Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Munchen : Goldmann, 2008.
Description
"I hereby bet Tony Hawks the sum of One Hundred Pounds that he cannot hitchhike round the circumference of Ireland, with a fridge, within one calendar month' A foolhardy attempt to win a drunken bet led to Tony Hawks having one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life. Joined by his trusty travelling-companion-cum-domestic-appliance, he found himself in the midst of a remarkable, inspirational and, at times, downright silly adventure. In their month of madness, Tony and his fridge surfed together; entered a batchelor festival; and one of them had sex without the other knowing. The fridge got christened, and they even met the poorest king on Earth. An absurd story of an extraordinary adventure, Round Ireland with a Fridgefollows the fearless pair as they battle towards Dublin and a breathtaking finale that is moving, uplifting, and a fitting conclusion to the whole ridiculous affair."… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member amaraduende
A hysterical true story about a man trying to hitchhike all the way around Ireland with a mini fridge, because of a drunken bet. Wonderful picture of country life in Ireland.
LibraryThing member scofer
A funny premise, for sure. Tony Hawks, a comedian from London, makes a bet with a friend that he can hitchhike around Ireland toting a refrigerator. Due to help from a syndicated radio host, Hawks becomes somewhat of a celebrity. The book chronicles his journey from town to town and the incredible
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generosity and humor of the people he meets along the way. While starting out as laugh out loud funny for me, it did tend to get a tad old by the end. All in all, this was an entertaining read and definitely got me in the spirit for a trip to Ireland. Show Less
LibraryThing member tomroadjunky
Round Ireland with a Fridge is the slightly surreal tale of Tony Hawks, a stand up comedian who, for a bet, resolves to hitchhike around the circumference of Ireland with a fridge. Really.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is the slightly surreal tale of Tony Hawks, a stand up comedian who, for a bet,
Luckily for Tony Hawks, he’d undertaken his voyage in a country which understands and empathises with the average idiotic quest and, with the help of national radio, he becomes something of a celebrity wherever he goes, receiving offers of hospitality, parties are thrown for him and he get outrageously drunk at every turn.
And that’s nothing to the response that the Irish give the fridge. Drivers who give the couple lifts scrawl all over it in felt tip pen, the fridge gets christened to ensure its place in heaven and it even gets taken surfing by a local who particularly gets into the spirit of things.
Tony Hawks is a bit of a wimp at first when it comes to hitchhiking and hasn’t quite got the idea that a good deal of waiting is involved. But with the Gerry Ryan show firmly behind him there are soon more than enough drivers willing to take him along and indeed, Irish media seems to have been so dry for news that TV crews, radio and print journalists fall over themselves to give the fridge its 7 minutes of fame.
Hawks gets on such a roll that after a while all he seems to need to do is walk into the nearest pub with his fridge on a trolley behind him before he makes friends with half the town.
“’Mary, have you heard about his fella? He’s bringing a fridge round Ireland.’
‘Jeez, what an eejit. What’s he drinking?’”
Tony Hawks makes a living by being funny and Round Ireland with a Fridge will have you laughing out loud. At times his little speeches and flights of fancy go on rather too long and you feel like you’re reading more of a script than a travelogue. He can also be facetious at times, trying to pull of innuendoes or crabby one-liners that suggest a comedian on stage struggling to get any laughs.
Most of the time though it’s a pleasure to watch him suffer the agonies of being an articulate, if slightly awkward, Englishman winning the love of the Irish as he lets Fate guide him around the country with no thought of where he’ll sleep tomorrow. Generally, the fridge seems to have its own destiny and there’s no doubt that it would have been a dull trip without it.
Each time Tony Hawks moves on though he realises that sad truth so familiar to the hitchhiker or traveler that he has to start from scratch in each place he arrives in. In some villages he becomes a celebrity, the toast of the town, and then in others he’s simply some fool with a large kitchen appliance in tow.
Hawks and the fridge are usually on safe territory once they hit the pub though and order a Guiness. Discussions usually then ensue about the merits of travel, rucksacks and fridges and the questions come fast and furious.
“’How much was the bet for?’ said Niamh, who was working behind the bar for the summer.
‘A hundred pounds.’
‘And how much was the fridge?’ enquired an interested bystander called John.
‘A hundred and thirty pounds.;
‘Jeez, you’re an eegit,’ added Seamus, the pub manager.
‘Niamh, get this man a pint,’ concluded Geraldine the boss.”
Hawks is overwhelmed by the warm welcomes he receives everywhere he goes and ends up surmising that such is the Irish character.
