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Travelling for the Hell of it
A Kind of travel book. Short Stories, journalistic pieces, memoirs and opinions; From a life time of travelling and living abroad. Some horrible, some funny, some serious. And hopefully interesting. From running Eco-lodges in Malawi and Czech to Voluteering in Europe and getting drunk in Brazil. Food, Eco-tourism, football and Aid projects, back-packing and more.
- GenresTravel
182 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
18 people want to read
About the author
Nick Gerrard
12 books31 followersNick Gerrard is originally from Birmingham but now living in Olomouc where he writes, proof-reads and edits, (Abridged versions of the classics; like Hemmingway and Orwell) and in between looking after his son Joe, edits and designs Jotters United Lit-zine. Nick has been at one time or another a Chef, activist, union organiser, punk rocker, teacher, traveller and Eco-lodge owner in Malawi and Czech.
His short stories, flash, poetry and essays have appeared in various magazines and books in print and online including Breaking rules, Rye whiskey review, Spillwords, Pikers press, The Siren, The Platform, Ramingoblog, literati-magazine, Minor Literature and Bluehour magazine. Nick has three books published available on Amazon. Travelling for the hell of it. A kind of travel book.
Lyrics without music. Gritty poems.
Graffiti stories. Short story collection
His latest short novel, Punk Novelette is all about a group of friends growing up with punk in the 70s in the UK and the effect the movement had on their lives.
.
His short stories, flash, poetry and essays have appeared in various magazines and books in print and online including Breaking rules, Rye whiskey review, Spillwords, Pikers press, The Siren, The Platform, Ramingoblog, literati-magazine, Minor Literature and Bluehour magazine. Nick has three books published available on Amazon. Travelling for the hell of it. A kind of travel book.
Lyrics without music. Gritty poems.
Graffiti stories. Short story collection
His latest short novel, Punk Novelette is all about a group of friends growing up with punk in the 70s in the UK and the effect the movement had on their lives.
.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 19, 2012
4.5 Stars Unflinchingly real, unapologetic, and undeniably entertaining…
Let me start this review off with the caveat that if your sensibilities are easily offended by coarse language and licentious behavior, this book is not for you. And if you are looking for a travel book that consists of orderly lists of five-star hotels and restaurants where you can enjoy a leisurely visit to a sleek foreign city without sacrificing any of the comforts and amenities of home, again, this book is not for you.
As Gerrard makes blatantly clear from the very title, TRAVELLING FOR THE HELL OF IT is more an anti-guidebook, a firsthand account chronicling his experiences with various world cultures in a gritty, in-your-face, painfully real way. Teetering on the border of propriety every step of the way (and very often crossing it when describing moments of hedonistic revelry in lurid detail) he keeps his readers riveted and regaled with his irreverence and self-deprecating humor.
But it is not all fun and games and frivolous hilarity. There are also flashes of real brilliance and beauty in his prose. With his effortless writing and hypnotic cadence (which has become a lost art in this new era of self-publishing) he facilely conveys a sense of joy at his unexpected and sometimes revelatory discoveries and outrage at the jaded state of the world. Gerrard makes no concessions and takes no prisoners, even blasting world aid organizations for their bungled handling of resources and hypocritical policies. And although he rants a bit and returns to them repeatedly, he clearly communicates his passion for the subjects of ecotourism, organic farming, and global responsibility.
For those few brave souls who can weather the profanity and invective tone, it is an eye-opening and illuminating read with underlying life lessons to be gleaned. For the rest of you, in the words of the author in his closing paragraph (I will paraphrase here for the sake of the fainthearted) ‘…write your own darn book!’
Let me start this review off with the caveat that if your sensibilities are easily offended by coarse language and licentious behavior, this book is not for you. And if you are looking for a travel book that consists of orderly lists of five-star hotels and restaurants where you can enjoy a leisurely visit to a sleek foreign city without sacrificing any of the comforts and amenities of home, again, this book is not for you.
As Gerrard makes blatantly clear from the very title, TRAVELLING FOR THE HELL OF IT is more an anti-guidebook, a firsthand account chronicling his experiences with various world cultures in a gritty, in-your-face, painfully real way. Teetering on the border of propriety every step of the way (and very often crossing it when describing moments of hedonistic revelry in lurid detail) he keeps his readers riveted and regaled with his irreverence and self-deprecating humor.
