Still on the road...
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Pete McCarthy has probably been selling at least a couple of thousand copies a week since the hardback came out in 2000, and deservedly so. It's maybe the best book I've read since 'Schindler's Ark' (which, you will recall, Spielberg renamed 'Shindler's List' on the basis that the original title was "too Jewish". Or something like that). Anyway, I have to keep putting it down so that I can laugh properly ('McCarthy's Bar', not the Schindler book). Quite remarkable.
McCarthy rarely if ever gives the impression that he's writing merely because he can, or must. It's all going somewhere. Around Ireland, in fact, in search of his past, its present, and his future. And, no matter how preposterous the stories get, they all have the ring of truth about them. Really, you couldn't make these up.
The author lives near me, but I'm not plugging his work because I know the bloke. On the contrary, I once spent much of a party staring at him and trying to work out where I knew him from. "Hmmm... reminiscent of Douglas Adams from this angle, but... who the hell... ahhh... aha!" Got him in the end. (Not the most exciting party, as you can imagine.)
I strongly suggest that you endeavour most earnestly to avoid being the last person in these Islands to buy the book.
His world-tour follow-up, 'Road to McCarthy', is out in paperback on Monday 17th March. It, too, has already been a hardback bestseller. There may still be a few tickets left to see him read & perform live at the Greys Pub in Brighton on Sunday 16th March (Mon 17th sold out) prior to a national tour of major theatres. Contact Mike Lance if you are interested. Mention me, and I might get a free pint out of it...
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Abridged from review written 13 March 2003
Pete McCarthy died of cancer on 6 October 2004
This book had already been bought by one million people.
We all continue to miss him.
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Hugely entertaining
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Absolutely hilarious! As funny as McCarthy's Bar and if anything even better observed. Pete McCarthy had an ability as a story teller that did justice to his paternal Irish background and the wider travels of this book as he follows the McCarthy diaspora provides opportunities that are not missed. Whether it be the dangers of the Casbah, the laid-back culture of the Caribbean, the convicts of the Antipodes or the clubs of New York (not to mention the library!) McCarthy turns each into a tale of such comedy that it is impossible not to laugh out loud. And that's before he reaches McCarthy, Alaska! His untimely death has certainly made travel writing less funny.
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Long and rambling but funny
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This is the long and rambling tale of Pete's search to trace the McCarthy clan's history to places as remote as Alaska,Montserrat,Morocco & Tasmania.
He does more drinking and talking nonsense in bars than actually uncovering anything significant,making his quest a very poor excuse for a storyline.
But his humourous observances of the everyday and the absurd keep you turning the pages and I would definitely read another of his books.
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On the road again
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Pete McCarthy was actually born Peter Charles McCarthy Robinson in Warrington, a town in the north-west of England. He was the eldest son of an Irish mother, who'd moved to England to work as a nurse. Naturally, there was an Irish influence on his upbringing : he was educated by the Christian Brothers and, in his childhood, spent his summer holidays with his mother's family in West Cork. Before moving into travel writing, Pete had worked on television, and adopted his mother's maiden name to avoid confusion with another actor. (It also spared him from sharing a name with a noted Northern Irish politician - who, unlike our author - has no great love for the Irish Republic). "The Road to McCarthy" was his second book, and - like "McCarthy's Bar" - takes a good look at the Irish. However, this time round, he's looking largely at the disapora and the majority of the book is spent away from Ireland. There's a trip to Tangier to meet the man who was once the McCarthy Mor - as opposed to Moor - followed by a trip to New York for St Patrick's Day. (Here, he was scared to death by a large gathering of unrepentent Celtic supporters). He takes a trip to Tasmania, formerly a penal colony known as Van Dieman's Land - among the former prisoners was Thomas Meagher, transported for his part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Meagher later escaped to America, and went on to become Governor of Montana - with McCarthy going on to visit his statue in the state's capital. He visits Montserrat - another Emerald Isle, though an awful lot sunnier (and slightly more volcanic) than the one I'm used to. (I knew nothing of the island before I read this book : now, I'd love to visit - solely on the strength of what McCarthy has written). Pete does take things one step further than his previous book, though : instead of visiting McCarthy's Bar, this time he he tracks down a town called McCarthy. (It's in Alaska, and saw its population doubled when a new family moved in).
Like "McCarthy's Bar", this is a very readable, hugely enjoyable, genuinely funny and occasionally sad book - but it's also very informative, thanks to the odd history lesson. (His turkey stories - that's the bird, rather than the country - are among the finest I've ever stumbled across). Pete McCarthy sadly died in 2004, before he was able to tackle Northern Ireland in print.
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The Road to McCarthy is paved with gold
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It was always going to be difficult for Pete McCarthy to match the runaway success he had with the wonderful McCarthy's Bar. I was fully prepared for disappointment upon opening the second book, and am therefore pleased to announce that it is nothing short of brilliant. Fans of the author will be aware of his fondness for obscure places and unwavering ability to land himself in ridiculous and often bizarre situations. The Road to McCarthy is similar to its predecessor in the sense that it once again follows Pete on his quest for identity: He explores his roots - just as he did last time around - and stumbles upon the history of the McCarthy clan, and the supposed McCarthy Mor. Sounds unusual - far-fetched even? That's because it is. Far from tainiting the feel of the book however, it adds a mysterious quality and sees the author trekking the globe in a highly unusual detective adventure. McCarthy frequently reprises his role of teacher and historian as he lapses into fact mode, interspersed with tales of the unusual people and places he encounters on his travels. So entertaining are the accounts of events he has witnessed or conversations he has taken part in, that I frequently found myself asking 'how does he FIND these people?' The answer is simple; they flock to him. He is a magnet for strange personalities, and thank God he is because I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. The author journeys further afield in this book than the last, with his adventure taking him to Montserrat, Montana and Tasmania. It was the section set in the latter that I found the most interesting, with its often moving documentation of convict settlements upon the Australian island. It's certainly eye-opening, and I frequently found myself staring at the words in disbelief. The treatment of the prisoners - many sent there for stealing just a hankerchief or a loaf of bread - was shocking. It is exactly this storytelling technique that gained my respect for the author. One moment I was laughing alound at the absurdity of a situation, and the next saddened by his descriptions of these historic events. It is rare for a sequel to surpass its predecessor in terms of entertainment value, but The Road to McCarthy does just that. It is a warm, witty and marvellously entertaining read, which is at the same time educational. Whether or not Mr McCarthy draws any conclusions from his experiences I really couldn't say. One thing is for certain however; I can't wait to see what he's got in store for book number three.
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