Round Ireland With A Fridge

By: Tony Hawks

Narrated by: Tony Hawks

Whilst in Ireland for an International Song Competition, Tony Hawks was amazed to see a hitch-hiker, trying to thumb a lift, but with a fridge. This seemed amazingly optimistic - his Irish friends, however thought nothing of it at all. 'I had clearly arrived in a country', writes Tony, 'where the qualifications for 'eccentric' involved a great deal more than that to which I had become used'. Two years pass but the fridge incident haunts our author. Until one night, heavy with drink, he finds himself arguing about Ireland with a friend. It is, he insists, a 'magical place', so magical in fact, that a man could even get a lift with a fridge. The next morning there is a note by the bed. 'I hereby bet Tony Hawks the sum of One Hundred Pounds that he cannot hitch-hike around the circumference of Ireland with a fridge within one calendar month'. The document was signed. The bet was made. This book is the story of Tony's adventures through that incredible month. The people he meets, the difficulties, the triumphs. The fridge.

A bizarre, uproariously funny story

I got to know about this book from a 2014 Vlogbrothers' video ('18 Great Books You Probably Haven't Read') and I suppose John had summarized the book to the point:

"Okay, couple of funny books: Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks, not Tony Hawk. It's about a guy who hitchhikes around the circumference of Ireland with a refrigerator; it is one of the funniest things I've ever read."

True that, this is one of the funniest books I've got to read.

N.B: Before reading, I saw someone had left a comment stating that listening to the audiobook would be better, as Hawks' voice changes pertinent to the circumstances- it gives a suitable vibe to flow with the story. (I second that, for I really enjoyed Hawks' narration: it was clear and well-phased.)