But it is not all fun and games and frivolous hilarity. There are also flashes of real brilliance and beauty in his prose. With his effortless writing and hypnotic cadence (which has become a lost art in this new era of self-publishing) he facilely conveys a sense of joy at his unexpected and sometimes revelatory discoveries and outrage at the jaded state of the world. Gerrard makes no concessions and takes no prisoners, even blasting world aid organizations for their bungled handling of resources and hypocritical policies. And although he rants a bit and returns to them repeatedly, he clearly communicates his passion for the subjects of ecotourism, organic farming, and global responsibility.
For those few brave souls who can weather the profanity and invective tone, it is an eye-opening and illuminating read with underlying life lessons to be gleaned. For the rest of you, in the words of the author in his closing paragraph (I will paraphrase here for the sake of the fainthearted) ‘…write your own darn book!’
February 28, 2020
For those looking for a travel guide on recommended sites to see and accommodation etc. you are barking up the wrong tree here. If you are looking to hear about someone's personal travel experience in a bio/memoir/journal style then please buy this book. There are some incredible adventures, strong opinions and some graphic details but it is worth the read. The author tells his stories in a manner that makes you feel as though you are at a pub or cafe hearing these thinking wow and I dare say learning something along the way. I found myself experiencing the moment remember the sounds and smells of places that I had traveled to in common and those that I have not I began to imagine them. The writing really takes you there. I was always excited to begin a new chapter to find out where the author was going to be next and what was going to happen. There were a few repetitious sections and a little globe trotting where I had thought that country/region/continent was sort of dealt with and then you seem to be brought back there again but otherwise an awesome book. You really feel the passion for travel and culture. Hands down one of my favorite travel books and can think of a dozen personal friends right now that I am going to recommend this book to!
July 30, 2012
As I read this I kind of knew what I was getting into. I thought I knew what this was all about. Just some random person writing about his travels and his witty and hilarious commentary in between. I got what I thought. I wouldn't say there was anything that really surprised me. I love to travel and sometimes you can't and you live through someone else. That was nice, but I think all travel books are like that. Then again, I shouldn't say that because this is the first of I hope many books about traveling.
I love how Nick Gerrard didn't just say his experiences and made that the main goal. It felt more like an old friend was telling you about his travels and conversing with you. It was easy going and nothing too serious and I think this book came just in time for me, when I was reading a lot of long and well thought out intricate plot twists and I just needed a quick summer read.
I can't say much without giving away a story that should be read from him and not badly explained from me. Though, I did love how he explained the people he met. It was refreshing. This is quite a short review because I don't know what else to say, but if you are looking for an easy read for the summer and you want to experience many places in a hilariously witty way then I think you should read Traveling for the Hell of it. That's why I give Nick Gerrard's travel book though not a guide book a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)
I love how Nick Gerrard didn't just say his experiences and made that the main goal. It felt more like an old friend was telling you about his travels and conversing with you. It was easy going and nothing too serious and I think this book came just in time for me, when I was reading a lot of long and well thought out intricate plot twists and I just needed a quick summer read.
I can't say much without giving away a story that should be read from him and not badly explained from me. Though, I did love how he explained the people he met. It was refreshing. This is quite a short review because I don't know what else to say, but if you are looking for an easy read for the summer and you want to experience many places in a hilariously witty way then I think you should read Traveling for the Hell of it. That's why I give Nick Gerrard's travel book though not a guide book a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)
May 13, 2013
This was a really good book. There were a few issues, however. It had tons of grammatical errors, lots of ranting, profanities, fighting, and drinking. He explored various parts of Europe and Africa. I appreciated the investigated issues such as African dependence, true travel, organic products, etc. A few stories were repeated verbatim which was annoying. However, I must repeat that this was a good book and recommended for all who travel abroad or plan to do so. Last sentence of the book best summarized it; ...if you don't like it, write your own god-damn book. Stay free, Nick.
How could you not like it?
How could you not like it?
May 9, 2013
Desperately needs an editor. Really great, exciting stories but too many grammar errors and exclamation points to make it a smooth read. Once this book is edited it can easily get 4 maybe 5 stars.
