Following on from the success that the Long Way Round came to be, Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman decided to set off on another trip on their motorbikes. This time the intention was to ride from John O'Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa. The trip would cover some 15000 miles, ... Read review
After their fantastic trip round the world in 2004, fellow actors and bike fanatics Ewan ... more
McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn't shake the travel bug. And after an inspirational UNICEF visit to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this ex...
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Advantages: An interesting account of their trip Disadvantages: The last 5 or 6 Countries felt a little rushed
...from the success that the Long Way Round came to be, Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman decided to set off on another trip on their motorbikes. This time the intention was to ride from John O'Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa. The trip would cover some 15000 miles, visiting 20 different countries in just under 3 months on the road. This book is the accompaniment to the BBC series of the same name and gives a further insight into the ... ...again with the team from Long Way Round to create The Long Way Down. It is written in very much a diary format with both Charley and Ewan giving their views and feelings on the experiences and sights that they see a long the way and that for me was the real draw of this book.
This isn't the normal sort of travel log and I think that really added to the appeal of both watching the series and reading the book. It strikes me as the sort ... more
Following on from the success that the Long Way Round came to be, Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman decided to set off on another trip on their motorbikes. This time the intention was to ride from John O'Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa. The trip would cover some 15000 miles, visiting 20 different countries in just under 3 months on the road. This book is the accompaniment to the BBC series of the same name and gives a further insight into the trip and what appears to have been an amazing, eye opening trip for both of them.
Now I'd never really paid much attention to the first trip and it wasn't until I started to watch this series on TV that I decided I should read the book. It is written by both of them as they teamed up once again with the team from Long Way Round to create The Long Way Down. It is written in very much a diary format with both Charley and Ewan giving their views and feelings on the experiences and sights that they see a long the way and that for me was the real draw of this book.
This isn't the normal sort of travel log and I think that really added to the appeal of both watching the series and reading the book. It strikes me as the sort of thing I would write with a friend or two if we were doing a similar sort of trip. I think that really adds to the appeal of the writing style as it doesn't seem to pretentious or written with that travel writing style. It is instead written in a much easier to read format that will expand the target audience for the book. It makes for a more relaxed read and infact I've found that compared to other travel accounts I've read it makes it harder to actually put it down.
The length of the trip seems to have put a real strain on the whole team and this is reflected in Ewan and Charley's accounts of the trip in the first half. As they didn't want to be away for as long as the first trip they have had to create a schedule that means they are rushing on every day for the first month or so. As the reader you get the feeling that this didn't bother Charley quite as much as it did Ewan but there is a clear tension in the writing until they reach Ethiopia. The friendship appeared to be suffering as a result of the schedule and this seems very much like a book of two halves.
Of course there isn't a lot of difference between the book and the TV series. It covers a lot of the same events but where I feel the book is stronger is in giving you more of an insight into the thoughts that they both have along the way. In particular there is far more detail regarding their UNICEF visits in the book and I found these to be incredible eye openers. The thoughts and feelings of both Charley and Ewan come across far better in writing and I feel that this was the main difference between this and the TV series.
Overall would I recommend the Long Way Down? Well actually yes I would, I found it to be a very interesting and insightful read to accompany a trip that would fascinate me. Of course I don't have the ability to compare it back to the first trip and the book of that at the moment but I did thoroughly enjoy reading about this amazing journey. It's an eye opening book that takes you to parts of the world you wouldn't really think too much about and will raise awareness for the work of the likes of UNICEF and Riders for Health. It's a decent read and one I have certainly enjoyed and would have no hesitation in recommending.
Advantages: Real emotion behind the words Disadvantages: Not for those not interested in bike trips or the two men
Long Way Down – An African Adventure by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman is the companion book to the TV series of the same name, which saw Charley and Ewan travel from John O Groats to Cape Town on motorbikes. I got my dad the book for Christmas after spotting it for a bargain price and he really enjoyed reading it. This combined with how I had enjoyed watching the television series I decided to give it a go myself and I am really pleased that ... ...The book itself is written as a day-by-day account of events on the journey. That doesn’t mean however that the book is written in diary form as this just wouldn’t have suited it. The book actually flows like a complete set of prose yet is broken up into sizeable chapters which are again broken down into different sections written by Charley and Ewan alternatively. This alternation of author means you often get to see both sides of the picture, both ...
MI9to5 11.04.2009 (17.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Long Way Down - Ewan McGregor
Advantages: Enjoyable adventure Disadvantages: Made me want to learn to ride a motorbike!
...on their first motorbike adventure, Long Way Round, where they traveled east around the globe. After the success of that journey, thy soon decided to start planning their next adventure, and that is where Long Way Down fits in. A three month journey from the northerly tip of Scotland to the very south of Africa, covering nearly 15, 000 miles on the bikes and nearly 20, 000 miles all together. The journey was intended to raise funds and awareness ... ...also pleased that, as in Long Way Round, the bikers did not stay secluded in hotels or private camp sites on their journey. They met some amazing people along the way, fellow travellers and locals, which sem ro have made the trip for them. Charley and Ewan are convinced that being on the bikes allowed them to interact more with the people they met than they would have done in a car. I have no doubt it made for a harder journey, as a lot of the riding ...
sk0680 27.02.2008 (16.04.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Long Way Down - Ewan McGregor
Advantages: Paperback easy to carry around Disadvantages: Can't think of any
...also joins the pair for a weeks motorbiking just before they get to the end of their journey.
I really enjoyed this book laughing some of the time and nearly in tears at others. Long Way Down is now being shown on TV again so I will be watching. ...
carlacous 17.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Long Way Down - Ewan McGregor
Advantages: entertaining throughout Disadvantages: none
...having previously read " The long way round" by Ewan Mcgregor and Charley Boorman which was a detailed insight into a round the world trip the pair undertook on a motorbike back in 2004.
The "Long Way Down" is the story all about the pairs second exhibition on a trip from John O'Groats to Cape Town. A total of 15,000 miles they ride through some of the toughest terrain in the world as they try to make it all the way through Africa.
I personally ... ...book enthralling as they talk about the different places they've seen and the people they've met.
If your at all interested in reading a non fictional book, and learning a little bit about different cultures, or you have watched the show on the TV but want to know a bit more about the adventure, then I would definately recommend this book ...
peterb1982 08.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Long Way Down - Ewan McGregor
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Advantages: Very interesting Disadvantages: There is none
After watching the TV programme of By Any Means by Charlie Boorman i thought i just had to read his book. I am interested in travelling so the book seemed right up my street.
Once i started reading it i couldn't put it down. It was so interesting reading about all the different countries that Charlie, Russ and Mungo travelled through. Also, because they were travelling "by any means" the book was even more absorbing as you get a true picture of each country and how it functions.
Not only that, but you also get comedy in the book as Charlie writes about funny things that happened on the way. Some of which you didnt get to see on the TV. I loved the book so much that i went to see Charlie Boorman talk about his journey, such a nice guy!
If you liked LongWay Round and LongWayDown with both Charlie Boorman and EwanMcGregor ...
After their fantastic trip round the world in 2004, fellow actors and bike fanatics Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn't shake the travel bug. And after an inspirational UNICEF visit to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth. And so they set off on their 15,000-mile journey with two new BMWs loaded up for the trip. Joining up with producer/directors Russ Malkin and David Alexanian and the Long Way Round team, their route took them from John O'Groats at the northernmost tip of Scotland to Cape Agulhas on the southernmost tip of South Africa. Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, Ewan and Charley faced their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humour and honesty they tell their story ? the drama, the dangers and the sheer exhilaration of riding together again, through a continent filled with magic and wonder.
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