tansy meets along the way are immersive, obviously written by someone who has travelled the circuit.

The narrator, Emma Fenney, breathes so much life into Tansy and the other characters. She has a voice that's easy to listen to while adding the needed believability that makes you think you're listening to the true story of someone narrating their way around Asia.

TL;DR Versions
An oldie but a goodie and glad I looked past my preconceptions based on the cover. Give this one a go for sure.

Hard to relate

I read Sleeper and had high hopes for this book. I found the main character hard to relate to. It was better towards the end but was hard to get into.

LOved the Narration

Where does Backpack rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

While I was not sure in the beginning if I wanted to continue, the narration by Emmy Fenney was Brilliant!! I became totally absorbed by Tanzey and her adventure while not wholly believable it was storytelling at its best, I laughed at times and shrugged at times but what kept me going was the voice of both the author and the narrator, Loved it because of her narration, she is terrific and should narrate more books.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Backpack?

Tanzey's growing awareness of herself as an independent person, not the daughter, not the girlfriend, not the party girl but her inner self being comfortable with herself, I think there are a lot of lessons in the book for young people.

What does Emma Fenney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice is Great, I cannot believe there is not another book she has narrated, she showed range, depth, phrasing and she kept me coming back to it, Do More books!!!

WOW!

This book was so fun!!! I love Tansy! The performance was amazing, truly evidence of how a book is enhanced by audio. This is an amazing author. I am a fan for sure. Thirsting for more!!! Especially love this narrator. Must listen!

All of the action is in the last 30 minutes

I listened for HOURS at this woman's musings! FINALLY, she met up with the killer, but the confrontation was over in 2 minutes! Aargh!!