RANDOM

by Adrian Sturrock

"This is my life. It's not an outstanding one; it may be much like yours - except with me in it." After forty days and forty nights of wandering through Europe in their Mazda MX5 Miata, Adrian and his wife, Natalie, are back home - mostly because that's where they live. RANDOM explores their everyday life, and continues where THE SAT NAV DIARIES left off. Life must go on, it seems.'Is it just me or do my feet look further away to you?' This is Adrian Sturrock's first collection of articles, in which he fumbles his way through a number of vaguely irrelevant 21st Century issues, How to pull off a social media romance, Why you shouldn't cheat on your hair stylist, Why phishing no longer requires a rod, and How come today's DIY still means having to do it yourself. "You might learn a lot here, though this is highly unlikely."Alternatively, you might just have fun learning nothing at all.

193 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[E.J. Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note to self. Do NOT read this memoir in the silent carriage of the train to Sydney. I smothered giggles throughout my journey. 'Random' is a perfect title, as the author skips skilfully from memory to memory in no particular order. A very dry, self-deprecating humour is the glue that holds all his disparate recollections together and while the book could be something to dip into, I finished it - regretfully - on my return journey. I was not in the silent carriage.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I enjoyed this book! Random is the perfect title. Each chapter is indeed a random discussion of thoughts that pop into the author’s head or simple everyday events that occur such as his wife asking if he has bought euro-plates for the car. The strand that runs throughout is the fact that they are all brilliantly funny and managed to reduce me to tears trying to stop myself from laughing aloud. I failed and just gave in to laughing. Even the chapter titles made me laugh. I mean ‘Pavlov’s frog’!
I love the relationship between the author and his wife Nat which is highlighted in the descriptions of their hilarious conversations. They certainly have a marvellous optimistic way of looking at life, enjoying each other’s company and making the best of the random things that life throws at them.
This is definitely a book I could read over again. It’s so clever and genuinely funny I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys observational humour and just needs a laugh. I assure you it will do the trick. I’m so looking forward to Random 2.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this after having enjoyed the Sat Nav Diaries so much. Adrian Sturrock's first book was a travelogue; this book is completely different...although in one important way it is just the same. It continues with the wonderful repartee that goes on between the author and his wife, but in a series of incidents or events in their lives.

The stories themselves are simply snapshots and as the title says, they are fairly random. There are also a few flashbacks to Adrian Sturrock's earlier life, two of which I found quite poignant and touching. However, what makes this book so rich and so entertaining is the author's self deprecating humour and his fantastic way of presenting the witty, warm and sometimes wacky dialogues between himself and his wife. I laughed till I cried; I read parts aloud to my partner; and I constantly wanted to stop and share it with whoever happened to be sitting next to me on the tram or in the coffee corner during my breaks at work.

It's a wonderful book that I will probably read again. Quite an anthology in fact and one I will treasure for future occasions when I feel in need of some cheering up. This book will definitely do that time and again.

I dare not say any more for fear of spoiling it for new readers, but I definitely had some favourites among them even though I loved them all. Well done Adrian Sturrock. This is a keeper.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is true to its name, Random is the authors random musings on ordinary things in life such as procrastination, seeing a different hairdresser in the same salon, and such. But more than that it is the back and forth banter between him and his wife that make the book. How they negotiate, compromise, and love each other.

[Patti St · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny

I'm not sure what kind of memoir this is. Bits of memories, maybe. Sturrock jumps from one subject to another while revisiting various times in his life from childhood on up. Calling the book Random is perfect for these random clips of recall from the past. Several are quite funny. On two occasions I nearly choked on my ever ready snack to be eaten while reading. Note to self: no potato chips when reading Adrian Sturrock books. They hurt when they get lodged in the throat while whooping an unexpected laugh. I look forward to reading more from this author, but without the handy chips.

[Alyson Sheldrake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian writes with humour, insight and an ability to take the ordinary and making it highly amusing. A series of witty anecdotes and musings that make you stop and think ‘Oh thank goodness – I am not alone!’ as you giggle and agree with so many of his thoughts and antics. I sat and read over half the book in one sitting – my only warning is that I was so engrossed in the book, my legs went to sleep, resulting in me hopping around and cursing the writer than can draw me in to that extent! An excellent, genuinely funny, and at times poignant and unique book.

[J. A. Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Adrian Sturrock. He has a humorous style of writing. This book is just a collection of what appears to be random thoughts about his life. It's just a mish mash of topics, some funnier than others. Bought author's first book, Sat Nav, to give it a try as well. Love his wife.

[Margaret Chatburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Random Laughter Here
I read this book very quickly as it was hard to put down. I laughed all the way through.
Adrian's everyday life vignettes provide excellent reading. Life is never dull, I would say, when Adrian is around.
Read this book and appreciate there is always an element of humour in life. And...truth is stranger than fiction!
Highly recommended.

[mrs lisa middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny & quirky

It's a book that you'll quickly relate too, then sit & think....was that about me? Very cleverly written, plenty of laughs too