‘I was beginning to understand how the Irish mentality worked. The more foolish, illogical or surreal one’s actions were supposed to be (and surely mine fell into one of these categories), the wider the arms of hospitality were opened in salutation.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is a must for any hitchhiker or traveler who has ever dreamed to hitting the road with a surreal mission or purpose. Tony Hawks illustrates the value of a dream and how playing the inspire fool can bring faith and meaning to other people’s lives. If the resulting hangover doesn’t completely obliterate the memory of meeting him.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is the slightly surreal tale of Tony Hawks, a stand up comedian who, for a bet,
Show More
resolves to hitchhike around the circumference of Ireland with a fridge. Really.Luckily for Tony Hawks, he’d undertaken his voyage in a country which understands and empathises with the average idiotic quest and, with the help of national radio, he becomes something of a celebrity wherever he goes, receiving offers of hospitality, parties are thrown for him and he get outrageously drunk at every turn.
And that’s nothing to the response that the Irish give the fridge. Drivers who give the couple lifts scrawl all over it in felt tip pen, the fridge gets christened to ensure its place in heaven and it even gets taken surfing by a local who particularly gets into the spirit of things.
Tony Hawks is a bit of a wimp at first when it comes to hitchhiking and hasn’t quite got the idea that a good deal of waiting is involved. But with the Gerry Ryan show firmly behind him there are soon more than enough drivers willing to take him along and indeed, Irish media seems to have been so dry for news that TV crews, radio and print journalists fall over themselves to give the fridge its 7 minutes of fame.
Hawks gets on such a roll that after a while all he seems to need to do is walk into the nearest pub with his fridge on a trolley behind him before he makes friends with half the town.
“’Mary, have you heard about his fella? He’s bringing a fridge round Ireland.’
‘Jeez, what an eejit. What’s he drinking?’”
Tony Hawks makes a living by being funny and Round Ireland with a Fridge will have you laughing out loud. At times his little speeches and flights of fancy go on rather too long and you feel like you’re reading more of a script than a travelogue. He can also be facetious at times, trying to pull of innuendoes or crabby one-liners that suggest a comedian on stage struggling to get any laughs.
Most of the time though it’s a pleasure to watch him suffer the agonies of being an articulate, if slightly awkward, Englishman winning the love of the Irish as he lets Fate guide him around the country with no thought of where he’ll sleep tomorrow. Generally, the fridge seems to have its own destiny and there’s no doubt that it would have been a dull trip without it.
Each time Tony Hawks moves on though he realises that sad truth so familiar to the hitchhiker or traveler that he has to start from scratch in each place he arrives in. In some villages he becomes a celebrity, the toast of the town, and then in others he’s simply some fool with a large kitchen appliance in tow.
Hawks and the fridge are usually on safe territory once they hit the pub though and order a Guiness. Discussions usually then ensue about the merits of travel, rucksacks and fridges and the questions come fast and furious.
“’How much was the bet for?’ said Niamh, who was working behind the bar for the summer.
‘A hundred pounds.’
‘And how much was the fridge?’ enquired an interested bystander called John.
‘A hundred and thirty pounds.;
‘Jeez, you’re an eegit,’ added Seamus, the pub manager.
‘Niamh, get this man a pint,’ concluded Geraldine the boss.”
Hawks is overwhelmed by the warm welcomes he receives everywhere he goes and ends up surmising that such is the Irish character.
‘I was beginning to understand how the Irish mentality worked. The more foolish, illogical or surreal one’s actions were supposed to be (and surely mine fell into one of these categories), the wider the arms of hospitality were opened in salutation.
Round Ireland with a Fridge is a must for any hitchhiker or traveler who has ever dreamed to hitting the road with a surreal mission or purpose. Tony Hawks illustrates the value of a dream and how playing the inspire fool can bring faith and meaning to other people’s lives. If the resulting hangover doesn’t completely obliterate the memory of meeting him.
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LibraryThing member msjoanna
I couldn't really get into this book. I was continually comparing it to McCarthy's Bar, a far superior book about traveling around Ireland with a strange purpose in mind. The fact that the author used a radio show to promote his trip seemed to undermine the project and overall, I just didn't find
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the author all that funny or observant. The pictures are amusing. Show Less
LibraryThing member brightspark
I love this book. Comical tale of Tony Hawks trying to hitch-hike his way around Ireland with... a fridge.
It had me laughing out loud REGULARLY all the way through. In fact, by the end, I wanted to go out and buy a fridge so I could try it for myself.
