Round Ireland With a Fridge

by Tony Hawks

The author, a comedian, hitch-hiked around the coast of Ireland with, as the title suggests, a small fridge in tow on a trolley. It was done for a bet, or on a whim, or just to write the book — it’s not too important. The main thing is that Hawks did the feat, and writes about it with self-effacing wit and pointed observation of the eccentric characters along the way.

In fact the book at times is utterly hilarious; Hawks is a shrewd observer and has comic pacing to spare. There’s very little “travel book” material here, in part because Hawks doesn’t delve into cultural or social differences much, and in part because most of his time is spent in pubs and inns. He’s a people watcher, not a nation watcher. His description of an impromptu sing-along, for example, is full of admiration. Hawks clearly loves the Irish people, who embraced his mad quest with true affection, and he shows the sympathetic, fun side to the Irish well. 

four stars