October 29, 2022
I found it well worth reading as a comparison to the hitchhiking scene I knew in the mid nineteen-seventies. His wanderings are of a different era than mine and focused more on bars and drunken revelries, that damaged his health before he cleaned up and went organic. Overall I admire his spirit of adventure and mixing with the local scene, which then as now, too few travelers, dare I say tourists, are willing to chance. As a quick dive into his travel life with wild drunken brawls in various locations, it leaves me wanting more in depth details, fleshing out of scenes and characters, but he has good insight into the pitfalls of misguided foreign aid and volunteerism.
April 30, 2012
Travelling for the hell of it
April 28th, 2012 by Jerry at skoobebooks.co.uk
We have just finished and put into print our latest book, Traveling for the hell of it! by Nick Gerrard.
Nick approached us a few weeks ago with his manuscript which is already available as an eBook. He was broke (and still is I believe) but desperate to get a print version produced and on sale. He didn’t have the skills or the money to work his manuscript up to a print ready file. We looked at the book and decided it was too good to not get into print so we have worked on both the internals and the cover and gave the book an ISBN to get it in print and on sale for him.
This is not a travel book written and edited by professionals but a book written from the heart about his experiences and thoughts from his many years of travelling. I have yet to read it from cover to cover myself but having spent time working on it the sections I have read come across with real passion and make you want to turn the next page – what a really good book is all about.
From a review of the eBook version written by David Blane (not the magician!)
“Traveling for the hell of it” describes a way of life I have only dreamed of. Perhaps it is primarily a young person’s enterprise, and less so for those of us who are married, employed, or who have families holding us in place. In a nutshell, when Nick and his friends wanted to travel somewhere, such as Paris, they did. They moved there and got jobs. Through the various wild and hilarious stories of their escapades, I wasn’t able to determine if they stayed in Paris a few months or a few years, but going there was an open-ended commitment, and they enjoyed themselves until deciding to move on to Barcelona.
Read the full review here – http://www.outsiderwriters.org/2012/a...
This is one I will definitely read from cover to cover.
I have seen a few other reviews where it is criticised for missing commas and other odd things!! To me a book is about the content. Does it capture me enough to keep reading; to not put the book down? It is not an exam in perfect grammar but an exercise in enjoyment. From what I have seen and read so far this most defiantly captures my attention.
April 28th, 2012 by Jerry at skoobebooks.co.uk
We have just finished and put into print our latest book, Traveling for the hell of it! by Nick Gerrard.
Nick approached us a few weeks ago with his manuscript which is already available as an eBook. He was broke (and still is I believe) but desperate to get a print version produced and on sale. He didn’t have the skills or the money to work his manuscript up to a print ready file. We looked at the book and decided it was too good to not get into print so we have worked on both the internals and the cover and gave the book an ISBN to get it in print and on sale for him.
This is not a travel book written and edited by professionals but a book written from the heart about his experiences and thoughts from his many years of travelling. I have yet to read it from cover to cover myself but having spent time working on it the sections I have read come across with real passion and make you want to turn the next page – what a really good book is all about.
From a review of the eBook version written by David Blane (not the magician!)
“Traveling for the hell of it” describes a way of life I have only dreamed of. Perhaps it is primarily a young person’s enterprise, and less so for those of us who are married, employed, or who have families holding us in place. In a nutshell, when Nick and his friends wanted to travel somewhere, such as Paris, they did. They moved there and got jobs. Through the various wild and hilarious stories of their escapades, I wasn’t able to determine if they stayed in Paris a few months or a few years, but going there was an open-ended commitment, and they enjoyed themselves until deciding to move on to Barcelona.
Read the full review here – http://www.outsiderwriters.org/2012/a...
This is one I will definitely read from cover to cover.
I have seen a few other reviews where it is criticised for missing commas and other odd things!! To me a book is about the content. Does it capture me enough to keep reading; to not put the book down? It is not an exam in perfect grammar but an exercise in enjoyment. From what I have seen and read so far this most defiantly captures my attention.
November 19, 2012
First big serious review of my book! http://www.outsiderwriters.org/2012/a...
Nick Clarke (Gerrard)
Nick Clarke (Gerrard)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews