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Round Ireland With a Fridge

by Tony Hawks (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,041 ratings
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Have you ever made a drunken ben? Worse, still, have you eveer tried to win one? In attempting to hitchhike round Ireland wich a fridge, Tony Hawks did both, and his foolhardiness led him to one of the best experiences of his life. Joined by his trusty traveling companion-cum-domestic appliance, he made his way from Dublin to Donegal, from Sligo through Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Wicklow and back again to Dublin. In their month of madness, Tony and his fridge met a real prince, a bogus king, and the fridge got christened. They surfed together, entered a bachelor festival, and one of them had sex without the other knowing. And unexpectedly, the fridge itself became a momentary focus for the people of Ireland.

An international bestseller, Round Ireland with a Fridge is a classic travel adventure in the tradition of Bill Bryson with a dash of Dave Barry.

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  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,041 ratings

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Tony Hawks

Tony Hawks

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,041 global ratings
This book is a mis-print, in the middle of the book, another book is inserted.
1 Star
This book is a mis-print, in the middle of the book, another book is inserted.
It stops at page 56, then has pages 49-112 of another book, then resumes this book at page 121. The book itself is great, I have read it before, but what a bummer to have to stop the re-read. I hope the publisher does the decent thing and sends me a new one.
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Top reviews from the United States

Robert I. Hedges
5.0 out of 5 stars A Most Bizarre Travelogue
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2003
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I love this book. The premise is that due to a bet while under the influence he has to hitchhike around the perimeter of Ireland in a month. The fact that he paid more for the fridge than the value of the wager makes the concept even more entertaining. Some have criticized (I believe unfairly) the book for not being a detailed travel journal. I think that is a factually correct statement, but the point here is not to be a serious travel guide, but to be a humor book about funny experiences during a very odd odyssey.
There are many amusing moments in the book, some of which are so well written that they made me laugh out loud. Purists may argue that it is a rather smallish fridge, but I don't think that matters; it's the concept of hitchhiking in a foreign country with a large, ungainly peculiar object that matters here.
Tony Hawks is a very strange, and very funny man. If you are interested in a book filled with unusual comic characters and situations, this would be hard to beat.
4 people found this helpful
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JuLee Rudolf
4.0 out of 5 stars Inebriated Odyssey around Ireland may seem like a waste of (reading) time but is, in fact, generally humorous and entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2011
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In response to a wager declared during drunkenness, Brit Tony Hawks accepts the challenge of traveling around Ireland while packing a compact refrigerator. And a book is born. In 1997, he spends one month, fridge in tow, hitching rides around the country and staying in various establishments including: B&Bs, a youth hostel, and the homes of newly acquired acquaintances. Helped by PR from a popular radio station, he and his ice box complete the quest, and in the process, he gains adequate fodder to produce this entertaining book. Although I was skeptical of the story, the fact that I laughed out loud in several places sealed the deal for me. Hawks' philosophy seems best summarized as follows: (p 9) "The trick is to be masters of our own destiny in so far as we have control and take the rest on the chin with a wry smile" and (p 46) "Heavy lifting is good for the soul but bad for the back, and tends to interfere with lolling about." Some of the funnier moments include random musings on subjects like this one about man's best friend, (p 35) "Dogs pride themselves on getting muddy and to be less muddy than your owner must be shameful" and another about a hostelmate, (p 148) "I'm against the death penalty. I believe that it is a mistake to show that killing people is wrong, by killing people. However, I'm not against the random killing of people who snore." He is just as funny when contending such things as, (p 40) "Just like an orchestra will have a Lead Violinist, most pubs will have a Lead Drunk," and then supporting the statement regularly. This should come as no surprise considering the fact he spends most of his overnight stays bevvying (beers) at local pubs. In summary, in spite of some skepticism, I found Round Ireland with a fridge to be worthwhile light reading. Also good: Me Talk Pretty Some Day by David Sedaris, I'll Mature When I'm Dead by Dave Barry, and Dubliners by James Joyce.
One person found this helpful
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NanaJo
5.0 out of 5 stars What happens when you make a bet.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024
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I read this book after taking a trip to Ireland…I suggest everyone should…even if you’re not going:-)
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Michele
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
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Used for a class. Very helpful.
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Peggy Vincent
3.0 out of 5 stars Rolicking fun, but in the end you ask, um, what's the point?
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2003
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Just a rollicking romp around Ireland on a dare: hitchhiking with a fridge in tow. That's what comes from drinking and betting in pubs. You wake up in the morning and realize you've got 30 days to buy a fridge and circumnavigate all of Ireland with it in order to win a bet that cost just about what you paid for it. And in the end, what've you got? An uncollected bet and a spare fridge.
Fun, funny, but...
2 people found this helpful
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IMHO
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun armchair traveller ride~
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
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I wanted a book for a friend who has hiked around Ireland and will soon go off to do it again. I read it first to make sure she would like it and I did and she did. So I can easily recommend this book. It's is very funny and easy to get into the silliness of the whole idea, and then sit back and enjoy the ride. I wonder what it would be like to do what he did all those years ago if he went today. I like to think it might not be all that different.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read!
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
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This is a very enjoyable tale! I was a little disappointed when I found out that the "fridge" was a little cube model, not a full sized Amana, but everything else is a lot of fun. To win a ridiculous bet, Tony decides to hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge in tow. A local radio station gets wind of his scheme, and follows his itinerary around the country. He ends up having some fun adventures along the way, including lunch with some Benedictine nuns, and everybody gets into the spirit, or the "craic", of his journey. It's a fun read, with some delightful descriptions of the Irish countryside mixed in with a lot of good humor!
One person found this helpful
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Susanne Carlisle
5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE YOU JOHN GREEEN
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016
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Okay, so here's the deal. Two weeks ago St. John of Green publically endorsed this books as one of the seventeen books you really need to read. And so I bought it. And so far the first five pages are delightful. But I have ADHD and am now crocheting, and slowly at that. This book will eventually get read, and I'll get back to you on how awesome and funny I thought it was.

The guy gets put on a bet and goes around Ireland hitchhiking with a fridge. Just like it says. Like I said, check back. How can John Green be wrong???
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Top reviews from other countries

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Vanessa
5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny book
Reviewed in Brazil on May 17, 2022
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A very lovely and funny book. I laughed a lot reading Tony and his fridge's adventures in Ireland. Great book!
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kitten01
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2024
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Bought this first time around- very funny!
Bought it again as a Christmas pressie for Aunt...Who read it over 20 yrs ago when having chemo. Cheered her up.
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Elexus
5.0 out of 5 stars A bet, a fridge and Ireland - Enough said!
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2018
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This book was my first encounter with Tony Hawks and it did not disappoint! In typical guy fashion drinking leads to a bet and to find out more you’ll have to read it but there there is a fridge involved and pictures are included! Love his other books as well.
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Mu009
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious. Wodehousesque in parts - without trying. EXCELLENT!
Reviewed in India on October 27, 2019
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Have loved Tony on The Unbelievable Truth Radio Show for a long time. He's even better here.
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Karnelia
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 26, 2017
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This book is pure fun. It makes me giggle out loud. The whole plan is ridiculous, but it turns out great. Makes you want to try it yourself (which you obviously never do...)

One of my favourite books I've ever read.
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