Broken Biscuits - by Adam Farrer (Paperback)

About the Book

'A lovely writer: supple, stylish and almost effortlessly witty.' Daily Mail

'Made me laugh out loud and then properly cry.' Jennie Godfrey

Book Synopsis

'A lovely writer: supple, stylish and almost effortlessly witty.' Daily Mail

'Made me laugh out loud and then properly cry.' Jennie Godfrey

When it comes to the challenge of being a man, Adam Farrer always seems to find a way to fall short...

Broken Biscuits vividly recounts Adam's struggles to live up to masculine expectations, real or imagined. From the calamity of his first serious relationship to an obsession with Prince that sees everyone questioning his sexuality, and from the repercussions of his adult circumcision to his doubts about his ability to survive the apocalypse, this candid and personal collection of essays is astonishingly far-reaching and riotously funny.

Holding up a mirror to Adam's own body image, his relationship with his family, his sense of self-worth and the mortifying experience of arriving at a teenage party wearing strawberry-patterned short shorts, this book is about growing up and trying to define yourself as a man but somehow always missing the mark.

Review Quotes

'A splendid book, to be cherished by anyone with a funny bone. I loved it.' Daily Mail

'I love everything about these essays, from Adam's willingness to be open about life, love, family and his nether regions, to his innate ability as a storyteller. Broken Biscuits made me laugh out loud and then properly cry.' Jennie Godfrey

'Adam writes like he knows me, the tiniest things he recalls uncover huge truths that resonate even now. I loved it.' Justin Moorhouse

'A bold new voice in nonfiction writing.' Jenn Ashworth

'Writing with such intimacy and ease, Farrer has crafted a brilliant collection of essays, by turns tender, disarmingly honest and achingly funny.' Tawseef Khan

'It will make you cry with laughter.' Miranda France

'Farrer's distinctive voice is once again on display in this entertaining collection of autobiographical essays.' Bookseller Editor's Choice

'Brilliant, funny, occasionally wince-inducing, and incredibly moving. I loved Adam's honesty and generosity.' Sarah Brooks

'Adam's eye for the absurd is a delight, his candour about his own struggles utterly endearing. Threaded with his customary blend of melancholy and self-deprecating humour, these essays are a deep and courageous dive into what it feels like to be a man.' Karen Powell

'Adam is a fantastic writer and you're going to want to get this book.' Steven Kedie

'A touching, searching, and warm memoir ... funny and generous.' The Manchester Review

'A genuinely fabulous, funny and real account of Adam's life, and I highly recommend it.' Jules Swain

Praise for Adam Farrer's work...

'A nuanced, well-structured and memorable memoir; it deservedly won the Northbound Book Award.' Times Literary Supplement

'A truly wonderful and ingenious writer ... funny, warm.' Emma Jane Unsworth

'Witty and introspective ... Echoing the canny writing of David Sedaris, Farrer has a knack for wringing hilarity from life's grim moments.' Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Adam Farrer is a writer, a lecturer and the editor of the creative nonfiction journal The Real Story. He has been a photo lab technician, an illustrator, a ceramicist, a musician, a music journalist and currently works at the University of Salford, where he is the Writer in Residence for Peel Park. His first book, Cold Fish Soup, won the Northbound Book Award.