A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains [Paperback]

Tony Hawks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2007

Inspired by breathtaking views and romantic fantasies of finding love in the mountains, Tony Hawks impulsively buys an idyllic house in the French Pyrenees. And here, he imagines, he will finally fulfill his childhood fantasy of mastering the piano, all the while overlooking spectacular views as the troubles of the world pass him by unnoticed. However, Tony’s hopelessly ill-prepared stumbling into the world of overseas homeownership is perhaps best read as a useful manual of how not to go about buying a house abroad. He flirts with the moving company in a disastrous attempt to take his piano over to France in a dodgy white van; foolishly attempts to build a swimming pool himself; and takes his experience of relationships to a new level when he finds himself cohabiting not with the expected beautiful French woman, but with his old buddy Ron the builder. Yet as Tony and his small group of friends haplessly attempt to integrate themselves into local village life, they learn more about themselves and each other than they ever thought possible.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Massively funny."  —Booklist

"Hugely entertaining."  —The Mirror

"Funny and irreverent as ever."  —Wanderlust

About the Author

Tony Hawks is the author of Round Ireland with a Fridge, One Hit Wonderland, and Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ebury Press (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0091903335
• ISBN-13: 978-0091903336
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hawks reaches his peak, October 15, 2006

By 

Sally Ann Thomas "Sally Ann" (on the move!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piano in the Pyrenees (Hardcover)

I've always found Tony Hawks books enjoyable. Funny books but I've always felt they were a little contrived - a little too forced. (Danny Wallace take note)
In 'A Piano in the Pyrenees' I thought this would be another fun but laboured idea. Not so!
This is a new Hawks whose writing has evolved.
He joins the ranks of Dave Gorman (Googlewhack adventure)or the much under rated John Donoghue (Shakespeare My B*tt!)
In this, Hawks has characters (that don't seem stage managed) as he explores the French culture. This isn't a collection of jokes surrounding a bizarre idea...this is self-deprecating, endearing, entertaining, witty ...and above all believable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cows, Vans, And A Swimming Pool, August 17, 2008

By 

Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)

I am a longstanding fan of Tony Hawks' work, and still believe that "Round Ireland With a Fridge" is the single best travel book ever written. I have also enjoyed his other books (on tennis and pop music) greatly. Needless to say, when I was in Ireland last (sadly, without my fridge), went into a bookstore and found this, Hawks' latest book, I bought it immediately. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. While I liked the book, I found that it drags and is much more directionless than his earlier books, although the reappearance of a lost love at the very end does provide the book with a convenient conclusion.

The book essentially showcases Hawks' impracticality in purchasing a house in France with no preparation, and the subsequent adventures of getting it arranged as he would like. I did enjoy his adventures with the white vans of doom, but found the endless pontification on building his swimming pool to be decidedly tedious. The book comes in at 307 pages long, far longer than "Round Ireland With a Fridge," and demonstrates a need for editing. The book wants to be about a man's search for significance in middle age, but the important messages the book delivers (and to Hawks' credit, the messages are in there) are buried under layers of minutiae that are neither particularly interesting or amusing.

I did like the book, but not nearly as much as Hawks' earlier, more focused, books. I would recommend this book to fans of the earlier works, but I would recommend all of Hawks' earlier books first.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warning - Book Can Cause Public Embarrassment, January 29, 2007

By 

belle - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains (Paperback)

Fantastic book, very well written & entertaining.
But be careful, if you have a sensitive disposition & want to avoid making any kind of public scene - make sure you read it in private. This book is laugh out loud funny.