Once Upon A Time In The West...Country by Tony Hawks

Once Upon A Time In The West...Country Reviews

• 
  Paul

  Tony Hawks enjoys challenges. He has written pop songs, taken entire football teams at tennis and dragged a small fridge around Ireland. But these have been short transitory affairs. This next challenge is much bigger, life changing and permanent. Having been a town dweller all his life, he has taken the bold step of moving to the country; not just the outskirts of London, but far, far west into the wilds of the Devon countryside.
  
  Coming with him is his partner Fran. They first met at the Samuel Johnson book awards presentation, having been introduced by the Hislop’s, and have been together ever since. She is half Filipino, and it was whilst on holiday there that he woke in the middle of the night with this desire to move out of the city. Fran though he was just dreaming; but in the morning the urge was stronger. Hawks wanted to have neighbours he spoke to and food to grow so he could live more ethically and not just be a consumer of stuff. This wasn’t to be a second home, nor an idyllic chocolate box cottage. Instead they chose a community close to Dartmoor that functioned as a village should do. The estate agent couldn’t actually believe that they wanted to live there. Straight after viewing the property, they signed up to an allotment; somehow it felt right.
  
  Thankfully they get the house. Hawks throws himself into village life, hoping that enthusiasm will hide the lack of experience and knowledge that need for almost all rural activities. He is no Alan Titchmarsh, as his first attempts at growing vegetables end in the total devastation of the crops. They undertake an organic gardening course in the hope of being able to keep the plants alive; but embracing the green way of life leads to painful (for him) and hilarious (for us) consequences. Thankfully his new neighbours are well versed in all things practical, and Ken in particular, digs Tony out of the mire many times. He ends up as chairman of the village hall committee and is subject to the meetings about the location of the recycling bins. He has a go at zumba too; but only the once... The roads in Devon are very different to London, even though there are 10,000 miles of them, they are not much wider than a car. He has stare offs with the locals to see who will back down, and several scares when driving a tractor in a rally.
  
  A little while after they move down, they find out that Fran is expecting. This means that he might just have time to squeeze in a tiny solo adventure to raise money for a Moldavian charity that he supports. Not wanting to make things easy for himself, he is aiming to cycle from the north Devon coast to the channel; hard enough you’d think as it is pretty hilly there, but he is intending on doing it with a small pig called Titch. Daft, but then you wouldn’t expect anything less from Hawks.
  
  This is another great book from him. The writing style is chatty as you would expect, and very very funny as his other books have been, so much so that I had to put the book down and wipe the tears away a few times. I love his enthusiasm too; he is willing to give anything a go too, and his recollection of these events make for entertaining and amusing reading.
• 
  Chris Steeden

  So, this is not the laugh out loud every other page like Hawks previous books but it is a gentle, rather sedate look at his move to Dartmoor, Devon with his partner, Fran from London.
  
  In the middle of the book there is a challenge though to raise money for Tony’s Moldovan kids’ charity which brought back memories of the just wonderful ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’. This time he’ll be cycling on an electric bike with a micro pig called Titch from the north coast of Devon at Ilfracombe to the southern coast at Plymouth. That’s right, a micro pig. It is a real 3-month-old pig.
  
  The transition to Devon and trying to integrate into a new community means Tony and Fran putting themselves out there to assist and this includes a torture evening for Tony of calling out bingo numbers for two hours and on another day being in-charge of an out-of-control tractor (very slow out-of-control tractor) with no brakes.
  
  All of this pales into insignificance due to another factor that will turn Tony and Fran’s life upside down. The thing about Hawks books is that he just comes across as a thoroughly decent fellow. You just know that he is going to get himself in trouble and there will be plenty of mishaps along the way but you root for him to get through it and succeed and he normally does.
• 
  Evan

  Not his best book, sad to say. The roadtrip wasn't nearly as impressive as the trip in Round Ireland with a fridge, the description of transition to country life not as profound as in A piano in the Pyrenees and the charity challenge bleak compared to Playing the Moldovans at tennis. This latest book seems to be a medley of the previous ones, with the addition of diary-like reflections on the environment and parenthood, which sometimes are borderline preachy. The thing is, Hawks is so damn likeable and his selfdepricating antics keep adding to your desire to love all his work. The book is by no means bad, as it sticks to his succesful formula. It's just that it made me realise once again what a great read his three other aformentioned books were.
• 
  Neil Denham

  Tony Hawks is brilliantly funny, and I am from Devon... I was always bound to like this book!
• 
  Andrew

