Lolly Scramble

Lolly Scramble is a collection of autobiographical essays by New Zealand-Australian comedian Tony Martin, published in 2005. The book presents stories from Martin's life in New Zealand and Australia, covering his childhood, early career, and adult experiences. The narrative follows Martin through various stages of his life, including his school days in New Zealand, his first jobs in advertising, and his eventual move to Australia. The stories range from his encounters at boarding houses to his experiences with video game addiction, and from minor car accidents to medical treatments. Each chapter stands as a self-contained story, focusing on specific moments and relationships that shaped Martin's life. Names have been changed to protect privacy, but the events and characters remain true to Martin's experiences. The collection creates a portrait of life in New Zealand and Australia during the late 20th century, highlighting the universal aspects of growing up, career development, and navigating relationships. Through humor and observation, the book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the small moments that constitute a life.

Readers describe Lolly Scramble as a collection of comedic autobiographical stories from Tony Martin's life in New Zealand and Australia. Readers praise: - The self-deprecating humor and awkward situations - Stories about Martin's early radio career - Nostalgic references to 1970s/80s New Zealand - Short, punchy chapters that maintain momentum Common criticisms: - Some stories feel incomplete or end abruptly - Humor can be too "inside baseball" for non-Australians - Writing style meanders at times Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (132 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) Select reader comments: "Like having a conversation with a funny friend" - Goodreads reviewer "The radio industry stories alone make it worth reading" - Amazon AU review "Loses steam in the middle sections" - Goodreads reviewer "Some references will be lost on international readers" - LibraryThing review

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🎭 Tony Martin first found fame as part of the groundbreaking Australian comedy radio show "Martin/Molloy" with Mick Molloy, which ran from 1995-98 and revolutionized FM radio comedy. 📺 Before becoming an author, Martin was a key writer and performer on the influential ABC TV comedy series "The D-Generation" and "The Late Show" in the early 1990s. 🌏 The book's title "Lolly Scramble" refers to a uniquely New Zealand tradition where candy is thrown to children at events, reflecting Martin's Kiwi childhood before moving to Australia. 📝 Each chapter in the book was originally written as a standalone piece for various magazines and newspapers, later collected and expanded for the book format. 🎬 The memoir includes Martin's early experiences in advertising, which later influenced his work co-writing and directing the cult Australian film "Bad Eggs" (2003).