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The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring
A novel of love, gangsters and Elvis impersonators
Depressed, lonely and tired of life, George Thring leaves work one night but never makes it home. Before he knows it, he’s driven over 200 miles in the wrong direction and finds himself in a strange little town, in the middle of nowhere, during their annual Elvis Presley appreciation festival.
As he stumbles from one mishap to another, George meets the woman of his dreams, unwittingly aids in a bank robbery and finds himself pursued by both the police and a gang of angry criminals.
With a big life decision to make, and a girl to try and win over, George is given the chance to become the hero he has always wanted to be. But is he brave enough to take it?
Depressed, lonely and tired of life, George Thring leaves work one night but never makes it home. Before he knows it, he’s driven over 200 miles in the wrong direction and finds himself in a strange little town, in the middle of nowhere, during their annual Elvis Presley appreciation festival.
As he stumbles from one mishap to another, George meets the woman of his dreams, unwittingly aids in a bank robbery and finds himself pursued by both the police and a gang of angry criminals.
With a big life decision to make, and a girl to try and win over, George is given the chance to become the hero he has always wanted to be. But is he brave enough to take it?
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2014
350 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Alastair Puddick
5 books28 followersAlastair Puddick is a writer and editor who has spent the past 15 years writing for a variety of magazines and websites. His work has spanned many different paths from jetting off to exciting cities across the world to writing about dating advice, data centres, facilities management and the exciting world of flooring. He also once wrote an agony advice column posing as Elvis Presley's ghost.
Alastair still works as a copywriter and lives in Sussex with his fiancée Laura. The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring is his first novel.
Alastair still works as a copywriter and lives in Sussex with his fiancée Laura. The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 17, 2020
DNF 50%
I really tried, i had too high hopes and i didn't like it much. George was okay, but it wasn't funny or interesting, not as much as i had hoped.
I really tried, i had too high hopes and i didn't like it much. George was okay, but it wasn't funny or interesting, not as much as i had hoped.
May 9, 2014
This a fantastic book and is such a fun idea and well written novel.
The idea of he The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring is original and the story is such a page turner.
What I loved the most is the characters. George you find you relate to, as everyone at times wants to escape the dull circle of work and everyday life.
As the story goes on you find you really want him to succeed, and you will route for him all the way, as he stumbles on this outrageous journey.
I found myself laughing out loud many times throughout this novel which is great credit to the talented writing of the Author Alastair Puddick.
This book is really a great treat and so refreshing and upbeat and makes a change to various titles out there.
I would highly recommend this to anyone.
The idea of he The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring is original and the story is such a page turner.
What I loved the most is the characters. George you find you relate to, as everyone at times wants to escape the dull circle of work and everyday life.
As the story goes on you find you really want him to succeed, and you will route for him all the way, as he stumbles on this outrageous journey.
I found myself laughing out loud many times throughout this novel which is great credit to the talented writing of the Author Alastair Puddick.
This book is really a great treat and so refreshing and upbeat and makes a change to various titles out there.
I would highly recommend this to anyone.
May 28, 2014
Had no idea what was coming and enjoyed every page. A little bit of random (Elvis) with a few dominant character traits (meek, without passion) and add frustrating people (Keane) and you are on the way to a good read.
June 20, 2019
A fun, entertaining read. George is a likable, if inept character, and you can definitely sympathize with his feelings of ennui and frustration in his dead end job. His accidental escape, ending up in a far away village in the middle of a week long Elvis fan celebration and a bank robbery lends plenty of scope for wild and wacky adventures. I only gave a three star rating as I found it a bit rambling and repetitive in places.
June 6, 2014
This book is the most ridiculous and unbelievable story I have ever read and yet..........it is BRILLIANT. I almost gave up after the first couple of chapters, but persevere to the end and appreciate the many qualities of the author's writing.
June 24, 2014
Totally mad whacky story - I absolutely LOVED it! One of those rare laugh-out-loud books! Can easily see this as a film or mini tv series.