It had me laughing out loud REGULARLY all the way through. In fact, by the end, I wanted to go out and buy a fridge so I could try it for myself.
LibraryThing member seldombites
This was an absolutely hilarious look at what it is like to hitch hike around Ireland with a fridge in tow. Quirky, yet profound, most of life's lessons can be learned from the tale of Tony's journey and his interactions with the many interesting (and sometimes odd) people he meets along the way.
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Reading this book lifted my spirits and left me with a distinct desire to visit Ireland. Definitely worth reading! Show Less
LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
A fun book about a man, a fridge, and a bet. I really want to travel to Ireland now after seeing how friendly and helpful the people there were to this Englishman as he tries to win a bet by hitchhiking around Ireland along with a small refridgerator. I admit the author spent a great deal of time
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in pubs, but while in Ireland how can you not. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy travelogues and humor. Show Less
LibraryThing member jpsnow
In the process of re-living his hitch-hike around Ireland, I think I actually relaxed myself for a couple hours. What a pleasant, engaging and just slightly enough philosophical adventure.
LibraryThing member Linus_Linus
I hereby bet Tony Hawks the sum of One Hundred Pounds that he cannot hitchhike round the circumference of Ireland, with a fridge, within one calendar month.
Prompted by such an unsober bet in a London Party, starts the journey of Tony Hawks, round the Irish country where things always fall into
Quite an enjoyable book; a pleasant mixture of humour, madness, guinness and the variable possibilities of wander experiences. Like all real travel enthusiasts, I found myself being filled with great satisfaction and equally great envy while reading it. Contrivances aside, it shows How Ireland is a Beauty and why Guinness IS Poetry.
Prompted by such an unsober bet in a London Party, starts the journey of Tony Hawks, round the Irish country where things always fall into
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place 'aiding and abetting' him to complete the bet. And through it flows the enriching experience of a Man and a Fridge(Saoirse), as they together hitch-hike around a series of hilarious events meeting a variety of equally comical Irishmen- from a King of an island to a kind soul who deliberately drives to pick up the writer after listening about his venture on a radio show. Quite an enjoyable book; a pleasant mixture of humour, madness, guinness and the variable possibilities of wander experiences. Like all real travel enthusiasts, I found myself being filled with great satisfaction and equally great envy while reading it. Contrivances aside, it shows How Ireland is a Beauty and why Guinness IS Poetry.
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LibraryThing member MontglaneChess
In his international best-seller, British comedian Tony Hawks pledges to circumnavigate Ireland inside a month, while hitchhiking with a fridge. The drunken bet leaves Hawks, and Ireland, changed as this "ridiculous but ultimately warm-hearted diary-like account" (The New York Times Book Review)
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shows how even simple things can rally a people and their hospitality. Tony and his trusty traveling companion-cum-miniature domestic appliance hitchhike from Dublin and back again, meeting quirky royalty and getting christened by nuns along the way. The warmth of the Irish people shine through as Tony’s journey winds its way on and off the beaten path of Eire. Told in chronological order, an Irish radio station chronicles parts of his adventures as the nation awaits Hawks return to Dublin. Hawks writing is a bloke-ish, occasionally Guinness-addled style filled with understated appreciation for the cultural surroundings. The simplistic and eye-catching cover design featuring the terms of the bet reels in readers after they’ve been captivated by the title. This title earns its place in public library travel sections. An engaging option for YA readers as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member kristinmm
This book was so funny that I was laughing at almost every page. I love that the author followed through on his ridiculous bet, only to constantly end up in even more ridiculous situations as the people he came across embraced the fridge philosophy. One man called it "A totally purposeless idea,
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but a damn fine one" and who could say it better? Heads up, they just finishing filming a movie about it, starring Tony Hawks. Show Less
LibraryThing member koeniel
British comedian Tony Hawks, who thought he is not a betting man and a drinking man, woke up one day after a heavy night and found a note by his bedside, stating that he had undertook a bet of one hundred pounds for hitchhiking around Ireland for a month, with a fridge. Why a fridge? Apparently a
Tony set forth on a spring day to hitch-hike accompanied by a small fridge. It's not easy to hitch-hike with a lumbersome fridge, it sounds so crazy and futile, but it captured the heart of the Irish people. He was thought an eejit, hence a hero, and he gets free pints everytime people found out he's the Fridge Man. In the end the fridge became the sole factor that made his hitch-hiking project successful.
