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  • A Piano in the Pyrenees

  • The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains
  • By: Tony Hawks
  • Narrated by: Tony Hawks
  • Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (320 ratings)
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A Piano in the Pyrenees cover art

A Piano in the Pyrenees

By: Tony Hawks
Narrated by: Tony Hawks
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Summary

Inspired by breathtaking views, and dreaming of finding love and romance in the mountains, Tony Hawks impulsively buys a house in the French Pyrenees. Here he imagines he will finally fulfil his childhood fantasy of mastering the piano, untroubled by the problems of the world. However, Tony's account of stumbling into the world of overseas home ownership is perhaps best heard as a useful manual of how not to go about buying a house abroad. The man who once travelled around Ireland with a fridge is hopelessly ill prepared for this latest adventure - though the consequences are hilarious.
©2006 Tony Hawks (P)2007 Isis Publishing Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Hugely entertaining." ( The Mirror)
"Funny and irreverent as ever." ( Wanderlust)
"A warmly comic adventure." ( Daily Mail)

What listeners say about A Piano in the Pyrenees

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Left disappointed

After reading 'Fridge' and 'Playing Moldovan's' I expected a high level of laughs, but this Tony Hawks' third book, felt flat and a very self absorbed story, compared to his other two book, it is hardly daring to buy a French house on the spur of the moment and then tie this into a 'love' story of his own, Hoping for better from his future books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

funny

I listened to this book 3 times and I still laugh out loud very funny.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very funny, gentle humour.

I don't laugh out loud easily, but this talking book caused me to do so a lot. His humourous observations are kind, not cruel and his reading style enhances this. His vocal impressions of his French neighbours intersperse the monologue well. It makes you want to visit this French village. I particularly liked the chair lift 'episode' towards the end. There are enough characters in the book, but not so many that you get confused. I hope Tony records a new book soon.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Funny, interesting and moving

Big fan of Tony Hawkes, who in my opinion is much underrated. This book is a good deal more mature than his earlier works (I loved Round Ireland with a Fridge) and it brings a new romantic side to his accounts. Still very funny but also quite touching.

More please Tony!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy listen

A more relaxed story from Tony Hawks with more of a meandering everyday occurrences as opposed to his travel books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Pyrenees venture

Those who are looking for profound insights into French culture may feel a little let down, but this is a very honest review of Tony's experiences in France. It's well written and read with some side-splitting moments that ought not to be read while eating or drinking.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Cheerful listening

If you could sum up A Piano in the Pyrenees in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyed this book probably because Tony narrated it. It was an easy, funny, witty book to listen.
If you want to listen to something about everyday life this is a very good book. I actually preferred around Ireland with a fridge but I was pleased I brought this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Piano in the Pyrenees?

The white van story - really made me smile

Have you listened to any of Tony Hawks’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes - around Ireland with a fridge was awesome, this was also very good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Driving in his white van to deliver some goods to his new french home

Any additional comments?

Ron the builder always made me smile!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 03-02-10

Great listen, great narration

Bought this for a drive through France. It made the journey fly by. Great narration which was both funny and moving. Highly recommended

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

First review

Having decided to join audible books via the amazon link, and getting a free credit ,I was unsure as to which book I wanted to listen too. Looking through the list I came across this book by Tony Hawks and having heard about his trip round Ireland with a fridge thought this might be a good first listen, and how right I was.

This was the first book of Tony's I had read or listened too. it is light hearted, very amusing and kept me listening intensely throughout it entire telling. His description of events from the very start with his mates at football and drinking occasions through his van troubles and "hotel" experiences (very true) to the settling in to the rural community life and actually using the "piano" referred to in the title, all bring a warming feeling to ones heart, and helps to re-live similar hotel and rural events I had.

The authors own reading of his story also brings a very personal touch to this story and helps to tell it in such a wonderfully descriptive and "personal" way that the book is bought very much to life.

A truly wonderful read and well worth the wait for the slightly odd way of breaking it into 2 downloads for my kindle.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gentle amusing lovely

Thank you Tony, for lovely company through your story. It’s a joy to listen to, and I wish there were more books like this.

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