January 25, 2015
Really good story - I wonder how easy it is for each one of us to run away from life like George...?
March 26, 2019
Entertaining
Make no mistake about it... this is not a great book that will earn the author a Pulitzer prize and be talked about in high school lit class. It is, however, and entertaining, ludicrous romp about being in a dead end job, spacing out, and finding yourself in the middle of a bank robbery in a bank full of Elvis impersonators. Oh, and falling in love.
Make no mistake about it... this is not a great book that will earn the author a Pulitzer prize and be talked about in high school lit class. It is, however, and entertaining, ludicrous romp about being in a dead end job, spacing out, and finding yourself in the middle of a bank robbery in a bank full of Elvis impersonators. Oh, and falling in love.
July 27, 2014
The author, Alastair Puddick, gave me a copy of thing novel in exchange for my review.
There are many brilliant moments in “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring.” The day he first sees Elvis could have come from a Carry On movie and the way Puddick writes the scene perfectly conveys how much a fish out of water Thring is in his situation. Puddick’s environmental and character descriptions convey a clear photograph of a scene without the feeling that we have elaborately painted a picture brush stroke by brush stroke.
No classic British read would be complete without a romantic sub-plot. George at the beginning lacks finesse with the female of the species. When he encounters Alice he doesn’t automatically become a lothario. The spirit of Elvis is not invoked. Instead the evolution of the story progresses naturally and if that includes love for our laid back hero, that is to be determined.
Puddick very clearly tells us who his characters are and why they do what they do and does it in such an entertaining way that “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring” is a novel that is simply delicious to read. It is a story that reminds me of why I fell in love with reading and the humor that has kept me such an avid reader all these years. That this is Puddick’s first novel is astonishing to this reader. It is wonderfully written and seamlessly edited so that readers closing the book won’t have the sense of having read a prelude to the main act.
“The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring” was an unexpected delight to read.
If you like classic British humor, I strongly suggest picking up “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring.”
There are many brilliant moments in “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring.” The day he first sees Elvis could have come from a Carry On movie and the way Puddick writes the scene perfectly conveys how much a fish out of water Thring is in his situation. Puddick’s environmental and character descriptions convey a clear photograph of a scene without the feeling that we have elaborately painted a picture brush stroke by brush stroke.
No classic British read would be complete without a romantic sub-plot. George at the beginning lacks finesse with the female of the species. When he encounters Alice he doesn’t automatically become a lothario. The spirit of Elvis is not invoked. Instead the evolution of the story progresses naturally and if that includes love for our laid back hero, that is to be determined.
Puddick very clearly tells us who his characters are and why they do what they do and does it in such an entertaining way that “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring” is a novel that is simply delicious to read. It is a story that reminds me of why I fell in love with reading and the humor that has kept me such an avid reader all these years. That this is Puddick’s first novel is astonishing to this reader. It is wonderfully written and seamlessly edited so that readers closing the book won’t have the sense of having read a prelude to the main act.
“The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring” was an unexpected delight to read.
If you like classic British humor, I strongly suggest picking up “The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring.”
January 23, 2015
I have a fondness for really quirky books and it was obvious from the start that this book was going to meet that criterion. George Thring is, apparently, a nobody stuck in a dead-end job with no social life and nothing to look forward to. One evening, on his return from work, he just keeps driving instead of going home, and that's where the story starts. I had a certain amount of sympathy with George as, when I was stuck in a job I hated, I often fantasised about just driving on (but that was on the way to work, not on the way home). George finds love and danger, in equal proportions, in a town populated by Elvis impersonators (and if that isn't quirky enough for you, nothing is). I really enjoyed the story and absolutely had to finish it to see what would happen, but the first part of the book is incredibly slow-paced, to such an extent that you feel as if you are experiencing George's life in real time! The second part speeds up considerably, although I found George's apparent capacity to recover from injuries that would hospitalise you and I, a little far-fetched. However, these are minor carps about a story that I am sure you will enjoy and remember.
