The Road to McCarthy (The Hungry Student)

Mccarthy, Pete

3.86 out of 5 stars

1,538 ratings by Goodreads

9781840324341: The Road to McCarthy (The Hungry Student)

ISBN 10: 1840324341 ISBN 13: 9781840324341

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2003

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Setting off from Ireland, Pete McCarthy takes us on a wonderful journey around the weird and wonderful Irish communities of the world.

In his own inimitable style, Pete recounts his adventures and escapades as, in Morocco he meets the head of Clan McCarthy, and then goes on to visit the renowned Irish peoples of New York. He journeys to the southern hemisphere and then back again to the United States before ending up in a small town called McCarthy in Alaska.

Will he encounter enough McCarthy's Bars, as he continues to obey the eighth rule of travel: 'never pass a pub with your name on it'? This is a funny, affectionate look at the Irish communties of the world.

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Review

The amazing success of McCarthy's Bar put Pete McCarthy securely into the upper echelons of modern travel writers. His skills were many: an uncanny knack for evoking the ambience of the often bizarre and unlikely places he visited; insights into human behaviour that range from the sardonic to the insightful, and (best of all) a fractured sense of humour that made reading the book in public dangerous if you didn't want to embarrass yourself by spontaneously laughing out loud. There were those who feared that his new book The Road to McCarthy would not match its predecessor for quirky and idiosyncratic charm, but a few pages of the first chapter quickly puts paid to the nay-sayers.

Over a few pints, McCarthy unwisely decides to investigate mythical stories of his own clan history. Were the McCarthys a nomadic tribe who travelled from North Africa in the mists of pre-history? This none-too-serious attempt to anatomise worldwide Irish connections results in an outrageously entertaining odyssey. From the Fried Breakfast Zone of Belfast airport, McCarthy journeys to Morocco and Gibraltar and finds that the Casbah in Tangier doesn't have too many historical traces of a hereditary Gaelic Chief. Despite attacks from ornamental monkeys and ill-tempered geese, he ploughs through the fleshpots of the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean in his fruitless search (where the only Celts he encounters are worse-for-drink Glasgow Celtic supporters); and then, in the secluded Alaskan township of McCarthy (where else?) with its populace of just 18 bewildered citizens, he comes across a final revelation. This is absolutely hilarious stuff, every bit as entertaining as McCarthy's Bar--and that's no blarney.--Barry Forshaw

Review

Praise for McCARTHY'S BAR:
'McCarthy is a hilariously funny writer.'

(The Times)

McCarthy mines a rich seam of humour as he finds himself on the receiving end of some warm but unsophisticated hospitality. But then, he could probably make a phone book funny. (Independent on Sunday)

Don't panic - this is not the same story you hear from every tourist you meet...This book will make you laugh out loud through recognition and embarrassment. (Irish News)

One of the funniest writers around. If you were asked to choose an ideal travelling companion, you would put Pete McCarthy near the top of your list. But if he doesn't happen to be available, McCARTHY'S BAR is the next best thing. (Yorkshire Evening Post)

Hilarious, informed and intelligent...a wonderful debut. By the end, we, too, would like to move to Ireland. (Amazon.co.uk)

An engaging, evocative book. Four out of five stars. (Daily Mail)

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