  Pretty good and the fairly long section where he was Cycling with a micro pig was a reminder of how good Hawks can be when recounting how an off beat adventure can engender unity however the scope of the book is bigger than this encapsulating impending parenthood and settling into a new area and as such at times seemed a bit disjointed.
  That said although I wouldn't say this was vintage Hawks (not sure if he has been around long enough for vintage status mind) there where some genuinely humorous moments which is always good in a book intended to provide them.
• 
  Ruth

  Amusing throughout, and genuinely laugh out loud funny in other places, as comedian and writer Tony Hawks and his partner Fran leave London for a cottage in rural Devon. They embrace their complete change of lifestyle and pace. Hugely enjoyable.
• 
  P.J. Taylor

  Just like Tony's other books, this is very funny and hugely enjoyable. His move from London to the South West made me laugh out loud. Highly recommended.
• 
  Barrie Lawrence

  A Christmas present from a family member who does not know me too well, this book made me laugh out loud. I had never heard of this celebrity author before, and do not like his language at times. But I read it all the same, and loved the dry humour of a man who rode coast to coast across Devon, with a pig under his anorak.
• 
  Stephanie Jane

  See more of my book reviews on my blog,
  Literary Flits
  
  I blogged about Once Upon A Time In The West ... Country on Stephanie Jane on Thursday, choosing it as my next Books From The Backlog read. This reminded me of my enthusiasm in originally choosing Hawks' memoir last year. I hoped his humour would be the perfect foil for our current dismal weather and I also thought it would be a good literary palate cleanser after the intensity of Demian by Hermann Hesse! So I queue jumped it and started reading pretty much straight away. Both things turned out to be true - and the sun is now shining too! Perhaps not as 'hilarious' as other Hawks memoirs I have read, Once Upon A Time is fun nonetheless. It covers three main events: Tony and his partner, Fran, relocating from London to rural Devon; Tony cycling from coast to coast across Devon with an adorable miniature pig; and Fran's pregnancy and giving birth to their child. As such, the book felt bitty - more like three short books than one full memoir, however it is light enough to carry this.
  
  
  
  I noticed, at the risk of alienating any Devonian readers I might have, that Tony and Fran appreciated Devon far more than Dave and I did after our move there. Perhaps their not picking Torbay might have had something to do with it! Personally I would quite happily never set foot in the county again, but then I did recognise a number of places Tony visited as part of his epic pig-carrying cycle that we too had enjoyed visiting. If you're looking for a quick, light read that might just inspire you to pump up your bicycle tyres (or move to Devon!) this book could be the perfect choice. There's a strong message about taking time to appreciate our immediate surroundings, and a little preaching from Hawks who appears (then) to be a recent convert to serious environmentalism. There's also lime and coconut cake, and a day out on a vintage tractor - what more could you need!
• 
  Jennifer

  What Tony Did Next... and since he's done most of the mad things you can't think of, you know it has to be relatively mundane. Except that it isn't.
  
  I do rather enjoy a word ramble in the British Isles and Tony Hawks falling in love and moving to Devon seemed like a reasonable enough pastime. And then I laughed and snorted a few times. This wasn't A Year in Provence, it wasn't even Hawks' own Piano in the Pyrenees. The man gets on and does proper local stuff, the dreary stuff, aided and abetted by his very splendid sounding partner, and without being sneery about it.
  
  For those who want the usual loony travel quest, he throws in a mini one - inspired by a bet he never accepted and even the offerer disappeared, and over in little more than a chapter or two. Actually, not really that mini except that it was only three days - even the electrically assisted bicycle aspect wasn't that straightforward (as I well know) and his companion was micro.
  
  He pontificates a good deal about the state of the planet and such like. And then he pontificates quite startlingly about some other stuff. And I am delighted he has because people reading this book for a laugh (which they are quite likely to get) may listen to him when they would never be receptive to the same perspectives offered by someone else. And I had a little cry. Especially at the lovely but also very important photo at the end.
• 
  Ben Shepherd

  Tony Hawks seems like a really likeable guy. This is a funny, gentle book. Yes, nothing earth-shattering happens in it (he nearly falls off a bike while carrying a pig), but he makes it very readable. I read this on the train and couldn't stop laughing!
• 
  Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

  Entertaining read. Not quite as good as his previous ones, but kept me engaged throughout.
• 
  Steve Green

  I had high hopes for this book. Whilst I don’t live in the city (I live in commuter belt) I aspire to a way of life like that which Tony was aiming for in the West Country. I’m a fan of his anyway, and enjoyed Fridge and Moldovans immensely. His Norman Wisdom book was equally good.
  
  This was a very pleasant read, which mimics the lifestyle described. If you’re expecting *another* fridge you’ll be disappointed. It’s got echoes of it, but it’s a much wider look at his life. There are a few genuinely laugh out loud moments, but on the whole it’s just a happy, sometimes whimsical look at what happens in his new village.
  
