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Stress Family Robinson
Stress Family Robinson
The Robinson Family--mother, father, two teenage sons and a six-year-old daughter who is everyone's favourite--are a typical Christian family -- or are they?
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
43 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Plass
137 books103 followersAdrian Plass is a writer and speaker who has produced over thirty books in the last twenty years. The best known of these is probably The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, a gentle satire on the modern church, which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. This and other books have travelled to other countries and are translated into a number of foreign languages. Other books include biography, novels, short stories, a fictionalised account of the author's experiences as a residential child care worker, and collections of poems and sketches. A bemused Anglican, Adrian lives with his wife and daughter in a small market town near the Sussex South Downs.
Adrian has been in demand as a speaker in venues as varied as prisons, schools, churches, festivals, literary dinners and theatrical settings. His work also includes contribution to national and local radio and television. Live presentations combine humour, poetry, and story telling, largely revolving around his own inadequacies and struggles as a Christian and a human being.
In recent years Adrian has been joined by his wife Bridget in presenting a more varied and dramatic style of performance. Adrian and Bridget met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and have found particular satisfaction in being allowed to ‘do a bit of acting’. They have also been privileged to work alongside World Vision on several occasions, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia, writing two books and touring both in the UK and abroad with the aim of encouraging people to take up child sponsorship
Their work now takes them as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, while trips to Europe have introduced the added dimension of speaking through interpreters. Not easy when you're trying to be funny!
Adrian's latest books include ‘Jesus Safe Tender and Extreme‘, published by Zondervan, ‘Blind Spots in the Bible’, published by BRF, and most recent of all ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation’ published by Authentic Media. He and Bridget have also collaborated with friends in Canada to produce a CD of his favourite sketches from the last 20 years called ‘Preaching to the Converted’ while ‘A Touch of Plass’, CTA’s documentary video, is now out on DVD.
2008 began with a visit to Bolivia for Bridget and Adrian in collaboration with the charity Toybox to look at projects involving street children. Later on there will be a DVD, a book and a number of presentations promoting their work.
Adrian's central motivation continues to be his love for Jesus, although some may feel he expresses it rather eccentrically. His passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, and a truth that he learned during a difficult stage in his life: "God is nice and he likes me..." Some have described his work as being ‘one long confessional’. They may well be right!
Adrian has been in demand as a speaker in venues as varied as prisons, schools, churches, festivals, literary dinners and theatrical settings. His work also includes contribution to national and local radio and television. Live presentations combine humour, poetry, and story telling, largely revolving around his own inadequacies and struggles as a Christian and a human being.
In recent years Adrian has been joined by his wife Bridget in presenting a more varied and dramatic style of performance. Adrian and Bridget met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and have found particular satisfaction in being allowed to ‘do a bit of acting’. They have also been privileged to work alongside World Vision on several occasions, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia, writing two books and touring both in the UK and abroad with the aim of encouraging people to take up child sponsorship
Their work now takes them as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, while trips to Europe have introduced the added dimension of speaking through interpreters. Not easy when you're trying to be funny!
Adrian's latest books include ‘Jesus Safe Tender and Extreme‘, published by Zondervan, ‘Blind Spots in the Bible’, published by BRF, and most recent of all ‘Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation’ published by Authentic Media. He and Bridget have also collaborated with friends in Canada to produce a CD of his favourite sketches from the last 20 years called ‘Preaching to the Converted’ while ‘A Touch of Plass’, CTA’s documentary video, is now out on DVD.
2008 began with a visit to Bolivia for Bridget and Adrian in collaboration with the charity Toybox to look at projects involving street children. Later on there will be a DVD, a book and a number of presentations promoting their work.
