One Hit Wonderland
12 journalers for this copy...
"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)
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)
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.
Journal Entry 3 by Kagi at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Berlin Germany on Thursday, January 27, 2005
Released 17 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!
Geht jetzt als erstes per Post zu Lisa-B. Viel Spaß!
Received yesterday. Thanks, Kadi, for sharing it.
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.
As soon as I receive DJgib's adress I'll mail it on.
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.
The cause for the delay has been clarified (I had the house number wrong - sorry!). Tomorrow the book is going to the Netherlands again.
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!
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.
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.
Received this today, thank you! It looks quite silly but funny, I look forward to reading it.
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!
To be posted of to Dodau now, happy reading!
One of four received this morning. I have some serious reading ahead of me but will have this out within a month.
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.
Journal Entry 14 by dodau at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Released 17 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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Arrived today. I will finish the book I am on now and this will be next. Thanks Kagi.
I am about halfway through this one. Will have read it by the middle of next week, I hope:o)
Arrived in the mail this morning - will start it at coffee break!
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.
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 Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 4, 2005
Released 17 yrs ago (8/4/2005 UTC) at BookRing in Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Posted to Gizmopuddy at 4pm this afternoon.
Posted to Gizmopuddy at 4pm this afternoon.
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.
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
Released 16 yrs ago (8/22/2005 UTC) at
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Giving to SirRoy at the August BCie meet up, hope you enjoy
Giving to SirRoy at the August BCie meet up, hope you enjoy
Excellent, another Tony Hawks book. I hope it's as funny as Round Ireland and Tennis with the Moldovans.
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!
Some parts of it had me giggling out loud. His descriptions are at times hilarious. It definitely helps if you know Norman Wisdom!
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.
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.
This book arrived safe and sound in Buffalo, NY today!
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!
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!
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!
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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!
The book arrived safe and sound at its home after a 482 days journey. Good to read that you've enjoyed reading it.
