Ben Aitken: Shitty Breaks - Part of Summer Derby Book Festival

Description

If you haven’t yet discovered the hilarious writing of Ben Aitken, you have a treat in store!  He has been described as a rival to Alan Bennett.   Ben is a master of human observation, combining humour with humility and empathy.

Hailing from Portsmouth, Ben knew from experience that unfashionable places could be quietly brilliant. So, over the course of a year, the author of A Chip Shop in Poznan and The Gran Tour visited 12 of the least popular spots in the UK and Ireland for a city break. The motivation wasn’t to take the mickey or stick the boot in, but to seek out the good stuff, to uncover the gems, to have a nice time. By doing so, he hoped to demonstrate that anywhere – like anyone – can be interesting and nourishing and enjoyable if approached in the right fashion.

Ben went skiing in Sunderland, to the football in Wrexham, and fell in love with Dunfermline. He kissed an alpaca in Bradford, suffered jellied eels in Chelmsford, and had more craic in Limerick than was wise. The upshot is a celebration of the underdog and evidence that there’s no such thing as a shitty break.