A Nest of Occasionals

by Tony Martin

Comedian Tony Martin’s genius for unearthing the eccentric in seemingly ordinary people, being in the wrong place at the right time, and putting his foot in it with spectacular results, is laid bare in this hilarious new collection of tales from his often tumultuous life outside show business.

Spanning four decades, two nations, and a number of outrageous coincidences, embarrassing medical procedures and ancient family disputes, Martin’s stories are light on the epic, and unsparing in the detail. Be amused and appalled as Tony discovers his parents are censoring bare breasts from the National Geographic, has his braces repossessed by the government, gets caught two-timing his local video shop, attempts to start a band with no musical skill whatsoever, mars an awards night with a burst of foul language, and returns to his hometown to discover his grandfather is not the man he thought he was.

A Nest of Occasionals is a series of supersize set pieces from a life lived in miniature. But what on earth does that title mean? There’s only one way to find out…

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir, Comedy, Biography, Australia

267 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Tony Martin was born in Te Kuiti, New Zealand, in 1964. He was implicated in such projects as The D-Generation, The Late Show, Martin/Molloy, Get This and, more recently, ABC1’s A Quiet Word. He is the author of Lolly Scramble and A Nest of Occasionals. He lives in Melbourne and enjoys writing about himself in the third person.

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Tony Martin you’ll love this.

[Graeme Dunlop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny-man Tony Martin provides another series of reminiscences from his life. Always told in a humorous and accessible style, this is an easy and entertaining read.

If you live outside of Australia, you may not be familiar with Mr Martin's work. He's well known here for radio and TV shows. If you want to sample his sometimes surreal humour, check out his podcast "Sizzletown" in which he does all the voices (except for that of sound producer, Matt Dower).

Also, a language warning. If you don't like swearing, you won't like this book. There's quite a lot.

[Meredith Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

More snippets from Martin's life history. Amusing in the same vein as Lolly Scramble but holistically not as laugh-out-loud funny.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted enjoyable look at what naughty boys got up to. Brought back fond memories of my friends' antics, way back then. And sounded just like my husband reminiscing about the good old days.

[Alexis Cattley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very easy and page turning read. The stories were written almost like someone telling me face to face a memory they recalled.
Honest laugh causing moments. A book I will reread in the future.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Tony Martin has improved on the already terrific Lolly Scramble with this one. Just as funny, but warmer and more personal. And it'll make you feel better about your own life.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few funny moments whilst the remainder has dated significantly. I understand why this was in the remainders.

[Lisa Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly funny memoir. I must say some of the other reviews are bizarre. The one by 'Wendy' of Canberra for example. This book is 'dated'? How can an account of someone's life be 'dated'? What a stupid comment.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect rainy day read, Martin had me giggling up a storm while I worked on my New Zealand accent. This collection of warm and funny anecdotes has definitely inspired me to seek out his first book 'Lolly Scramble'. I've been a fan of Tony Martin's for an age & after I got over the fact that he wasn't going to reminisce on 'The Late Show' era, I settled back and enjoyed beautifully written tales from his early years. So instead of renewing your Video Ezy membership and chucking on a VHS, I recommend going for a browse at the public library and checking out this gem.

[bigmuzz]

i've been a big fan of Tony's for years thru his tv work such as The Late Show, and his film work such as Bad Eggs, so when I saw this book in the library I knew I had to give it a go. as expected it was full of funny stories, a few gags, some great wordplay, and of course a lot of nerdy humour. very interesting to learn about tony's earlier years. i will now have to track down his first book, Lolly Scramble, methinks... :)

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more autobiographical than Martin's earlier work " Lolly Scramble" with more details of his family life and upbringing. This is still the same hilarious writing though- Whether he's talking about mad stepfathers,fireworks or sex education in the seventies, Martin has a perceptive and insightful humour that brings forth hilarity from life's every day banalities. He also talks about burping.

[Librarylinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. I do love a book where you laugh out loud. His descriptions of life in NZ and the piss taking off the accent rully made me guggle. His grandmother was such an old unpopular cow in the town where he grew up - the shocking comments made by the elderly people he asked were just wonderful.

A very quick read but well worth it, the husband does get sick of me reading funny bits aloud.

[Shaun Major · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly a clever writer and there are several entertaining episodes throughout the book. However, hilarious is overstating the book as a whole as it is peppered with tales that are too flat to sustain it. Disappointing.

[Beau Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining follow up to Lolly Scramble: A Memoir of Little Consequence. Not as strong as his first book, but still worth a read.

[Damien Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Martin can tell a funny story. I've laughed on trams and trains while reading this book and one time woke up my girlfriend when I tried to stifle a laugh so i wouldn't wake her and had the whole body shakes which woke her.

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

More snippets from Martin's life history. Same vein as Lolly Scramble - but a wee bit more melancholy.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very, very funny sections littered through the book. But this was tempered with some flat bits as well. Considering it only cost me $5, I'm not too disappointed.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hilarious collection of stories from Tony Martin's life that still make me laugh whenever I think about them.

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like his previous memoir, an entertaining read.

[Michael Pryor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Droll, risible, entertaining.

[Micheal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Martin gets a camera up the pee-hole!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely re-readable, over & over & over.