Title: Round Ireland with a Fridge
Author: Tony Hawks
First published January 1, 1997
248 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780312274924 (ISBN10: 0312274920)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
Have you ever embarked on a crazy adventure? Tony Hawks did just that when he made a drunken bet to hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge.
What followed was a month of madness, as Tony and his trusty appliance traveled from Dublin to Donegal, meeting interesting people and having unforgettable experiences along the way. They surfed together, participated in a bachelor festival, and even had a secret rendezvous.
The fridge even became a temporary celebrity in Ireland. With wit and humor, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a travel memoir that will leave you laughing and inspired.
A must-read for fans of Bill Bryson and Dave Barry.
About the Author
Meet Tony Hawks, a well-known British comedian and author who has made a name for himself with his quirky travel accounts and bizarre wagers with friends. Along with performing stand-up comedy, he is a regular on UK television and radio panel games such as I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth, and Have I Got News for You.
However, he first gained recognition as one of two resident performers (Jo Brand being the other) on the semi-successful BBC monologue show The Brain Drain.
Hawks initially pursued a career in show business as a singer-songwriter, but it was his novelty record with the group Morris Minor and the Majors that brought him fame. Their Beastie Boys parody, Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime), reached number four on the UK charts in 1988 and sold 220,000 copies.
The follow-up, a parody of Stock Aitken Waterman called This Is the Chorus, was less successful.
In 2010, a full-length feature film adaptation of his book, Round Ireland with a Fridge, was released, starring Hawks, Josie Lawrence, Ed Byrne, and Sean Hughes. The follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, which stars Steven Frost, Angus Deayton, Morwenna Banks, and Laura Solon, has just finished filming.
In March 2011, Hawks traveled to Japan to attend the Okinawa International Film Festival, where Round Ireland with a Fridge was nominated for Best Comedy.
Half of the royalties from Hawks’ book, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, were donated to a trust fund for Moldova. The funds were used to establish the Hippocrates Centre, a medical facility that provides rehabilitative therapy to disabled children from socially vulnerable families.
Hawks continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement. He is also the co-founder and public face of the “Tennis for Free” campaign, which aims to make municipal tennis facilities available to everyone in Britain.
Hawks is often confused with Tony Hawk, the professional skateboarder, largely due to the latter’s video game franchise using the possessive apostrophe (“Tony Hawk’s”). Hawks maintains a list of emails intended for the skateboarder and his mischievous responses to them on his website.
In January 2008, he appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, with Tony Hawk as his chosen specialized subject. Hawks humorously noted that his correspondents “might be able to do backside varials but they can’t spell to save their lives.”
In September, Hawks will embark on his first National Theatre tour since 2003 with a new one-man show called Random Fun.
Editoral Review
Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks is a comedic travelogue that will leave readers laughing out loud. Published on January 1, 1997, the book details the author’s adventures as he attempts to hitchhike around the entirety of Ireland with nothing but a small fridge in tow.
The book is not only a hilarious memoir but also offers an insightful exploration of the quirks of Irish culture. Tony Hawks is a British comedian who wrote this book as a result of a drunken bet.
The bet in question was whether or not it was possible to hitchhike across Ireland with a fridge. Hawks accepted the bet and hilarity ensued.
This real-life adventure was then turned into a novel, and Round Ireland with a Fridge became an instant cult classic. The book is a travelogue and falls into the category of humor writing.
It’s a light-hearted read, but it also touches on themes such as cultural differences and identity. The book has a conversational and humorous tone that takes readers on a journey throughout Ireland, from Dublin to Dingle and back again.
The plot of the book is quite straightforward. Tony Hawks finds himself at a pub in London, where he makes a drunken bet with a friend that he can hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge.
Despite the odds against him, Hawks embarks on his journey and meets a cast of humorous characters. Along the way, he learns about Ireland’s history, culture, and traditions.
The book doesn’t have a traditional plot structure, as it simply follows Hawks’ journey without a clear story arc. One of the strengths of Round Ireland with a Fridge is Hawks’ ability to create vivid and memorable characters.
From the eccentric travelers he meets on the road to the locals who offer him a place to stay or a ride, every character in the book is unique and funny. Additionally, Hawks’ humor is clever and witty, making readers laugh out loud on every page.
However, the book does have a few weaknesses. The lack of a plot structure may not appeal to all readers, and the book’s tone can sometimes come across as flippant.
Additionally, Hawks can be a bit self-indulgent, which may not resonate with everyone. Despite these flaws, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a must-read for anyone who enjoys travel writing or humor.
The book has historical and cultural significance as it offers a humorous take on Irish culture and traditions. It also serves as a commentary on the joys of travel and the eccentric people we meet along the way.
Overall, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a hilarious and witty travelogue that readers won’t be able to put down. For those looking for a laugh-out-loud book that delves into the cultural quirks of Ireland, this is the perfect read.
I would rate it 8/10, based on the quality of writing, character development, and overall entertainment value.
