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	title:	Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
	author:	Tony Hawks
	format:	Paperback
	publisher:	Isis Publishing Ltd
	released:	April 1, 2001
	isbn:	0753152134
	isbn-13:	9780753152133

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Book Details / Review - supplied by Amazon UK
Tony Hawks' debut book, The Round Ireland with a Fridge, was an irreverent satire. The topic of the sequel is even more absurd. Like Round Ireland, it supposedly originates from an obscure bet. This time, Hawks bets he can't track-down the Moldovan football team and beat them all at tennis. The loser must perform the Moldovan national anthem naked on Balham High Road. However, knowledge of tennis and/or football isn't required to enjoy the book. Hawks' Irish trip was characterised by willing accomplices who joined in the fun. In Moldova, Hawks also expects a good laugh. Despite the rarity of visitors, he receives an apathetic welcome as his mission provokes little more than weak smiles. Tracking down the footballers and persuading them to play turns becomes almost impossible. The book treads a fine line between brilliant and juvenile, between Jeremy Beadle and the genuinely witty. Hawks' sixth-form joke of presenting a round table to Moldova's new King Arthur is especially cringe-worthy. His experience as a second-division stand-up leads to innumerable trite quips. Still, overall Playing The Moldovans At Tennis is an entertaining, easy read that will make you chuckle. It provides an interesting view of Eastern Europe's post-Communist life, while keeping you in suspense: Will he? Won't he? Suffice to say that, yes, at the end of the book someone does end up naked and singing outside a South London Woolworths. --Sarah Champion --

Book Details / Review - supplied by Amazon UK

Tony Hawks' debut book, The Round Ireland with a Fridge, was an irreverent satire. The topic of the sequel is even more absurd. Like Round Ireland, it supposedly originates from an obscure bet. This time, Hawks bets he can't track-down the Moldovan football team and beat them all at tennis. The loser must perform the Moldovan national anthem naked on Balham High Road. However, knowledge of tennis and/or football isn't required to enjoy the book.

Hawks' Irish trip was characterised by willing accomplices who joined in the fun. In Moldova, Hawks also expects a good laugh. Despite the rarity of visitors, he receives an apathetic welcome as his mission provokes little more than weak smiles. Tracking down the footballers and persuading them to play turns becomes almost impossible.

The book treads a fine line between brilliant and juvenile, between Jeremy Beadle and the genuinely witty. Hawks' sixth-form joke of presenting a round table to Moldova's new King Arthur is especially cringe-worthy. His experience as a second-division stand-up leads to innumerable trite quips. Still, overall Playing The Moldovans At Tennis is an entertaining, easy read that will make you chuckle. It provides an interesting view of Eastern Europe's post-Communist life, while keeping you in suspense: Will he? Won't he? Suffice to say that, yes, at the end of the book someone does end up naked and singing outside a South London Woolworths. --Sarah Champion --

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Customer Reviews
Moldovan Musings - Rated Tony Hawks and his fellow comedian friend Arthur Smith are watching the world cup when Smith bets Hawks that he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan world football squad at tennis, hence the premise for this comic travelog. It contains a smattering of Hawks's usual wit and plays the Englishman abroad with aplomb. Some of the situations are fairly amusing, but it doesn't feel as though the author is laughing at the Moldovans, he's merely chuckling with them (if indeed they do crack a smile....) Recommended if you want a fairly easy read, it's not laugh out loud funny, but I'm sure it will raise a wry grin. Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - Rated A well written and funny adventure about nothing important but still enchanting, funny and captivating Convinced me to visit Moldova - Rated A good read and a good laugh - with many wry and accurate observations of life in Moldova. It sealed my wish to visit the country and, when I got there, confirmed Hawkes's powers of observation and insight. Sadly, this fine book appears almost totally unknown in Moldova! Not as funny as he thinks he is - Rated What a hoot! Man bets his friend he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan football team. At tennis. Hawks' strange bets were an original idea with his first book 'Around Ireland with a Fridge', but I'm starting to lose interest now. The book's blurb says it is an '..often moving adventure'. For whom I'm not quite sure because Hawks doesn't seem to really get to know Moldova or Moldovans. I could have excused that if I had found the book particularly funny, but the humour is far from hilarious. Anyone for Tennis? - Rated Tony Hawks has established himself over the past few years as a leader in the genre of, 'irreverent looks at strange goings on normally started as a bet'. 'Playing the Moldavians at Tennis' is his second attempt at the genre and as with his adventures with a fridge a mostly successful one. Once again Tony has placed a bet with a friend, this time he claims that although the Moldovan international football team is full of athletes, this does not mean they will be good at all sports. Therefore, Hawks finds himself in Moldovia attempting to play and beat the starting 11 of Moldovia at tennis. The bet itself is not too important; it is the journey that takes centre stage here. Hawks visits many new and undiscovered places in the post-Communist East Europe. He finds hardship and dismay, but on occasion he also discovers friendship and warmth. The book is funny but very irreverent. Perhaps a bit more sympathy towards the subject matter would not have gone amiss. However, the light nature of the book and the fact that many parts are laugh out loud save it overall. I personally find Danny Wallace's books in the same genre to be superior.

Customer Reviews

Moldovan Musings - Rated 4/5
Tony Hawks and his fellow comedian friend Arthur Smith are watching the world cup when Smith bets Hawks that he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan world football squad at tennis, hence the premise for this comic travelog. It contains a smattering of Hawks's usual wit and plays the Englishman abroad with aplomb. Some of the situations are fairly amusing, but it doesn't feel as though the author is laughing at the Moldovans, he's merely chuckling with them (if indeed they do crack a smile....)

Recommended if you want a fairly easy read, it's not laugh out loud funny, but I'm sure it will raise a wry grin.

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - Rated 4/5
A well written and funny adventure about nothing important but still enchanting, funny and captivating

Convinced me to visit Moldova - Rated 4/5
A good read and a good laugh - with many wry and accurate observations of life in Moldova. It sealed my wish to visit the country and, when I got there, confirmed Hawkes's powers of observation and insight. Sadly, this fine book appears almost totally unknown in Moldova!

Not as funny as he thinks he is - Rated 2/5
What a hoot! Man bets his friend he couldn't beat the entire Moldovan football team. At tennis. Hawks' strange bets were an original idea with his first book 'Around Ireland with a Fridge', but I'm starting to lose interest now. The book's blurb says it is an '..often moving adventure'. For whom I'm not quite sure because Hawks doesn't seem to really get to know Moldova or Moldovans. I could have excused that if I had found the book particularly funny, but the humour is far from hilarious.

Anyone for Tennis? - Rated 3/5
Tony Hawks has established himself over the past few years as a leader in the genre of, 'irreverent looks at strange goings on normally started as a bet'. 'Playing the Moldavians at Tennis' is his second attempt at the genre and as with his adventures with a fridge a mostly successful one.

Once again Tony has placed a bet with a friend, this time he claims that although the Moldovan international football team is full of athletes, this does not mean they will be good at all sports. Therefore, Hawks finds himself in Moldovia attempting to play and beat the starting 11 of Moldovia at tennis.

The bet itself is not too important; it is the journey that takes centre stage here. Hawks visits many new and undiscovered places in the post-Communist East Europe. He finds hardship and dismay, but on occasion he also discovers friendship and warmth.

The book is funny but very irreverent. Perhaps a bit more sympathy towards the subject matter would not have gone amiss. However, the light nature of the book and the fact that many parts are laugh out loud save it overall. I personally find Danny Wallace's books in the same genre to be superior.