Suburbia: A Far from Ordinary Place

by David Randall

You don't get to choose where you grow up, and for more than 80 per cent of the population, the boring, unadventurous and thoroughly unfashionable suburbs serve as their childhood stomping grounds. Much derided in literature and popular culture, acclaimed author David Randall turns his eagle eye and sharp wit on growing up in Suburbia - and his own childhood through the 1950s, '60s and '70s.From the predictable naming conventions to the unambitious juvenile crime, and from the social misfits to the snobs in the detached houses, Randall recounts it all in this funny and often poignant anecdote-filled book. Exploring such vital questions as why milkmen were the only daytime callers to be suspected of charming housewives, and just how to hide the New Car (more out of concern for the neighbours than anything to do with crime), no stone is left unturned (although each is placed neatly back onto its manicured lawn). Most important, were the suburbs so extraordinarily cliché as they are portrayed to be? Well, yes, probably. But so what?

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2019

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Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed a bit by not realizing before picking this book up that the suburbs south and a little west of London might differ from what I’m familiar with in the States. Not much in big ways though. I found the book very relatable. One thing that matters is that the author and I were almost exact contemporaries. He unfortunately passed away four years ago. Where does that leave me? Eeeek. You don’t have to have grown up in the 50s and 60s though. You only need to have the ability to appreciate or laugh about “quaint.”

My suburbia was always near smaller hubs, his not all that far from London. London gets very little mention though . It obviously was not important in his family life. It might as well been the moon. Randall begins with a discussion of what he calls suburbanophobia. It’s not unusual to feel the city and its sophisticates are leading a more elegant existence. He talks about conformity a lot, something we assume is only suburban. I think Randall does not think it was horrible in all ways or always oppressive. He meets many people as a young adult who he thinks are condescending and virtue signaling when it comes to supposed suburbanites. I do think the old class system was still a big deal here, at least at the time covered. More so than in the States.

I really enjoyed doing English vs. U.S. comparisons of growing up in the 50s and 60s and am surprised with likenesses. Differences, though smaller, are also interesting. Anyone with an interest in social history or developments in tastes for possessions and technology, things that are important to people, living spaces, architecture, food etc. will probably find interesting things in this book.

Generally, I feel the author didn’t feel he was culturally deprived or led a miserable childhood. More race and cultural diversity are certainly improvements today. A big improvement is that women have more choices and are not so universally attached to a vacuum cleaner (sorry, Hoovers). Randall can be hysterically funny. As well as social history of the time this is memoir, which may lose some readers and I did feel this made the book trail off in the end.

[Lucie Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. I really enjoyed it - a bygone era so beautfully brought to life! So different to how we live now, it made me very nostalgic!
Once I started I didnt put it down until I'd finished... Completely caught up in a time gone by... A very uplifting and insightful read written in a brilliantly down to earth prose... Would recommend x