Customer Reviews
So much amusement in reality - By: K. Brady, 12 Sep 2008 
I really enjoy a book which can make me laugh out loud on the train going home from work. This book has the ability to do that. There are ups & downs (laughter & sadness), which I think makes the book much more interesting. Tony has a way of making it seem effortless to keep the reader turning each page. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking of reading it, although I may recommend "Round Ireland with a Fridge" first.
A very funny book! - By: gjb, 14 Jul 2008 I wonder if he's finished the pool yet ... ? In spite of the publicity surrounding Tony Hawk's other well known book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis I decided to read this book first of all. It didn't disappoint,in fact it was hilarious ... especially his experiences with white vans! The book had mein stitches from start to finish. I was amused to read about local village lifein the Pyrenees & the characters that add to the amusement ... What I like best about Hawks' style is that he always tells it how it is - no holds barred!
Easy Going - nothing spectacular but enjoyable nonetheless! - By: Charlotte Lou, 06 May 2008 
An easy-going, quite enjoyable book - I found it effortless & quite funny - perfect for someone who wants something they can pick up & put down without any fear of losing of track of where they got to.
On the flip-side, bearingin mind I like a real page-turner, something a bit gritty - this was not the book for me. I didn't real find that anything about Tony's French adventure inspired me to race onto the next page & to be honest, I'm not sure that I would have bothered writing about my experience if I was him - not a great deal happened.
It was more like a cross between a travel guide, a journal & a GCSE essay.
I hate the words 'nice' & 'good' as they are so undescriptive butin this case they are just right. Nothing amazing - wouldn't recommend it - but have read far worse.
A pleasant way to spend a few hours - By: Bookwormjo, 28 Apr 2008 
Tony Hawks is one of those people who's been around for ages & is pretty much a professional panellist on the various comedy shows which pervade TV & radio. This is the second book I've read of his & I very much enjoyed it. His wit shines through certain chapters - such as the 'white van saga' & various other things. It isn't 'laugh out loud' funny, but it's amusing enough.
The French villagers seem to be a strange lot though & you get the impression that Hawks has embellished them a fair bit to shoehorn some more comedy into the book. The ending is a bit of a whirlwind, whichin some ways doesn't ring true. Allin all, it's a good book to while away a summer's day or to lull oneself into a (refreshing) state of slumberin the evening.
A Pleasant Time in Good Company - By: J. Grundy, 08 Feb 2008 I think some of the negative commentsin the less positive reviews of this book miss the point. I would hope that anyone wanting advice about the legal process of buying a home abroad, with due respect, wouldn't be buying anything by Tony Hawks. Similarly, I'd be surprised if those wanting to learn more about the challenges involvedin renovating older properties or learning more about the cultural history of this region of France would go looking for that informationin such fare as this. (But Tony Hawkes doesn't indulgein the 'aren't foreigners funny with their silly little ways' line, though.)
To use a cliche, Tony Hawkes' books 'do exactly what it says on the tin'. This book relates a feel good storyin an easy, relaxed, conversational style that I found very entertaining. No, I didn't discover any great insights into the human psyche nor did it change my life but it gave me a few laughs & I was happy with that.
