Advantages: A witty and charming journey of discovery Disadvantages: A little unfocused. A map would have been useful
A book critic recently proposed the theory that every travel book needs a fridge. This was based on comedian Tony Hawks' book 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' - the most extreme example of high-concept travel writing. The critic claimed that most such writer ...
Advantages: Insightful, amusing, fascinating Disadvantages: Falls a fraction flat before the end perks things up again
Is it possible, ponders Pete McCarthy, to belong to a place in which you've never lived? Born and raised in the grim northern English town of St Helens, he insists he doesn't feel English, yet he's only ever spent time in Ireland, the land of his parents, ...
Advantages: Would give almost any reader the travel itch and urge to visit Ireland - in this man's company, id Disadvantages: The unfocused style will drive some batty, I suspect
McCarthy’s Bar
What is this book about? Writer and performer Pete McCarthy is half English (his Dad) and half Irish. The book is a gentle travelogue, covering two trips to Ireland at about the turn of the millennium and tells of the people Pete mee ...
Advantages: Great read Disadvantages: Needs to be read in private
What a brilliantly simple idea for a book! Travel around Ireland and visit as many bars as you can find that match your name. It would been more challenging if he’d picked somewhere like Japan for instance - would he have managed to obtain a drink at all? ...
Advantages: Light reading, Disadvantages: It just didnt appeal to my sense of humour
I had wanted to read this book for absolutely ages. McCarthy’s Bar written by Pete McCarthy was a title based on the Eight Rule of travel which says “Never pass a bar which has your name on it” – a sound piece of advice if I ever heard one. Not that I hav ...
