... I can safely say that during the first three months the only thing we made a point of watching was "Long Way Round", which had already been screened on Sky One.
My feelings about the book more or less mirror what I thought about the television series but I bought the book on impulse when ... Read review
From London to New York Ewan and Charley chased their shadows through Europe the Ukraine ... more
Kazakhstan Mongolia and Russia across the Pacific to Alaska then down through Canada and America. But as the miles slipped beneath the tyres of their big BMW...
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It started as a daydream. Poring over a map of the world at home one quiet Saturday ... more
afternoon Ewan McGregor - actor and self-confessed bike nut - noticed that it was possible to ride all the way round the world with just one short hop across the Beri...
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Advantages: Features some places we rarely hear about Disadvantages: Moaning, over-privileged pseudo-heroes
...travel books. But I have long moaned about the fact that there are few travel programmes these days devoted to independent or adventure travellers. Why would some one suddenly commission one now?
The answer must, surely, be that this expedition was carried pout by Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and his friend and fellow-thespian Charley Boorman. I wonder if two nobodies proposing this trip would have been quite so lucky in landing a ... ...a short while, it's not long before they are grumbling again, often at the slightest setback and all this with the best support team they could possibly have.
In it's favour the book is well written and anyone who has not seen the television show will probably find some of it fairly gripping. There is adventure a-plenty in terms of the cycling - falls, injuries, roads that vanish altogether, being carried on lorries across fast-flowing ... more
When we succumbed to the advertising and bought a set top digital television box, we were rather disappointed (an under-statement) to find out exactly what you get for your (one-off) payment of fifty quid. I can safely say that during the first three months the only thing we made a point of watching was "Long Way Round", which had already been screened on Sky One.
My feelings about the book more or less mirror what I thought about the television series but I bought the book on impulse when I saw it on e-bay without having seen a copy in the shops. Therefore I did not know whether the book accompanied the series (in which case I hoped that it would enhance what I had already seen and add some new details which hadn't been seen on the show) or whether it was merely a verbatim book version of the TV show.
"Long Way Round" is an account of a motorcycle journey from London to New York, via northern Europe, Russia, Mongolia and (after a quick hop across the Bering Sea by plane) the entire breadth of the United States. This is exactly the kind of story that usually appeals to me; Ciaoers will know that I love to travel and regularly review travel books. But I have long moaned about the fact that there are few travel programmes these days devoted to independent or adventure travellers. Why would some one suddenly commission one now?
The answer must, surely, be that this expedition was carried pout by Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and his friend and fellow-thespian Charley Boorman. I wonder if two nobodies proposing this trip would have been quite so lucky in landing a book and TV show deal. Admittedly both are eloquent and intellligent young men eager for adventure and with the confidence to meet strangers but soon into the story you begin to question their dedication and commitment to the task in hand.
The book is written by the two with Robert Uhlig credited as a co-writer and the account is told in three voices. Sadly I found this meant that there was a lot of "insight" into the feelings of the two riders and how they felt about the trip though not much about how they felt about what they had seen and the people they met. A great deal is given over to the air's complaints about the amount of publicity they are attracting and how tedious it is to have to attend presentations and be greeted on their arrival in a new town by the local big-wigs. It does make you wonder why they took so many signed "Star Wars" photographs....
It is difficult to review the book without making mention of the television series; the two are inextricably linked for several reasons. Firstly, the filming of a television series usually requires a film crew and this is no exception. Driving a massive motorbike through some of the terrain the lads encounter is no easy task and sometimes, after a fall, two people are needed to right one machine. Basically, a camera man is needed so that the two stars can ride safely. Then a back up team is needed in case of emergencies and to carry the equipment that the riders can't carry, and to transport a doctor and often an interpreter (and, if you're as cynical as me, probably to carry all those things that McGregor and Boorman claimed they didn't have!). I twould be perfectly feasible to make the journey by bike, later presenting your experiences in a book, but - for obvious reasons - less likely if making a television show.