  I recommend it, even if you’re not a known fan of Tony, as by the end of it you’ll feel like you’ve spent a few hours in the company of a friendly, down-to-earth man who has some great stories to tell.
• 
  Paul

  This book has a lot of self-promotion, especially at the start where the tie-ins to Hawks’s other projects don’t seem to stop. But it is an enjoyable read with some unique moments, even if it is a little biopic. The humour is what tends to expect of a city lad who isn’t used to chatting to reserved people. As the book progresses, it’s clear that Hawks’s usefulness to society is becoming more and more irrelevant. It’s the way that every trivial thing described becomes an obstacle which he can only solve by seeking help from others. As well as the odd handy fact, Hawks also loves to digress and daydream a bit with his wonderful anecdotes. It’s a shame that few photographs were published in this tale. The true question is whether this book is a swan song. Perhaps he will ride that tractor from coast to coast. After all, a bet has officially been made. Only time will tell.
• 
  Vicki Turner

  A joyful and amusing read, perfect if you are feeling low or a little jaded. Tony Hawks is an entertaining writer, occasionally in danger of tripping up his narrative with jokes. There are plenty of mirth inducing moments, especially the chapters about a cross country cycle ride with micro pig Titch. Hawks writes very movingly and honestly about becoming a father. This will strike a chord with any parent. As with his other books, his humour is backed up by substance, and gives pause for thought. Tony must be incredibly fit if his cycle ride in pursuit of a haircut is to be believed. He sets off on a Wednesday morning "as the spring sunshine"... turned" into a mild and pleasant day" but within a couple of pages he is basking in the "soft autumn sun". No wonder his legs ached! 📕☕📖
• 
  Steven Norrie

  If I had to describe this book in one word it would be 'relentless'.. it is well written, and certainly humourous, but I felt that the authour was trying too hard to cram jokes and witticisms into every single paragraph. accordingly, I really struggled to be able to manage more than about 20 pages in one sitting, and given that it is certainly light fare and easy to read, that shouldn't really be the case.. I just felt a little exhausted by the constant barrage of humour. the story itself is charming enough, and the authour seems to be a nice person with commendable values about sustainability etc, and whilst I can't imagine reading this book again, it hasn't put me off seeking out his other work, which my wife informs me is a little bit better.
• 
  James

  Although not quite on the same level as his forays in Ireland, this was still an amusing book in Hawks' jovial style, if a little short on the variety that could have made this better.
  
  Whereas his previous efforts have been around joke bets, this covered more of the day-to-day living as Hawks and his partner moved to Devon to start a family. As a result, there was not the same level of frivolity and a bit more 'neighbour helps out with problem.' I like Hawks' writing and it is rarely dull but despite the challenge of cycling across Devon with a micropig the content didn't quite grab me in the same way, even if I still enjoyed it.
  
• 
  🌶 peppersocks 🧦

  Reflections and lessons learned:
  “So I chose to continue without a real plan, almost in homage to the way I’d lived my entire life thus far”
  
  Ahhh... just as I hoped for - the next set of adventures from a comedian that knows how to embrace different ways in life without chasing them down - living inventively with low level but fantastic adventures! I completely related to the whole Zumba class anxiety and am still very proud of my grapevine in a moment of urgent energy! A lovely insight into starting a family in a small friendly village too. Can’t wait to hear of the next set of adventures, maybe family based this time
• 
  Shankar

  A third of the way through I thought, "There has got to be a bet. Otherwise this is going to be a hell of a long treatise on Tony's feelings of inadequacy about impending parenthood." Then there was the bet. Well, a challenge rather than a bet. Perhaps not as daft as the fridge in Ireland, or as epic and moving as tennis in Moldova, but charming nonetheless.
  
  And then there is this sentence that we should all do well to incorporate in our own lives: "We decided that 'love' should be defined as 'wanting the other person to be happy'."
• 
  Tom Jonesman

  Full of gentle humour and lovable, recognisable characters. One thing to take from this book, for me, is that adventure (and misadventure) can be found almost anywhere if you are open and willing to offer yourself up for challenges, whether big or small, and don't mind making a complete prat of yourself (as Tony himself might put it). From narrowly averting death whilst driving a tractor by driving into a hedgerow, to bonding with a pig in a posh hotel, to a tedious evening spent calling "meat bingo", Tony says yes to life and yes to having a jolly good story to tell at the end of it all.
• 
  Sam Brown

  Tender and frequently funny. As the first book from Hawks I’ve read, the references to his previous works mostly flew over my head but this is a wholesome, innocent story about man in the countryside.
• 
  Conrad Toft

  A rambling tale, but a fun, gentle read.
• 
  Stuart

  Pleasant easy reading