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Title/Author

Road to McCarthy

Pete McCarthy

Average Review Rating Average Rating 7/10 (1 Review)
Book Details

Publisher : Sceptre

Published : 2002

Copyright : Pete McCarthy 2002

ISBN-10 : PB 0-340-76607-7
ISBN-13 : PB 978-0-340-76607-1

Publisher's Write-Up

Determined to pin down mythical tales of his own clan history and pursue far-flung Irish connections to their illogical conclusions, Pete is thrust into a worldwide adventure that reveals an unsettled and poignant history, while unearthing a good pint in the most unexpected locations.

From the Holy Ground of Cork he travels to Gibraltar and Morocco, searching for his hereditary Gaelic Chief in the perplexingly un-Celtic Kasbah of Tangier. Journeying onwards to New York, Tasmania, Montana, and Montserrat, he finally reaches the remote Alaskan township of McCarthy and its population of just fourteen people, but a lot more bears.

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Reader Reviews

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Review by Ray (250603) Rating (7/10)

Review by Ray
Rating 7/10
As a follow on to McCarthy's Bar, Peter sets out halfway around the world to follow his clan history to its illogical conclusions. Peter travels to Europe, North Africa, Tasmania, North America, Montserrat and Alaska in the search for the truth about the McCarthy Mor, his family history and the former kings of Ireland.

I had enjoyed McCarthy's Bar immensely and was hoping for more of the same from this one and for the most part it lives up to the original. It started off well but by the end I felt it lacked the overall impact of the first. Peter has a witty writing style and has many insights into the lone traveller in the places he visits. As well as making you laugh, snigger and smirk, he also manages to teach you about Irish culture and history. He meets many colourful characters along the way including some drunken Celtic fans in a bar in New York, a local guide in Tangiers who may/may not have a unhealthy interest in Peter's kidneys and a Cessna pilot who discusses plane crashes whilst flying Peter through the Alaska mountain range and wilderness on the way to the town of McCarthy. His descriptive and thought provoking view on life and the people around him is entertaining and was one of the main reasons why I bought this book.

It is a good read and fans of McCarthy's Bar will probably not be disappointed. New readers should read the former first to help lead you into this book, as it's the better of the two in my opinion. Not having read a Bill Bryson book (which I'll get around to soon), I can't really compare their styles but this book will make a good travelling companion, as my copy did on my recent trip to Italy.
Ray (25th June 2003)

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