November 3, 2014
I can't remember the last time I read a book as fun as this one. The first two chapters or so are perfect, perfect reading for a commute to or from a boring office job. I will testify to this effect, seeing as that's the exact situation in which I read them, and they were perfect. They really speak to the typical boring desk job worker's experience of alienation. And in fact, the whole book is a great commuters' book. The chapters are short and non-meandering, ideal for zipping through on the train.
It's also a very cheerful book, and hilarious provided you have a well-developed appreciation for the absurd. Or if you liked "Very British Problems" before it became all spammy and really wanted a whole novel in the same vein of humour.
I can't say it's perfect – I noticed at least five typos that should've been caught before publishing – but they didn't impede my enjoyment of the book. First five-star rating I'm giving this year! :)
It's also a very cheerful book, and hilarious provided you have a well-developed appreciation for the absurd. Or if you liked "Very British Problems" before it became all spammy and really wanted a whole novel in the same vein of humour.
I can't say it's perfect – I noticed at least five typos that should've been caught before publishing – but they didn't impede my enjoyment of the book. First five-star rating I'm giving this year! :)
January 16, 2015
I absolutely loved this story and hated to put it down for the mundane interruptions of work and other commitments. I was on that vacation with George Thring and I felt like I was in his shoes and looking through his eyes. A wonderful book. Highly recommended.
December 5, 2018
I love good prose, but what could have been said in two paragraphs was said in ten. It just got too much to read. The character is really relatable to someone that works in a cubicle all day. But the writing was just too much. Didn't finish it.
June 8, 2014
Gently amusing and I loved the whole Elvis conceit.
August 24, 2014
Charming. Loved it. Totally worth reading.
April 8, 2015
Such a great little book! Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
August 12, 2015
This book was a fun read. Not the greatest writing ever and I wouldn't say I ever got close to not being able to put it down. But it didn't take itself too seriously and did make me smile in places.
September 30, 2021
I received a reviewer copy of The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring from Raven Crest Books.
CW: Loneliness, Depression, Dead End Job.
What It’s About: George Thring has a boring job where he goes home everyday to his boring home and watches TV until one day he keeps driving.
What I Loved: This book was pure comedy. It was a really good slapstick. The things that happen in this book are just ridiculous. I laughed at so much. There's a lot of tropes in this book that make it enjoyable, from the wrong place in the wrong time to just some zany stories. George is a very likable character and I think most people will like it. He seems like the quintessential British bloke. This book would make a great movie.
What I Didn't Like So Much: Honestly, this book was too long. I felt like it just went on and on. I really think some editing could have occurred. Once you thought the book was gonna end a new twist would happen. I think this book felt like a movie and not so much a book. For me the length and the structure kind of made it a bit less fun for me and made me constantly feel like I was ready for it to end.
Who Should Read This: People who love books about people starting fresh. People who love funny books. People who wish Tommy Boy had been a book (there's not a good comparison to that movie, but it's kind of similar classic humor).
Quick Summary: A man keeps driving and ends up finding he might have been stalled out to long with his current life.
CW: Loneliness, Depression, Dead End Job.
What It’s About: George Thring has a boring job where he goes home everyday to his boring home and watches TV until one day he keeps driving.
What I Loved: This book was pure comedy. It was a really good slapstick. The things that happen in this book are just ridiculous. I laughed at so much. There's a lot of tropes in this book that make it enjoyable, from the wrong place in the wrong time to just some zany stories. George is a very likable character and I think most people will like it. He seems like the quintessential British bloke. This book would make a great movie.
What I Didn't Like So Much: Honestly, this book was too long. I felt like it just went on and on. I really think some editing could have occurred. Once you thought the book was gonna end a new twist would happen. I think this book felt like a movie and not so much a book. For me the length and the structure kind of made it a bit less fun for me and made me constantly feel like I was ready for it to end.
