One Hit Wonderland

by Tony Hawks | Travel |
ISBN: 0091882109 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Kagi of Hoppegarten, Brandenburg Germany on 1/5/2005
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12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Kagi from Hoppegarten, Brandenburg Germany on Wednesday, January 5, 2005
"It's 1988 and radios across the land blast out the Top Ten hit 'Stutter Rap' by Morris Minor and the Majors. The man behind thr fake moustache is Tony Hawks.
Fast forward to the 21st century and those heady days of Top of the Pops are just distant memory. That is until it is suggested that Tony is a One Hit Wonder. That he will never, ever, have a hit again. Really? Well, we'll see about that...
For two years Tony battles against all the odds to have a hit, somewhere - anywhere - in the world. He changes act an styles with a bewildering lack of integrity. From Nashville to Amsterdam, from Eastern Europe to Africa he travels the globe in search of that elusive hit.
But it's only after a chance encounter with Norman Wisdom that things get really strange. Is it possible that together they could crash the charts in Albania?
Only one thing is certain - in One Hit Wonderland anything can happen...

'The missing link between Paul Theroux and Paul Whitehouse' --Manchester Evening News"

See also: http://www.onehitwonderland.com/ (Thanks to Gizmopuddy)

Journal Entry 2 by Kagi from Hoppegarten, Brandenburg Germany on Thursday, January 6, 2005
Das soll ein internationaler BookRing werden. Ich fände es schön, wenn das Buch Leser in den Städten und/oder Ländern finden würde die Tony Hawks bereist hatte. Das wären: USA (Nashville), Niederlande (Amsterdam/Hilversum), UK (London), Sudan, Albanien, Rumänien... Wobei ich - ehrlich gesagt bei den letzten Dreien eher skeptisch bin, nachdem ich einen Blick in die Länderlisten geworfen habe (unglaublich was alles in diesen 3 Ländern angesiedelt wird...)

This is going to be an international bookring. I'd love to find participants who live in the cities and/or countries Tony Hawks was travelling to. These are: USA (Nashville), Netherlands (Amsterdam/Hilversum), UK (London), Sudan, Albania, Romania... although I'm sceptic about the last three after I had a look in the BC country list (unbelievable what is supposed to be located in these countries...)

Teilnehmer sind/Participants are:
- Lisa-B, Riedstadt, D
- DJgib, Amsterdam, NL
- Miss-R, Lingfield, UK
- dodau, Bristol, UK
- billhookbabe, Derby, UK
- cwoods, Runcorn, UK
- Gizmopuddy, Maigh Nuad (Maynooth), IRL
- SirRoy, Dublin, IRL
- titihood, Montreal, CAN
- morsecode, Buffalo, New York, USA
- sheepseeker, Bonn, D

The ring is finished. The book travelled for 482 days and arrived safe and sound back home in Berlin.

Released 19 yrs ago (1/28/2005 UTC) at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Berlin Germany

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Geht jetzt als erstes per Post zu Lisa-B. Viel Spaß!

Journal Entry 4 by Lisa-B on Friday, February 4, 2005
Received yesterday. Thanks, Kadi, for sharing it.

Journal Entry 5 by Lisa-B on Sunday, February 13, 2005
I am sorry to say that I did not like this book as much as "Round Ireland with a Fridge". Tony Hawks can write well enough, but I think he had to struggle to convert the story of his bet into the format of a full-sized book. The book is definetly funny, but also I felt a bit sorry for all those generous people who helped him to win his bet, especially Sir Norman Wisdom. The fact that I don't know him or Sir Tim Rice probably did not help.

As soon as I receive DJgib's adress I'll mail it on.

Journal Entry 6 by Lisa-B on Friday, March 18, 2005
Well, this book was returned to me today. From what I gather from the envelope the Netherlands' mail organisation did not find DJgib at her adress. I'll PM her and I am sure we can sort this out somehow.

Journal Entry 7 by Lisa-B on Sunday, March 20, 2005
The cause for the delay has been clarified (I had the house number wrong - sorry!). Tomorrow the book is going to the Netherlands again.

Journal Entry 8 by DJgib from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 25, 2005
Second time lucky, the book has arrived. I read a few chapters already in the bath early, I think I'm going to enjoy this!

Journal Entry 9 by DJgib from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 1, 2005
This was so much fun! A really light-hearted story, well, let's be honest, a totally idiotic one. But one that also made me smile because of the number of people who were totally altruistic in helping Tony out and had such a great time doing it.

Of course, the most entertaining section for me was where he went to the Netherlands. I always love to see how outsiders describe Amsterdam, and was glad to see Tony found it 'beautiful'. I also knew from the start the expedition here was going to fail, because - as it shows in the book - the Dutch have no idea what a pixie is, and will not be tempted by a song about one.

The bits in Albania are good too. I thought it was hysterical how this group of idiots kept collapsing in fits of giggles every time something went wrong, and Tony's running around trying to patch it all up. I would have liked to have been a part of it.

The only thing I found a shame was that a number of the projects were left hanging. I would have liked to know what happened to Paula Seling and the track with the Sudanese singing. Did they make it big? I guess I'll never know.

Thanks a lot Kagi for sharing this book, I had a great time with it. I have Miss-R's address, and I'll send the book to her shortly.