They went together from Dublin to county Donegal, county Sligo, to Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow and back to Dublin. Along the road Tony experienced all kinds of hilarious situations, including entering a bachelor festival and living in a doghouse. The fridge got even more interesting experiences for a fridge, things other fridges in the world are likely never to experience. First of all it was christened Saiorse (meaning Freedom), in a proper ceremony with Guinness baptism in front of a pub. Then it was properly blessed by the charismatic Mother Superior of Kylemore Abbey, and later on taken surfing.
They met colourful characters along the way, from the poorest King on earth and a variety of ordinary people. It highlights the interesting character of the Irish people and the beauty of rural Ireland. Having done a road travel myself in Ireland in springtime (though not hitch-hiking) I can imagine the places he had seen and the people he met.
Not only it is a fascinating travel book, it is a brilliantly funny book. Tony's witty observations and dry comments of the people and situations he encountered are very hilarious. I drew a lot of stares from the people in the train reading this book as I couldn't but laugh out loud every now and then. Definitely an antidote of stress.
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few years back when Tony was driven through a small Irish town he saw a guy standing by the road side, hitchhiking. But that guy has a fridge with him. The Irish friend who drove him didn't sound surprised at all to see a man hitch-hiking with a fridge. Such is the quirks of the Irish people. The scene stuck in his mind and it came out during one drunken night and that was how his interesting and hilarious adventure began.Tony set forth on a spring day to hitch-hike accompanied by a small fridge. It's not easy to hitch-hike with a lumbersome fridge, it sounds so crazy and futile, but it captured the heart of the Irish people. He was thought an eejit, hence a hero, and he gets free pints everytime people found out he's the Fridge Man. In the end the fridge became the sole factor that made his hitch-hiking project successful.
They went together from Dublin to county Donegal, county Sligo, to Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow and back to Dublin. Along the road Tony experienced all kinds of hilarious situations, including entering a bachelor festival and living in a doghouse. The fridge got even more interesting experiences for a fridge, things other fridges in the world are likely never to experience. First of all it was christened Saiorse (meaning Freedom), in a proper ceremony with Guinness baptism in front of a pub. Then it was properly blessed by the charismatic Mother Superior of Kylemore Abbey, and later on taken surfing.
They met colourful characters along the way, from the poorest King on earth and a variety of ordinary people. It highlights the interesting character of the Irish people and the beauty of rural Ireland. Having done a road travel myself in Ireland in springtime (though not hitch-hiking) I can imagine the places he had seen and the people he met.
Not only it is a fascinating travel book, it is a brilliantly funny book. Tony's witty observations and dry comments of the people and situations he encountered are very hilarious. I drew a lot of stares from the people in the train reading this book as I couldn't but laugh out loud every now and then. Definitely an antidote of stress.
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LibraryThing member Othemts
As the title suggests this is a story about a man making a circuit accompanied by a refrigerator. The odd premise was born in a drunken bet, and Hawks makes the best of it with a hilarious travelogue. Few books make me laugh out loud and this one made me chortle, chuckle, and explode with laughter
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on each page. It must be read to be believed. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rach974923
The first book I'd ever read by Tony Hawks just made me want to read the rest of them. Hilariously funny, wonderfully odd and curiously informative as a travel guide for Ireland. Heartily recommended.
LibraryThing member vicarofdibley
one of those laugh out loud books everyone must read
LibraryThing member VirginiaGill
This book had me chuckling before I even reached page one. Over and over I found myself laughing out loud and wanting to jump on the first plane heading to Ireland. Don't think I'll tote a fridge along but when I go I sure will be thinking about this book. And I probably will still be laughing!
LibraryThing member knitwick
The story was rather enjoyable but the writing was a bit off at times. I would have liked more detail at some points and less at others. Also, it was a bit choppy; the narrative of events did not flow smoothly. Surprisingly, this is what made it a bit easier to read in the small amounts of time I
Overall, I would recommend reading it if you are at all interested in what life is like in Ireland.
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found myself with to finish this book.Overall, I would recommend reading it if you are at all interested in what life is like in Ireland.
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LibraryThing member dawng
Entertaining in cheap sort of way. Not as entertaining or voyeuristic as Bill Bryson, in my opinion. If you like to live vicariously through the experiences of other peoples travels then I would definitely suggest Bill Bryson. If you just want a few good laughs then this is the book.
LibraryThing member Oreillynsf
The story of a bet. That the author couldn't make it around Ireland as a hitchhiker with a fridge in tow. Yes, that kind of fridge. If you don't love the author and all of the people of Ireland by the end, someone needs to check you for a pulse.
