Broken Greek: the critically acclaimed music-filled memoir about coming of age in 70s Birmingham


*AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4 ‘BOOK OF THE WEEK’*’Lip-lickingly, dance-around-the-living-room good… A smash hit’ Observer’Unflinching and heartwarming’ – Adam Kay’Tender, clever and as funny as it gets … a heart-piercing joy’ – Lauren Laverne’An exceptional coming-of-age story […] Pete Paphides may very well have the biggest heart in Britain’ – Marina Hyde’I ADORE this utterly wonderful coming-of-age memoir. Joyful, clever, and a bit heartbreaking’ – Nina Stibbe’Heartfelt, hilarious and beautifully written, Broken Greek is a childhood memoir like no other’ – Cathy Newman’So wonderfully written, such a light touch. Drenched in sentiment yet not in the least sentimental’ – John Niven’It’s brilliant. Sad, really funny and beautifully written … just fantastic’ – Alexis Petridis’A truly beautiful book’ – James O’Brien’Intoxicating’ – Kirsty Wark’Oh, how I love Pete Paphides and this book’ – Daniel Finkelstein’A balm in these times’ David Nicholls’Fantastic … Can’t recommend it highly enough’ Tim Burgess__________’Do you sometimes feel like the music you’re hearing is explaining your life to you?’When Pete’s parents moved from Cyprus to Birmingham in the 1960s in the hope of a better life, they had no money and only a little bit of English. They opened a fish-and-chip shop in Acocks Green. The Great Western Fish Bar is where Pete learned about coin-operated machines, male banter and Britishness.Shy and introverted, Pete stopped speaking from age 4 to 7, and found refuge instead in the bittersweet embrace of pop songs, thanks to Top of the Pops and Dial-A-Disc. From Brotherhood of Man to UB40, from ABBA to The Police, music provided the safety net he needed to protect him from the tensions of his home life. It also helped him navigate his way around the challenges surrounding school, friendships and phobias such as visits to the barber, standing near tall buildings and Rod Hull and Emu.With every passing year, his guilty secret became more horrifying to him: his parents were Greek, but all the things that excited him were British. And the engine of that realisation? ‘Sugar Baby Love’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Tragedy’, ‘Silly Games’, ‘Going Underground’, ‘Come On Eileen’, and every other irresistibly thrilling chart hit blaring out of the chip shop radio.Never have the trials and tribulations of growing up and the human need for a sense of belonging been so heart-breakingly and humorously depicted.*Listen along with Pete’s BROKEN GREEK playlist on Spotify!*

Amazon.co.uk Price: £2.99 (as of 09/04/2023 11:03 PST- Details)

*AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4 ‘BOOK OF THE WEEK’*’Lip-lickingly, dance-around-the-living-room good… A smash hit’ Observer’Unflinching and heartwarming’ – Adam Kay’Tender, intelligent and as humorous because it will get … a heart-piercing pleasure’ – Lauren Laverne’An distinctive coming-of-age story […] Pete Paphides could very nicely have the most important coronary heart in Britain’ – Marina Hyde’I ADORE this completely great coming-of-age memoir. Joyful, intelligent, and a bit heartbreaking’ – Nina Stibbe’Heartfelt, hilarious and superbly written, Damaged Greek is a childhood memoir like no different’ – Cathy Newman’So splendidly written, such a light-weight contact. Drenched in sentiment but not within the least sentimental’ – John Niven’It is good. Unhappy, actually humorous and superbly written … simply improbable’ – Alexis Petridis’A really stunning guide’ – James O’Brien’Intoxicating’ – Kirsty Wark’Oh, how I really like Pete Paphides and this guide’ – Daniel Finkelstein’A balm in these occasions’ David Nicholls’Implausible … Cannot advocate it extremely sufficient’ Tim Burgess__________’Do you generally really feel just like the music you are listening to is explaining your life to you?’When Pete’s dad and mom moved from Cyprus to Birmingham within the 1960s within the hope of a greater life, they’d no cash and solely a bit little bit of English. They opened a fish-and-chip store in Acocks Inexperienced. The Nice Western Fish Bar is the place Pete realized about coin-operated machines, male banter and Britishness.Shy and introverted, Pete stopped talking from age 4 to 7, and located refuge as a substitute within the bittersweet embrace of pop songs, because of High of the Pops and Dial-A-Disc. From Brotherhood of Man to UB40, from ABBA to The Police, music offered the protection web he wanted to guard him from the tensions of his dwelling life. It additionally helped him navigate his manner across the challenges surrounding faculty, friendships and phobias akin to visits to the barber, standing close to tall buildings and Rod Hull and Emu.With each passing yr, his responsible secret grew to become extra horrifying to him: his dad and mom had been Greek, however all of the issues that excited him had been British. And the engine of that realisation? ‘Sugar Child Love’, ‘Do not Go Breaking My Coronary heart’, ‘Tragedy’, ‘Foolish Video games’, ‘Going Underground’, ‘Come On Eileen’, and each different irresistibly thrilling chart hit blaring out of the chip store radio.By no means have the trials and tribulations of rising up and the human want for a sense of belonging been so heart-breakingly and humorously depicted.*Pay attention together with Pete’s BROKEN GREEK playlist on Spotify!*

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