Who Should Read This: People who love books about people starting fresh. People who love funny books. People who wish Tommy Boy had been a book (there's not a good comparison to that movie, but it's kind of similar classic humor).
Quick Summary: A man keeps driving and ends up finding he might have been stalled out to long with his current life.
July 12, 2017
I really enjoyed this book which had echoes of David Nobbs (an author who I always enjoy) in the eponymous character's mid-life crisis which leads him to accidentally drive away from his life. The events which follow are utterly ridiculous and very, very funny as a result. I enjoyed the eclectic mix of Elvises (Elvi? Just what do you call a collection of Elvis impersonators?), crazy costumes, and unlikely criminals. There was something very stereotypical in some of the characters - but I couldn't help but wonder if this had been done intentionally by the author as a statement about assumed identities - quite a lot of this book, it seems to me, is about people doing the things they think they should be doing rather than what they actually want to do. There are long passages of internal wanderings on the part of the characters which become a bit too long and perhaps could have done with a bit of an edit. I found myself skim-reading some parts because the pace became too slow for my liking. However, overall, I enjoyed reading this - it's great fun in parts.
October 17, 2019
"The Unexpected Vacation..." isn't a laugh-out-loud comedy, though it is full of lighter moments. It isn't tense drama, but it is comprised of clever turns of plot which carry it forward a little breathlessly. It isn't a pretentious read, just a plain-wrap entertaining one. And if it didn't strain so much to deliver a seamless, perfectly ironed-out product, I think it would succeed all the more. It does succeed, but I can't help feel, in all the perfectly parsed sentences and choreographed action scenes that the author is struggling for more; there's a strain between the words that just bogs the whole thing down somewhat and makes it feel tired, when it could be upbeat and hopeful.
November 11, 2021
Quirky and funny story, The Unexpected Vacation of George Thring was a delightful read.
George Thring runs away from home unintentionally. Depressed, lonely and tired of life, he leaves work one night but never makes it home. Before he knows it, he’s driven over 200 miles in the wrong direction and finds himself in a strange little town, in the middle of nowhere, during their annual Elvis Presley appreciation festival.
As he stumbles from one mishap to another, he meets the woman of his dreams, unwittingly aids in a bank robbery and finds himself pursued by both the police and a gang of angry criminals.
A fun and entertaining read!
George Thring runs away from home unintentionally. Depressed, lonely and tired of life, he leaves work one night but never makes it home. Before he knows it, he’s driven over 200 miles in the wrong direction and finds himself in a strange little town, in the middle of nowhere, during their annual Elvis Presley appreciation festival.
As he stumbles from one mishap to another, he meets the woman of his dreams, unwittingly aids in a bank robbery and finds himself pursued by both the police and a gang of angry criminals.
A fun and entertaining read!
June 27, 2019
For George it is a some what painful and also a magical ride to rediscover the true meaning of living helped with a great mixture of characters to help him along on this journey. Not all have the best intentions as he soon discovers with both laugh out loud situations blended with some seriously nasty moments by this well written and extremely enjoyable book by Alastair Puddick. I know I will not be able to look at a Smurf and keep a straight face again.
thankyouverymuch
This was a NetGalley Raven Crest Books
thankyouverymuch
This was a NetGalley Raven Crest Books
February 7, 2019
Quirky English humor - hard to beat for fun reading
Mr. Thring leads a very passive and boring life. Never is late, takes no sick days off, doesn't take vacations, has no family or pets. And he's an accountant! However, one day after work Mr Thring forgets to drive home, like the fabled bunny, he just keeps going and going. And the madcap adventure begins. If you love Elvis Pressley you'll love this book!
Mr. Thring leads a very passive and boring life. Never is late, takes no sick days off, doesn't take vacations, has no family or pets. And he's an accountant! However, one day after work Mr Thring forgets to drive home, like the fabled bunny, he just keeps going and going. And the madcap adventure begins. If you love Elvis Pressley you'll love this book!
