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A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains
 
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A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)

by Tony Hawks (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £5.17 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Ebury Press; New edition edition (5 Jul 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0091903335
  • ISBN-13: 978-0091903336
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.2 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 34,732 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #75 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > France

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Product Description

Review

"* 'Not just brilliantly written, but far too hilarious to read alone in a public place' - Independent on Sunday 'So entertainingly told you'll wish you were in the pub with him' - The Times * 'I expected to find this book funny, which it is; I didn't expect to find it illuminating and rather moving - which it is, too' - Daily Mail 'Wonderfully funny' - The Times * 'A wonderfully shaggy dog story - all the more wonderful for it actually having happened... funny and engaging' - Daily Telegraph 'Extremely entertaining' - Observer" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.


Product Description

'If you had to pick two things you wanted - if you had to - what would you pick?'. I hesitated. This was a bigger question than usually got asked at these post-match debriefs. 'I suppose the honest answer would be,' I said, still accessing the last pieces of required data from a jumbled mind, 'meeting my soul mate, and finding an idyllic house abroad somewhere.' Inspired by breathtaking views and romantic dreams of finding love in the mountains, Tony Hawks impulsively buys a house in the French Pyrenees. Here, he plans to finally fulfil his childhood fantasy of mastering the piano, untroubled by the problems of the world. In reality, the chaotic story of Tony's hopelessly ill-conceived house purchase reads like the definitive guide to how not to buy a house overseas. It finds him flirting with the removal business in a disastrous attempt to transport his piano to France in a dodgy white van; foolishly electing to build a swimming pool himself; and expanding his relationship repertoire when he starts co-habiting, not with an exquisite French beauty, but with a middle-aged builder from West London. As Tony and his friends haplessly attempt to fit into village life, they learn more about themselves and each other than they ever imagined.
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Customer Reviews

47 Reviews
5 star:
 (18)
4 star:
 (12)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (8)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (47 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Another good effort, 2 Feb 2007
By Matthew Millington "vikingmatt" (Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)
Tony Hawks is a fine author of light hearted 'travel books'. He has certainly been around in his time, and his latest adventures to the Pyrenees provides an entertaining diary of his experiences.

This book not does have the same comic content as when Tony made his pilgrimage around Irland, but then draging a fridge around the Emerald Isle is hard to follow. Saying that, there are still a lot of light hearted moments.

I share some of Tony's experiences, being another Brit who has moved abroad, and this makes many of the stories in this book all the more relevant to me as a reader. Getting used to and accepted into a foreign culture is no easy taks, but Tony jumps in with both feet. It is pleasing to see that he is more than willing to make a fool of himself through his use of the French language and other English eccentricities - a must if you are truely going to fit in.

A good read. Pleasant, interesting and witty.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, funny and entertaining, an ideal holiday read., 29 Aug 2006
This review is from: A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)
It's not quite as fast paced as Hawks' other titles, but it *is* a good read. If you travel and have driven abroad then you'll sympathise with much he experiences, and if you've thought about buying or moving abroad, then you'll really get something out of this. How he integrates into French village life, the saga of his pool, the builder who lives with him, the interesting characters he meets and how he struggles (blimey, if only I could speak French that well!) with the lingo: all great stuff. I read this under blue skies abroad and found it relaxing and entertaining. Good flowing writing style, gentle but good humour, and real life.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good humour throughout, 9 Aug 2006
By A Common Reader "Committed to reading" (Sussex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
This review is from: A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)
An ideal book to take on holiday - undemanding, funny and totally amusing. Tony Hawks has followed his earlier books with another inspired real-life account of his travels and encounters, this time in his efforts to purchase a house in the French Pyrenees and settle down to the routines of French village life.

As usual, there are many set-piece events (such as his troubles with an old white-van, or his efforts to find a girl-friend) which warm the reader's heart to his overall good humour and laid back approach to the inevitable trials of life.

This time, the book has less joyous sections, where Hawks writes of loss of friendship, and the difficulties of living alone which add a welcom realism to what would otherwise be just another Bryson-esque "funny man has an adventure" book.

I would highly recommend this book for a long train journey, a day in the sun, or just perhaps a few evenings in with a bottle of wine and some comfort food.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Sticking to the formula
Tony Hawks seemed to invent this parallel career for aspirational comedian/writers when he came up with the idea to hike round Ireland with a fridge. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dublinia

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and "oh so true"!
A hilarious account of Tony's experiences of buying a house in south-west France and integrating with the local community. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sue Walker

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - whether you`re on holiday or not!
Out of all Tony Hawks` books - and I`ve read and enjoyed them all - this is MY favourite! Great witty, thoughtful writing with superb funny moments. Read more
Published 6 months ago by hanoijim

5.0 out of 5 stars Bit different, but still works
Tony is from a ilk of people that don't let being normal get in their way. Upping sticks to live in the Pyrenees is quite mundane when you look at some of his other escapades... Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. I. Gray

5.0 out of 5 stars Most enjoyable read
As with his other books, I found this book entertaining from the first page until the last. There are plenty of laughs to be found inside and a sense of wanting to do the same... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Andrew Boden

4.0 out of 5 stars A Comfortable Read
Tony Hawks really does present exactly what it says on the cover, i.e. "The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains". Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Michael Prudence

2.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable!
Tony Hawk's hilarious account of hitch-hiking around the Pyrenees with a piano. He teasingly mocks the awful middle-class British and Irish ex-patriots who have colonised and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by K. Hannay

5.0 out of 5 stars So much amusement in reality
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. Read more
Published 14 months ago by K. Brady

5.0 out of 5 stars A very funny book!
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... Read more
Published 16 months ago by gjb

3.0 out of 5 stars Easy Going - nothing spectacular but enjoyable nonetheless!
An easy-going, quite enjoyable book - I found it effortless and quite funny - perfect for someone who wants something they can pick up and put down without any fear of losing of... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Charlotte Lou

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