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rosiefrog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
jenmat1197's review against another edition
3.0
This is the author's own story on a bet he made with a friend. He bet this friend he could beat the 11 football (soccer for Americans) players from Moldova. His friend - feeling that even footballers from Moldova would been atheltic enough to beat a 38 year old comedian at any sport - took the bet. So Tony set of on a 18 month journey to find and convince all 11 Moldova footballers to play him in tennis. He didn't even know where to start.
Tony takes us on a journey to a little known country - weaving bits of Moldovian history in with his odd quest. And in the end either Tony - or his friend - would lose this bet and have to dance naked in London when the loser is confirmed.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. I am usually drawn to these silly stories. I love stories of people who pick up and move or pick up and travel with little clothes and money and make it work on the kindness of strangers. Where they don't let language barriers or fear of the unknown stop them from going. And I thought - even with something as silly as this bet - it would be an entertaining, silly, charming story from a guy who is a stand up comedian.
Alas - it wasn't meant to be. Tony was not a likeable person in this book. He complains about everything and everyone (except the sweet 11 year old girl in the book). Everyone. He traveled gloomily and with a sour attitude even though he wasn't trying to cure cancer, or teach education to a third world company. He was on a quest for a stupid bet. And yet he was still miserable.
So disappointing. It wasn't awful - I did learn a lot about Moldova, and the Epilogue redeemed the book some in the end. And I have learned that he did give a large part of his profits from the book to charity in Moldova. But not enough for me to give it more than 3 stars.
Tony takes us on a journey to a little known country - weaving bits of Moldovian history in with his odd quest. And in the end either Tony - or his friend - would lose this bet and have to dance naked in London when the loser is confirmed.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. I am usually drawn to these silly stories. I love stories of people who pick up and move or pick up and travel with little clothes and money and make it work on the kindness of strangers. Where they don't let language barriers or fear of the unknown stop them from going. And I thought - even with something as silly as this bet - it would be an entertaining, silly, charming story from a guy who is a stand up comedian.
Alas - it wasn't meant to be. Tony was not a likeable person in this book. He complains about everything and everyone (except the sweet 11 year old girl in the book). Everyone. He traveled gloomily and with a sour attitude even though he wasn't trying to cure cancer, or teach education to a third world company. He was on a quest for a stupid bet. And yet he was still miserable.
So disappointing. It wasn't awful - I did learn a lot about Moldova, and the Epilogue redeemed the book some in the end. And I have learned that he did give a large part of his profits from the book to charity in Moldova. But not enough for me to give it more than 3 stars.
zoes_human's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
4.0
I guffawed. I snorted. I laughed enough to bring tears to my eyes. Unlike when reading Round Ireland with a Fridge, I managed to read through this without falling off of anything and injuring myself laughing.
unenvied9495's review against another edition
5.0
A great book talking of a country not from the eyes of a foreign visitor, but as one that lives in it. Also, a heartwarming book of how relationships begin and end.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
5.0
I recently discovered that many of the books I really enjoyed on my Read shelf do not have reviews, which strikes me as wrong. Particularly when I could/should be doing homework instead of writing reviews of books I read years ago. :)
Another bar bet of the author's that leads to unexpected travel adventures and learning about people in a foreign land. I enjoyed this tale of a quest to play (and defeat) each of the members of the Moldovan tennis team in turn. This book provides (still, 10 years out) the bulk of my knowledge of Moldova, which is a place some people would likely think is made up because it is never mentioned in the news at all. I cannot say that the stories about Moldova made me want to visit that country -- but I did come away wanting to meet some Moldovans.
Another bar bet of the author's that leads to unexpected travel adventures and learning about people in a foreign land. I enjoyed this tale of a quest to play (and defeat) each of the members of the Moldovan tennis team in turn. This book provides (still, 10 years out) the bulk of my knowledge of Moldova, which is a place some people would likely think is made up because it is never mentioned in the news at all. I cannot say that the stories about Moldova made me want to visit that country -- but I did come away wanting to meet some Moldovans.
literatureeverafter's review against another edition
4.0
So I was actually given this book by my boyfriend who is, funnily enough, Corina’s son! (The baby mentioned in the novel) she is one of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet and I’m glad this comes forward in the book! I loved this book and it will be happily passed through my family.
karenangela_1's review against another edition
4.0
Before I read this I had heard of Moldova but only through football. I think it gives a decent insight into life in post soviet Moldova, although a follow up would be good just to see how much life has changed ten years on.Also liked that he stayed with a local family as this gives a better insight into daily life and shows just how much we in the west take for granted.
nwhyte's review against another edition
Brilliant introduction to this little-known country, just manages to stay the right side of patronising.
vio's review against another edition
5.0
Super funny and moving book, really. I wanted to give it 4* this time, but why. I'm sticking with the 5*.
I don't think this book is about tennis*, if this is what you were wondering. You don't need to know any rules in order to be able to follow the adventures of Tony through half of the world.
I can imagine to be willing to read this book another time *again*. According to my memory and goodreads, I already read it twice in German, but, but! since I don't have the recollection of a second year, I am going to stay with: read twice, once in 2007 in German, once in 2019 in English.
Who's having the Romanian edition please? :)
*maybe 20 pages evolving around tennis, from 250.
I don't think this book is about tennis*, if this is what you were wondering. You don't need to know any rules in order to be able to follow the adventures of Tony through half of the world.
I can imagine to be willing to read this book another time *again*. According to my memory and goodreads, I already read it twice in German, but, but! since I don't have the recollection of a second year, I am going to stay with: read twice, once in 2007 in German, once in 2019 in English.
Who's having the Romanian edition please? :)
*maybe 20 pages evolving around tennis, from 250.