January 13, 2021
Funny and entertaining
A bit of a slow starter but I was intrigued to see where it might go. The idea of a whole town dressed as Elvis and poor George caught up in this bizarre, surreal situation and all the scrapes that he becomes unwittingly involved in had me laughing out loud. Ridiculous, preposterous, but hilarious and a real hero for everyone who has ever felt that life was going on without them.
A bit of a slow starter but I was intrigued to see where it might go. The idea of a whole town dressed as Elvis and poor George caught up in this bizarre, surreal situation and all the scrapes that he becomes unwittingly involved in had me laughing out loud. Ridiculous, preposterous, but hilarious and a real hero for everyone who has ever felt that life was going on without them.
March 18, 2021
This was a cute book. Made me laugh out loud a few times, however, there is a typo(I hope it is a typo and not lack of research. When talking about an outfit worn by Elvis in his comeback special, the year is wrong. It was 1968 comeback, not 1966 as it was in the book. Just a small thing but if you are going to talk about someone so well known and loved, please make sure info is correct. Also, it felt not a lot of research was done. Elvis did wear other clothes besides the jump suits.
October 11, 2018
An unexpected pleasure
I'm not going to give a synopsis. All I will say is I can't remember a book that made me smile and chuckle more. A great read with engaging characters in a small town during their annual Elvis Presley celebration. There's a bank robbery, idiot cops, idiot robbers, quirky townsfolk and day dreaming George Thring
I'm not going to give a synopsis. All I will say is I can't remember a book that made me smile and chuckle more. A great read with engaging characters in a small town during their annual Elvis Presley celebration. There's a bank robbery, idiot cops, idiot robbers, quirky townsfolk and day dreaming George Thring
October 14, 2018
An easy and amusing read telling the tale of a bored, lonely man who accidentally runs away from his life, gets caught up in a bank robbery and has to deal with both dangerous criminals and overzealous detectives before he can start a new life with the woman he's fallen in love with. Fans of Graeme Simsion and Jonas Jonasson would enjoy this book.
November 30, 2019
This is a fun farcical tale about what happens when everything starts to go wrong in the most right kind of way. It's delightful!
One night, without even realizing it, George Thring misses his exit on the way home from work and just keeps going... and going... and going... until his car stops running and he finds himself temporarily stranded in a quirky little village during its annual Elvis Presley festival.
As he struggles to just go along with what's happening - he really has no choice - George finds that what he left behind isn't much compared to what he seems to be discovering. If he can only stop being so neurotic he might even start to enjoy it.
You probably won't be sucked in right off the bat. It takes a little while to get going and the book drags a bit in places. George has a tendency to over think everything and that gets a wee bit tedious but stick with it.
All in all it's a pretty good story with some fun slap-stick moments and a dash of life lesson thrown in for good measure.
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
One night, without even realizing it, George Thring misses his exit on the way home from work and just keeps going... and going... and going... until his car stops running and he finds himself temporarily stranded in a quirky little village during its annual Elvis Presley festival.
As he struggles to just go along with what's happening - he really has no choice - George finds that what he left behind isn't much compared to what he seems to be discovering. If he can only stop being so neurotic he might even start to enjoy it.
You probably won't be sucked in right off the bat. It takes a little while to get going and the book drags a bit in places. George has a tendency to over think everything and that gets a wee bit tedious but stick with it.
All in all it's a pretty good story with some fun slap-stick moments and a dash of life lesson thrown in for good measure.
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2021
I laughed so hard at this book. I read it and forgot to leave a review, so I went back and read it again. In these crazy times, this book was perfect. It made me laugh and gave me a break from life. I recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
May 25, 2017
i wasn't expecting to enjoy this after reading the first couple of chapters as I was put off by the writing and a number of grammatical errors.
Some of the plot twists were obvious, some of them less so, overall a fun book.
Some of the plot twists were obvious, some of them less so, overall a fun book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews