Review of Piano in the .........

Sean McManus's Blog
Book review: A piano in the Pyrenees by Tony Hawks
21 June 2006


After lugging a fridge around Ireland, chasing Moldovan footballers to challenge them to play tennis, and increasingly desperate attempts to have a hit single, life's slowed down a bit for Tony Hawks. His latest book 'A Piano in the Pyrenees' tells the story of how he bought a nice holiday home in France, moved a piano over there and chilled out with his friends.

He still has a flair for character sketches and for humorous writing. It's just that the material's a bit weak. There is a 15 page section about a village event where everyone follows the cows up into the mountains. It's a gruelling journey and a long day, but it all falls a bit flat when Hawks ducks out early and ends up committing a minor faux pas in front of the mayor: not really the kind of punchline you'd expect after such a big build-up.


Most of the book's pretty hum-drum: Buying houses abroad, wrangling with foreign bureaucracy, moving house, and building a swimming pool are common enough experiences that you'd never get an autobiography commissioned on the back of them. Reading the book is a gentle and pleasant enough journey - it just doesn't feel structured or particularly special at the end. Put it this way: you or I could never get this book commissioned on its outline, and probably not on the strength of any of these chapters either.


If you've lived in the region he writes about, it might be a lot funnier for you. If you enjoyed his other books, you'll probably like reading his style again. For me, it was an enjoyable but lazy read. After all his previous madcap stunts, I was pleased to read a book in which he seems to be content, rather than just jolly. But I'd be surprised if the market will be as tolerant and it seems unlikely this book will recapture the commercial success of his debut.

August, September, October & November Meetings

Hi Everyone in the Book Club & potential new members

The Book club will meet at the usual venue at the hotel.

Under discussion for the next few months will be:

August
Last King of Scotland
Giles Foden

September
Never Let Me go
Kazuo Ishiguro

October
Grasshopper
Barbara Vine

November
A Piano in the Pyrenees
Tony Hawkes



Reviews of the Book and information about the author are available on the St Yrieix Book club Blog. http://vernonboy.blogspot.com

Please let Pat Dixon know of your coffee/lunch requirements a few days before the meeting.

Pat Dixon ~ 0553552185
Vernon Goddard ~ 0555099490



All welcome ~ but if you are a new member, please contact us to let us know you’re joining. _________________

Gorseinonboy................