Furthermore, while two Brits on huge motorbikes is likely to raise an eyebrow in some of the more remote parts of the world, it is even more remarkable when a film crew is close behind them. As one would expect this generated a great deal of excitement and could have led to some interesting encounters but the emphasis was always on the trip and getting the miles in and one feels that the book is really about the making of a television programme rather than an account of the wonderful and unusual places and people the two were exposed to.
There are some great sections on individual parts of the trip. The two are invited to take part in a traditional Mongolian wrestling festival and are terrified one evening when their host comes downstairs with a machine gun in one hand and a guitar in the other, intent on showcasing some Kazhak folk numbers. They meet orphaned children elswehere when representing UNICEF but, while this is an admirable stop-off, there is simply not enough of this type of activity in the book. What they see there humbles them for a short while, it's not long before they are grumbling again, often at the slightest setback and all this with the best support team they could possibly have.
In it's favour the book is well written and anyone who has not seen the television show will probably find some of it fairly gripping. There is adventure a-plenty in terms of the cycling - falls, injuries, roads that vanish altogether, being carried on lorries across fast-flowing icy rivers where bridges have been washed away. This is clearly why McGregor and Boorman made this trip; the location is irrelevant, they could have cycled 20,000 miles over arduous terrain anywhere in the world. Anyone expecting a fascinating and insightful accounts of the countries taken in on the trip will probably be disappointed; motorcycle enthusiasts will be more lilely to enjoy "Long Way Round". I would liken it (though on a much smaller scale) to the achievements of Ellen MacArthur - travelling the world but seeing so little of it. I do not doubt that the two met some wonderful people whom they will never forget and saw some amazing sights, I just wish they had been more vocal about them in this book. "Long Way Round" is more about the execution of the challenge than joutney itself.
Quite soon into the book I became irritated by McGregor and Borrman's dejection when things went wrong or their "Boy's Own" bravado when they successfully overcame a challenge. They became the worst kind of toff's - the members of the rugby team you avoid in the pub, swearing like troopers and wanting it all their own way (apologies to rugby-ists). Much as I like Ewan McGregor I do not feel he brought anything special to the book; I am not particularly a fan of these documentaries where celebrities are sent to the jungle to rescue elephants or cast away on desert islands to make shoes out of an old bra (a la Joanna Lumley). I would much rather see an ordinary presenter specialising in travel do the job (of course that's not how things are done these days when every celebrity gets the chance to try their hand at pretty much whatever they like).
There are some good photographs in the book but it's not enough to make up for the disappointment of the direction taken. Next time, lads, focus a bit less on the old bikes and open your eyes to what's all around you.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Published by Time Warner Books ISBN 0136728683 Available from £5.59 in paperback through Amazon
Advantages: Details a great journey, honestly written Disadvantages: Slow to start, occasionally dull, hard to empathise with the journey
...and Friend take a rather long trip ~
Last year, setting off in April from London, best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman set off on a wildly ambitious journey - by motorcycle to New York, via Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia amongst other places (i.e. "the long way round"). To fund the expedition, the pair sold the rights to a TV show, to which this book is the sister. Those responsible for the funding and management followed behind in support ... ...lengthy chapter takes an awful long time in establishing: a)We like bikes, b)We have done for a while, c)Bikes are dangerous, but fun. This collection of reflections on youth and biking anecdotes is fine, but when all grouped into the first chapter, becomes monotonous and provides a tedious introduction to the book. Better, I feel, would have been to scrap, or at least substantially reduce this section, and re-distribute the little stories more evenly ...
Puggers 20.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Long Way Round
Advantages: Lots of interesting snippets Disadvantages: Not for everyone
Long Way Round – Chasing Shadows Across the World by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman is the companion book to the TV series of the same name, which saw Charley and Ewan journey 20,000 miles in increasingly tough terrain from London to New York, crossing the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia along the way. I absolutely adored both the Long Way Round and the Long Way Down when they were on the television and after reading the Long Way Down ... ...I read this one. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book and the true spirit of the boys that travelled it and the journey itself really shines through. The book’s blurb in my opinion really epitomises the whole journey and therefore the book. It explains how what started as a daydream became true and how two friends could against the odds realise their dream. “It started as a daydream. Poring over a map of the world at ...
MI9to5 24.08.2009 (17.09.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Long Way Round
Advantages: It teaches us that we are all just people regardless of our race, ocupation, and location Disadvantages: A Bit Long
...an essay about what makes Long Way Round such an interesting read, so i did, but it turned out to be more like a book review so i redid it and this is what i cam out with!!
What makes 'Long Way Round' such an interesting read?
'Long Way Round' by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman is an interesting read because we learn that we are all just people, regardless of our race, location or occupation.
In this essay I am going to explain why this book ... ...London to New York the long way round. Along the way they encounter many difficulties and meet a lot of people form different cultures. Going through, places like, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Alaska.
To start of with, we are all just people, regardless of our race. Well in the book, Charlie and Ewan meet lots of people of different race to them. People from all over the world. Like meeting trafitional women in Mongolia. Ewan managed to have convocation ...
Princess_pretty18 11.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Long Way Round
Advantages: Funny and sometimes moving Disadvantages: bit complicated if you have no knowledge of bikes
In 2003, in between films one Saturday afternoon, Ewan McGregor noticed that it was possible to ride a motorbike all the way across the world. Not able to face this mammoth journey alone, he called his best friend Charley Boorman, While Charley thought it a brilliant idea, he believed it to be a pipedream. Until in April 2003, Ewan phoned Charley to tell him that he was taking eight months of work next year.
Across 20,000 miles on what sometimes ... ...through Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, across the pacific into Alaska and then onto to Canada and America.
I am not a biker person, so at the beginning of the book when both Ewan and Charley were talking about where their love of bikes came from and what bikes they owned, I had no idea of what they were talking about. But it didn't matter.
The story is not all about bikes, and you don't need to understand the machines to understand ...
Squinkle 08.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Long Way Round
Advantages: Informative, Entertaining all the way Disadvantages: Some chapters can be a bit too long
...end.
Overall I thought this was a fantastic book and have recently purchased The Long Way Down. If you're looking for a book that keeps you on the edge, lightly describes each country's history but also allows you to share an amazing experience then this book is for you! ...
jdstinger21 02.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Long Way Round
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Advantages: can really visualise text. More information than what was on the tv series. Disadvantages: leaves you wanting more
If you loved the programme you will love this book. Or if you did not see the programme then read this book!
Charley Boorman travels from his home in Ireland to Australia 'by any means' which means by transport that is used in the countries he travels through. It is a really interesting read and Charley does a really good job of describing his journey and surroundings. You can almost believe that you are there with him!
It details transport you never knew exisited which is probably the most exciting thing (I am not usually a fan of different types of transport!).
There are also a few photos in the book which help you visually some of his travels.
If you liked longwayround and longway down I would very highly recommend this book. ...
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 LongWayRound and LongWay Down with both Charlie Boorman and Ewan Mc ...
Advantages: Enjoyable adventure Disadvantages: Made me want to learn to ride a motorbike!
This was a book I bought my husband for christmas, which he really wanted to read after seeing the TV series. It is written by actors Ewan McGregor (Star wars, Miss Potter, Moulin Rouge....) and his best friend, Charley Boorman (Hope and Glory, The Bunker...), who met on a film set and discovered a shared love of motorbikes. In 2004, the two set off on their first motorbike adventure, LongWayRound, 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 LongWay 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 for several charities which the two are ...
The popular actors recount their three-month, 20,000-mile motorbike journey from London to New York through three continents and some of the harshest terrain on Earth.
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