The Great American Attraction: Two Brits Discover the Rollicking World of American Festivals (Paperback)

by Rich Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
After recovering in his native England from a frivolous-crime spree through the United States in You Can Get Arrested for That, Rich Smith is back again to take another look at this great nation and its extraordinary inhabitants. In The Great American Attraction, our young Briton—along with his new sidekick, Antony—crashes the weirdest parties, participates in the quirkiest competitions, and attends the wackiest events to find the true heart of eccentric, wonderful America. Rich is fascinated by America; and America, it seems, is fascinated with festivals, parades, and parties.
Follow Rich and Antony on their rollicking tour of the most ridiculous, outlandish, and irresistible American celebrations, including:

• The National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa
• The World Cardboard Boat Regatta in Heber Springs, Arkansas
• The Oklahoma State Penitentiary's Sixty-seventh Annual Rodeo in McAlester
• The World's Longest Yard Sale, stretching five hundred miles from Covington, Kentucky, to Gadsden, Alabama
• The World’s Largest Machine Gun Shoot in Louisville, Kentucky

Along the way, you’ll find out what Rich and Antony really think about American coins, PT Cruisers, baseball hats, dry counties, red plastic cups, “God Bless America,” and our refusal to use adverbs.

About the Author
RICH SMITH lives in Portreath on Cornwall’s north coast, in England, with his girlfriend, Becky, and hamster, Montgomery. He is currently enjoying his time off too much to get a career. He is also the author of You Can Get Arrested for That.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307395456
• ISBN-13: 978-0307395450
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #218,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Two Brits Verbally Trash America, November 21, 2008

By	R. Manning "Just a guy" (Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Great American Attraction, by Rich Smith is a travelog journal. Mr. Smith and his partner Anthony set out to visit little known and less appreciated American festivals, including , a reinactment of "Custer's Last Stand", "Train Mooning", and the always exciting "Redneck Games" in Georgia.

At first I thought this book was going to be a humorous account of the eccentric ways we Americans can waste our time. I soon found out that this book was just an excuse to verbally bash stupid Americans,our stupid food, our stupid cities, our tendancy toward stupid religion,and our stupid wasteful ways. It didn't take long for me to get fed up with the narrative and Mr. Smith' incessive use of gramatically incorrect English, a language he should know well since it was invented by his country. I really became tired of reading phrases such as, "they did this or that to Anthony and I" or "It became tiresome for Anthony and I."

After about one-hundred and fifty pages of America bashing I tossed the book. So much for Anglo-American friendship.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Better ways to explore the quirky side of America., November 18, 2008

By	Julie Lu "Reader of the Lost Art" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

I very rarely quit reading a book before completion, but this is the exception. Frankly, I found it boring. The premise sounds great: Two British guys exploring America through the experiences of local festivals. I'm not sure by what basis they chose the particular festivals they attended. By the fourth event, I predicted that they would 1) find a population of Americans to criticize, 2)find a reason why the festival was boring and leave for their motels early and 3) find a reason to criticize the city/government/mode of transportation/city inhabitants/fellow festival attenders. In their defense, of the three adventures I read, I wouldn't want to be a part of any of their choices either! Maybe England has better, local celebrations and attractions.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great American Attraction, October 14, 2008

By	Joseph W. Migneault "THE MIG'S" (RHODE ISLAND) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

GREAT !!!!! Very easy and enjoyable reading about their hilarious adventures. Could be a great companion on an overseas or coast to coast flight.