LibraryThing member Jim53
Quite an oddity. The author makes a drunken bet that he can hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland with a refrigerator in tow. He begins by purchasing a small fridge that costs more than the value of the bet, a fact that he confesses at several points throughout the book, drawing a variety of
The residents he meets generally regard his as an "eejit," demented but harmless. He finds help in unexpected places and meets a wide variety of people. There is plenty of humor, although a good bit of it is repetitive. The writing is definitely nothing special, but since the book is not intended as literary, the writing does no harm. I found the book fun, although not as rapturously so as some folks seem to have.
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reactions. During his trip he hooks up with a radio show, which promotes his venture and exhorts folks to help him out. A mystique and "fridge philosophy" develop.The residents he meets generally regard his as an "eejit," demented but harmless. He finds help in unexpected places and meets a wide variety of people. There is plenty of humor, although a good bit of it is repetitive. The writing is definitely nothing special, but since the book is not intended as literary, the writing does no harm. I found the book fun, although not as rapturously so as some folks seem to have.
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LibraryThing member teckelvik
I had this book on my "to read" list for years. Oddly, I found it in a B&B in India, of all places.
This is a fun read. Tony Hawks gets drunk, and bets that he can hitchhike all the way around Ireland with a fridge. He's bored, he has nothing better to do, so he decides to try. He manages to get a
This is a fun read. Tony Hawks gets drunk, and bets that he can hitchhike all the way around Ireland with a fridge. He's bored, he has nothing better to do, so he decides to try. He manages to get a
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radio show interested in giving daily updates, buys a small fridge, and off he goes. He meets all kinds of people, he doesn't learn any huge life lessons, and he has a great time. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Read quickly and in some ways too quickly. In some places he came across as being disinclined to do the place-names the justice of looking them up and spelling them properly.
LibraryThing member seawerth
A great little hitch-hiking trip around Ireland. The author focusing on people he met more so than the beautiful scenery. I had a copy of Frommer's 'Ireland's Best-Loved Driving Tours' at my side which has some gorgeous color photos of the places he passed through. That made it more fun for me.
LibraryThing member agisby
I don't normally read travel books, but my husband is an avid devourer of same, and so when I gave him this as a gift, I was curious. He would read a few pages and then laugh. A lot. Out loud. I wondered what on earth could be so funny in a travel book. I had never read a book which made me laugh
I just couldn't put it down. It was hilarious, right from the ridiculous premise where the author agreed to a drunken bet to hitch-hike round Ireland with a fridge as a travelling companion. He meets a quite a few eccentric characters along the way, none of whom I knew (at least I don't think so, but you can never be quite sure. Nearly everyone in Ireland knows someone who's a cousin of someone else's cousin or brother, or aunt or sister ... you get the idea.)
My favourite line has got to be when asking for directions, the author got the reply, "You can't get there from here."
It's so funny because it's true, people do say that, I'm a culprit of saying that myself.
How did he manage it? Did people really let the madman with a fridge get into their cars and their lives? Read the book and find out, you won't be disappointed.
You'll be laughing out loud too.
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out loud. So after he had finished, I began reading the book.I just couldn't put it down. It was hilarious, right from the ridiculous premise where the author agreed to a drunken bet to hitch-hike round Ireland with a fridge as a travelling companion. He meets a quite a few eccentric characters along the way, none of whom I knew (at least I don't think so, but you can never be quite sure. Nearly everyone in Ireland knows someone who's a cousin of someone else's cousin or brother, or aunt or sister ... you get the idea.)
My favourite line has got to be when asking for directions, the author got the reply, "You can't get there from here."
It's so funny because it's true, people do say that, I'm a culprit of saying that myself.
How did he manage it? Did people really let the madman with a fridge get into their cars and their lives? Read the book and find out, you won't be disappointed.
You'll be laughing out loud too.
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LibraryThing member chrisod
This is quite possibly the most perfectly descriptive book title ever conceived. In this book, our hero wakes up to discover he bet a friend 100 pounds that he would hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland for a month, with a refrigerator. This book is that travelogue of the trip. It's full of
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interesting, quirky characters that offer Tony a place to stay, or a pint, as he makes his way 'round Ireland, towing a refrigerator behind him. And drinking, lots and lots of drinking. He is in Ireland! I don't think this trip would have worked out nearly as well if he had tried it in England, or France. There is something special about the Irish, and that specialness shines through in this book. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1998
Physical description
19 cm
ISBN
3442446414 / 9783442446414