Adrian's central motivation continues to be his love for Jesus, although some may feel he expresses it rather eccentrically. His passion is to communicate the need for reality in faith, and a truth that he learned during a difficult stage in his life: "God is nice and he likes me..." Some have described his work as being ‘one long confessional’. They may well be right!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 14, 2025
The story of the chaotic Robinson family and their single friend Dip. The book is written through Dip's eyes as she gets to know them better, and takes part in their struggles and problems. A nice tale of an ordinary Christian family who aren't at all holy, with humorous touches as well as some quite moving moments.
I think I like this better each time I read it. The characters may be a tad caricatured, but there's a lot that's realistic and quite thought-provoking. Well worth re-reading.
Four and a half stars, really.
Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
I think I like this better each time I read it. The characters may be a tad caricatured, but there's a lot that's realistic and quite thought-provoking. Well worth re-reading.
Four and a half stars, really.
Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
May 6, 2017
The quirks of normal family life, and the stresses involved in parenting/being parented/working and trying to do what you're supposed to do, as seen by an old and trusted family friend Dip Reynolds.
This is strangely the most realistic Christian family I've read, with the funny and tearful moments all parents and kids will recognize.
This is strangely the most realistic Christian family I've read, with the funny and tearful moments all parents and kids will recognize.
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March 2, 2020A small book trying to tackle some very large topics. It came across rather glib.
November 19, 2021
Oh, Adrian, you've done it again. I don't usually read books written in first person, but I make an exception for you.
I laughed and cried my way through this. While appearing to be mainly about the Robinsons - the perfect Christian family image as juxtaposed against the tumultuous reality - Stress Family Robinson was just as much about the narrator: dear honest Dip Reynolds, who presents a front of calm single middle-aged contentedness, and who gives the reader just enough glimpses of her true thoughts throughout the book to betray this image, making us feel heartwrenching sorrow at her husband- and child-less state ("In my dreams I have lived a promise that no waking day has ever kept"), curiosity at her background ("You're both calmer - more rational, you had happy childhoods," / "Did we?"), and ultimately glorious joy as she dances in the rain once more.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those of us who like to think we're perfect Christians and know perfectly well that we aren't.
I laughed and cried my way through this. While appearing to be mainly about the Robinsons - the perfect Christian family image as juxtaposed against the tumultuous reality - Stress Family Robinson was just as much about the narrator: dear honest Dip Reynolds, who presents a front of calm single middle-aged contentedness, and who gives the reader just enough glimpses of her true thoughts throughout the book to betray this image, making us feel heartwrenching sorrow at her husband- and child-less state ("In my dreams I have lived a promise that no waking day has ever kept"), curiosity at her background ("You're both calmer - more rational, you had happy childhoods," / "Did we?"), and ultimately glorious joy as she dances in the rain once more.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those of us who like to think we're perfect Christians and know perfectly well that we aren't.
January 8, 2023
The Robinsons are supposed to be a normal Christian family - mom, dad, two teenage boys and the youngest, a girl. But they soon have a friend of the family staying with them and the perfect Christian family may not be so perfect. Elizabeth Reynolds, 'Dip' to her friends, comes to stay with them. Mike Robinson is the patriarch, Kathy is really the boss and is the matriarch. Jack is the oldest, Mike Jr. is next and Felicity is the youngest. This is a look at a life inside a Christian family, an honest look at people who struggle in life and in their faith. It is presented with a keen perceptive and a generous dose of humor.
(As a note there is now a second and third volumes in this series.)
(As a note there is now a second and third volumes in this series.)
June 25, 2012
I was surprised by this book actually, because it's not like Adrian Plass Sacred diaries books. I liked it, and enjoyed it very much. The book has a sort of very sweet depth when talking about emotions and relationships, very basic it would seem, but so very true. You can really find yourself in bits in every character, and described situations.
It's short, easy to read, and very interesting book, but reveals a lot.
It's short, easy to read, and very interesting book, but reveals a lot.
July 23, 2013
Funny and recognizable: definately one to re-read at a certain point.
October 9, 2019
Fun little read
Could be any family you know
Could be any family you know
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews