Scan barcode
thehappybooker's review against another edition
5.0
George's tone (I know him well enough now to call him George, she said parenthetically) is perfect for this book. It's chatty, with many repeating gags ("other products are available") and many asides. Starting with the simple premise that ordinary people are kind and generous to strangers, they set out from Land's End in the southwest corner of Wales and bike to John O'Groats in the tippy top north of Scotland. Apparently this End-to-End journey is well known in the UK, but it was news to me.
Here's the kicker: they started out in their pants - or as we Americans would say, in their underwear. They had no money, no clothes, no bikes, no identification at all - just a challenge to themselves to go 1,000 miles in 3 weeks and accept hospitality and material assistance, but no money and no rides.
Observations:
1. No identification? They'd be harassed in no time at all by US police.
2. They sometimes have the appreciation-deafness of youth, accepting generosity and then bashing the mannerisms or personalities of their benefactors.
3. I don't mind crude language - sometimes it's the only way to convey the astonishment or emotional impact of the moment - but it got a bit ridiculous. I know this is how young males talk, so I'll give them a pass. See how generous I can be? Now say thank you, boys, and don't describe me later as a moralizing prude.
4. Speaking of young male habits, I definitely would have been begging to use a laundromat here and there.
5. They do tend to be a bit self-congratulatory, saying repeatedly that people were envious of their quest. I would be, too. I mean I'd be envious of their quest, not that I'd be self-congratulatory. Well, sometimes that, too, but not about this sort of challenge. I've never done anything close to this adventurous so it would be unlikely that I would inspire envy about such a thing. You know what I mean. (For those who have read the book, you know I'm parodying George's writing style).
6. I laughed out loud at their feeble attempts at dumpster diving or "freeganism." If this had been a lifestyle choice rather than a short experiment, they would've starved.
7. They chose their route through back roads. I think this may have contributed significantly to their success. People who live in urban areas have been hit up for handouts so often that they tend to be less trusting of a story. Plus that, being handsome young men with winsome smiles helped, I'm sure. If I were to try this, my face would meet with many more closed-faced stares.
8. One of my favorite things they did was to try and sleep in as many types of accommodations as possible, from a barn complete with snorting bull to a canal boat to a polytunnel (a greenhouse using plastic framing).
9. I was disappointed by their use of "gay" as a perjorative adjective. The one time they stayed with a gay man, they seemed to have no problem with his orientation, yet they used the term, probably without thinking, to ridicule each other or anything they found vaguely unmasculine.
10. Their experiences range from smelly to inspirational. A few highlights: they saw the biggest tidal wave in 30 years as it traveled many miles up a canal called the Severn Bore; they fled from a moving wall of Morris Dancers; they rode in complete isolation for mile after mile on an arrow-straight Roman road. I will long remember the Living Pizza, built by a farmer to teach kids where their food comes from. He made a circle encompassing several acres and divided it into 12 slices, growing the ingredients for a pizza: wheat (I'm still wondering how many slices the wheat took to make it proportional to the percentage of the other pizza ingredients), tomatoes, onions, peppers, and even chickens, pigs, and cattle for meat and cheese. The kids tour and then get to make their own pizzas in a wood-fired oven. What creative energy there is in this world, wherever we look.
When one of their benefactors called their journey "life-affirming," I think it sums up the adventure quite nicely. This is a marvelous read.
Here's the kicker: they started out in their pants - or as we Americans would say, in their underwear. They had no money, no clothes, no bikes, no identification at all - just a challenge to themselves to go 1,000 miles in 3 weeks and accept hospitality and material assistance, but no money and no rides.
Observations:
1. No identification? They'd be harassed in no time at all by US police.
2. They sometimes have the appreciation-deafness of youth, accepting generosity and then bashing the mannerisms or personalities of their benefactors.
3. I don't mind crude language - sometimes it's the only way to convey the astonishment or emotional impact of the moment - but it got a bit ridiculous. I know this is how young males talk, so I'll give them a pass. See how generous I can be? Now say thank you, boys, and don't describe me later as a moralizing prude.
4. Speaking of young male habits, I definitely would have been begging to use a laundromat here and there.
5. They do tend to be a bit self-congratulatory, saying repeatedly that people were envious of their quest. I would be, too. I mean I'd be envious of their quest, not that I'd be self-congratulatory. Well, sometimes that, too, but not about this sort of challenge. I've never done anything close to this adventurous so it would be unlikely that I would inspire envy about such a thing. You know what I mean. (For those who have read the book, you know I'm parodying George's writing style).
6. I laughed out loud at their feeble attempts at dumpster diving or "freeganism." If this had been a lifestyle choice rather than a short experiment, they would've starved.
7. They chose their route through back roads. I think this may have contributed significantly to their success. People who live in urban areas have been hit up for handouts so often that they tend to be less trusting of a story. Plus that, being handsome young men with winsome smiles helped, I'm sure. If I were to try this, my face would meet with many more closed-faced stares.
8. One of my favorite things they did was to try and sleep in as many types of accommodations as possible, from a barn complete with snorting bull to a canal boat to a polytunnel (a greenhouse using plastic framing).
9. I was disappointed by their use of "gay" as a perjorative adjective. The one time they stayed with a gay man, they seemed to have no problem with his orientation, yet they used the term, probably without thinking, to ridicule each other or anything they found vaguely unmasculine.
10. Their experiences range from smelly to inspirational. A few highlights: they saw the biggest tidal wave in 30 years as it traveled many miles up a canal called the Severn Bore; they fled from a moving wall of Morris Dancers; they rode in complete isolation for mile after mile on an arrow-straight Roman road. I will long remember the Living Pizza, built by a farmer to teach kids where their food comes from. He made a circle encompassing several acres and divided it into 12 slices, growing the ingredients for a pizza: wheat (I'm still wondering how many slices the wheat took to make it proportional to the percentage of the other pizza ingredients), tomatoes, onions, peppers, and even chickens, pigs, and cattle for meat and cheese. The kids tour and then get to make their own pizzas in a wood-fired oven. What creative energy there is in this world, wherever we look.
When one of their benefactors called their journey "life-affirming," I think it sums up the adventure quite nicely. This is a marvelous read.
leanne182x's review against another edition
I had high hopes for this book after the reviews but sadly it wasn't for me. The writing style is juvenile and they seem to be unnecessarily mean with descriptions of people they meet. I would've preferred it if they didn't tell every person about their challenge of not spending money before asking for freebies as it brings into question the selflessness of the act of kindness and if it was genuine.
I was willing to gloss over these and look at the positives until I reached the page with transphobic language. I stopped reading then (24% mark)
I was willing to gloss over these and look at the positives until I reached the page with transphobic language. I stopped reading then (24% mark)
allanvdh's review against another edition
2.0
Rather whiny account of the author’s journey across England.
Considering he blagged his way all the time he moans regularly about the very people who assist him. Including mocking gay and old people.
The audio book was read very well with a great performance by the reader in using many different voices and accents that actually made the book slightly enjoyable.
Considering he blagged his way all the time he moans regularly about the very people who assist him. Including mocking gay and old people.
The audio book was read very well with a great performance by the reader in using many different voices and accents that actually made the book slightly enjoyable.
radcarlawho's review
5.0
Two guys set off on an adventure to cycle the length of Great Britain in nothing but their boxers and don't spend a cent the whole way. Say what??! Um yeah, these guys are nuts. Relying on the generosity of strangers for everything from clothing to toothbrushes to bikes they met a lot of awesome and interesting people along the way. This book was interesting and laugh out loud funny at times. I highly recommend it.
neilgsewell's review
5.0
What a fabulous feel good book. I’m pretty sure some days were brutal on the trip, but the story of their trip is funny and fabulous. I laughed out loud many times whilst reading this which doesn’t happen often.
janetted's review
4.0
I absolutely LOVED this story of George & Ben's End-to-End trip the length of Britain. It's told in a witty, sarcastic tone that gave me just the right appreciation for how difficult the adventure must have been. I also have to say it's restored a lot of my faith in humanity. With all that happens in the world today, that's no small feat. It's nice to know there are so many good people out there just trying to make it by the best they can.
zimpenfish's review
4.0
Epic story of two loons on a ridiculous quest that I wish I'd thought of first. Definitely worth reading.