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Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
 
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Playing the Moldovans at Tennis (Paperback)

by Tony Hawks (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Ebury Press; New edition edition (4 Jan 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0091874564
  • ISBN-13: 978-0091874568
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 85,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #4 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Product Description

Sarah Champion

Tony Hawks' debut book, The Round Ireland with a Fridge, was an irreverent satire. The topic of the sequel is even more absurd. Like Round Ireland, it supposedly originates from an obscure bet. This time, Hawks bets he can't track-down the Moldovan football team and beat them all at tennis. The loser must perform the Moldovan national anthem naked on Balham High Road. However, knowledge of tennis and/or football isn't required to enjoy the book.

Hawks' Irish trip was characterised by willing accomplices who joined in the fun. In Moldova, Hawks also expects a good laugh. Despite the rarity of visitors, he receives an apathetic welcome as his mission provokes little more than weak smiles. Tracking down the footballers and persuading them to play turns becomes almost impossible.

The book treads a fine line between brilliant and juvenile, between Jeremy Beadle and the genuinely witty. Hawks' sixth-form joke of presenting a round table to Moldova's new King Arthur is especially cringe-worthy. His experience as a second-division stand-up leads to innumerable trite quips. Still, overall Playing The Moldovans At Tennis is an entertaining, easy read that will make you chuckle. It provides an interesting view of Eastern Europe's post-Communist life, while keeping you in suspense: Will he? Won't he? Suffice to say that, yes, at the end of the book someone does end up naked and singing outside a South London Woolworths. --Sarah Champion --



Review
'Even if you hate tennis and couldn't find Moldova on the map, you'll be charmed. Utterly recommended', FHM .'Surprisingly touching as well as incredibly funny', The Oxford 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 .'This immensely readable account, enriched with moments of true hilarity is, quite honestly, a bit of a gem', Living Abroad Magazine

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Customer Reviews

61 Reviews
5 star:
 (36)
4 star:
 (15)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (61 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An "off the wall" classic, 18 Sep 2003
By Mr. Neil R. J. Saint "FrenchSpurs" (France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
How to come up with a novel concept!!!! While watching the England football team's opponents a minor celebrity friend challenges the author to play & beat each of them at tennis!!! The book takes you on the authors round the world (or is it twist)journey which becomes strangely compelling and will undoubtedly have you willing on our hero. Against the odds - game set and match Tony Hawks!!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars No fridge, less humour, but more interesting in some ways, 24 Mar 2003
By R. Weir "pooliealbatross" (Liverpool, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
After going round Ireland with a Fridge, Tony Hawks' next bet was to beat the entire Moldovan Football Team at Tennis.

Heading off to Moldova with a round plastic table, Hawks found less to be humourous about, but instead has managed to paint a picture of life in a former Soviet State that is at times disturbing and at others heartwarming. His encounter with a local mobster, and the descriptions of the state of the medical system (his Doctor host at one point is paid with a freshly-caught fish) help you understand how different - and often difficult - life is over there. The fact that Hawks has since started a Charity to take medical supplies over there speaks volumes - and that comes across in the book too.

The twist that happens in Israel helps set the book up for a rousing climax that would see a man standing trouserless in a London Street trying to sing the Moldovan National Anthem: but it's the descriptions of life in Chisnau that will stay with you the longest.

If you're expecting a no-holds barred funny account of another drunken bet - this is not for you. If however you appreciate some well-written travelogue with a twist, I recommend this highly.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A funny look at human issues, 16 Jun 2002
By Mr. S. Mckie - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I first read Round Ireland with A fridge by Tony Hawks and laughed more than I have with any other book-So I HAD to get his next one-Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.
This book though, is more than a comedy. Tony's travels round Moldova, Ireland and even Isreal teach the reader something about life that they just don't learn by purely existing. Tony Hawks' book offered me a new insight into a world I never imagined, it taught me the impossible sometimes isn't, you just have to work out what to do and when, but most of all, it gave a my humour the fine tune up it's been needing for a while-a good book if ever I've read one-Steve
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read (made even better by the fact I've been to Moldova!)
Back in 2004 I went to Moldova for a football match between Moldova and Scotland... at the time there was only a handfull of books on Moldova. Read more
Published 19 days ago

4.0 out of 5 stars Moldovan Musings
Tony Hawks and his fellow comedian friend Arthur Smith are watching the world cup when Smith bets Hawks that he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan world football squad at tennis,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Bookwormjo

4.0 out of 5 stars Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
A well written and funny adventure about nothing important but still enchanting, funny and captivating
Published 21 months ago by Roger Boyle

4.0 out of 5 stars Convinced me to visit Moldova
A good read and a good laugh - with many wry and accurate observations of life in Moldova. It sealed my wish to visit the country and, when I got there, confirmed Hawkes's powers... Read more
Published 22 months ago by PAUL MCCUE

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as funny as he thinks he is
What a hoot! Man bets his friend he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan football team. At tennis. Hawks' strange bets were an original idea with his first book 'Around Ireland with... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2006 by kevarms

3.0 out of 5 stars Anyone for Tennis?
Tony Hawks has established himself over the past few years as a leader in the genre of, 'irreverent looks at strange goings on normally started as a bet'. Read more
Published on 9 May 2006 by Sam

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Game
Playing the Moldovans of Tennis is the most amazing read. All through the book you are falling to pieces from laughter. In fact, I don't there is a jokeless page. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2006 by ts

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and heart-warming read
This book was excellent. I was a little worried when I started reading it as I thought it was all going to be all about tennis. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2004 by eccas

5.0 out of 5 stars Five red stars
This is a funny and thoughtful book. Aside from his bet, Tony Hawks writes about each place that he visits, exploring its history and its people and the experiences therein. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2003 by Darren Stobbs

1.0 out of 5 stars Not funny at all
Tony goes to Moldova with the knowledge of the names of 11 soccer players, and nothing more. The "fun" in this book is each time Tony finds Moldova to be a lot poorer, darker and... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2003 by tg

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