Journal Entry 10 by Miss-R from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, April 9, 2005
Received this today, thank you! It looks quite silly but funny, I look forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 11 by Miss-R from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, April 14, 2005
I'm with DJgib here-I want to know what happened to the Romanian and Sudanese songs-surely he didn't just abandon the poor Romanian girl after giving her hope of launching a career in England? Other than that little complaint, I enjoyed this, especially the Albania section. Quite how they managed to stay (reasonably) organised as all manner of odd things happened I don't know.
To be posted of to Dodau now, happy reading!

Journal Entry 12 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 19, 2005
One of four received this morning. I have some serious reading ahead of me but will have this out within a month.

Journal Entry 13 by dodau from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 5, 2005
I really enjoyed this. I have his other two books in my pc and have been looking for this one second hand for a while. I really enjoy his sense of humour and find him funny on stage too. And to my shame I remember Stutter Rap. No sleep till bedtime. Basicially if you liked the other books you'll love this one two. The last section in particualler had me grinning as I could just envision Norman Wisdom as described.

Released 18 yrs ago (5/17/2005 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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Journal Entry 15 by billhookbabe on Thursday, May 19, 2005
Arrived today. I will finish the book I am on now and this will be next. Thanks Kagi.

Journal Entry 16 by billhookbabe on Sunday, June 19, 2005
I am about halfway through this one. Will have read it by the middle of next week, I hope:o)

Journal Entry 17 by rem_ZET-734626 on Monday, August 1, 2005
Arrived in the mail this morning - will start it at coffee break!

Journal Entry 18 by rem_ZET-734626 on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
I've now read all 3 of Tony's books and I'd rate this one as probably the best. More consistently funny than the other 2, in my opinion.

Will pass this on to the next person as soon as I get their address.

Journal Entry 19 by rem_ZET-734626 at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 4, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (8/4/2005 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Posted to Gizmopuddy at 4pm this afternoon.

Journal Entry 20 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Monday, August 8, 2005
Received today with thanks, have read and thoroughly enjoyed Round Ireland with a Fridge. Looking forward to reading this one. Have one dire book to trudge through first, and then happily will get to start this.

Journal Entry 21 by Gizmopuddy from Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland on Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, his whole take on different situations cracks me up. And I am afraid I checked out his website, onehitwonderland.com, and if you go into The Music and you can click on the track listing and can actually hear all the songs. I was in kinks listening to some of them. The pixie one is definitely my favourite. Will pass to SirRoy at the next BCie meet up on Monday

Journal Entry 22 by Gizmopuddy at on Sunday, August 21, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (8/22/2005 UTC) at

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Giving to SirRoy at the August BCie meet up, hope you enjoy

Journal Entry 23 by SirRoy from Dunboyne, Co. Meath Ireland on Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Excellent, another Tony Hawks book. I hope it's as funny as Round Ireland and Tennis with the Moldovans.

Journal Entry 24 by SirRoy from Dunboyne, Co. Meath Ireland on Saturday, January 14, 2006
Sorry for the delay. I started this and couldn't get into it. I left it for a while and then started again. This time, I couldn't leave it down.

Some parts of it had me giggling out loud. His descriptions are at times hilarious. It definitely helps if you know Norman Wisdom!


Journal Entry 25 by titihood on Thursday, February 2, 2006
This was waiting for me when I got back from Florida...I have a few rings to read first but will get to this one ASAP :)
10/03/06: Wow, it is very rare for me to laugh out loud when reading a book, but this got me giggling! Although at times Tony's style can get a bit annoying and some of the jocular attitude can seem a bit forced, this is another funnily written tale of a great bet being carried out. He is one determined man! I really enjoyed this, am PMing for next BCer' address.
20/03/06: Sent to morsecode by airmail.

Journal Entry 26 by morsecode from Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, March 25, 2006
This book arrived safe and sound in Buffalo, NY today!

Journal Entry 27 by morsecode from Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, March 28, 2006
I finished this book last night and packed it up right away to send to sheepseeker during my Tuesday post office run.

Of course, I managed to misplace the paper where I'd made notes of things I wanted to mention in this journal entry so I'm sure I'm going to leave something out...

Anyway, this was a cute, funny book. While I was reading though I kept thinking that the book would have been so much more enjoyable with a soundtrack CD so you could listen to all the silly songs Tony is trying to hit it big with, so I'm pleased to realize now that he has clips of all the tracks on the book's website.
The book was a little slow at times and very disjointed at times, but there were definitely some parts that were laugh-out-loud funny...
One that I remember off the top of my head is the part when Tony's in Sudan and tells Irvine that he'd be fine cycling because he'd just been to Nashville to brush up on his cycling skills... LOL

I agree with some of the other readers that I would have liked to find out what happened with some of the other projects that Tony was working on.

This is the first Tony Hawks book that I've read and now I'm interested in checking out the others and I know have a friend that would love to read Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.

Thanks for sharing this book with us, Kagi!

Journal Entry 28 by Sheepseeker from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, May 8, 2006
Arrived safely today, thanks!
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Nice weekend read. Not as good as 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' but entertaining nevertheless. There should indeed be a soundtrack to go with the book (maybe I should look for it on i-tunes!?) ;-)

Thanks for the ring, Kagi!

Journal Entry 29 by Kagi from Hoppegarten, Brandenburg Germany on Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The book arrived safe and sound at its home after a 482 days journey. Good to read that you've enjoyed reading it.

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