Miki Berenyi – Wolverhampton Literature Festival

WOLVERHAMPTON LITERATURE FESTIVAL PRESENTS ROUGH TRADE’S UK BOOK OF THE YEAR -Miki Berenyi 

Miki Berenyi is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, formerly of Lush and now Piroshka. Described as ‘an extraordinary life story’ by MOJO Magazine, her critically acclaimed autobiography, Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me from Success, tracks the trials and tribulations of being a female singer-songwriter rising to fame in the 90’s. Much more than your average rock autobiography Miki explores with great honesty how music became the route out from a troubled childhood, marked by neglect, frequent relocation and abuse. Told through frank confession, wry humour and emotional honesty, this is the remarkable, beautifully told story of a trailblazing woman in an often infuriatingly male world.

‘Many of the most interesting music narratives of the last few years have been written by women who never thought they had it in them. Their stories are more valuable than the traditional rock’n’roll yarns, and Berenyi’s story is odder than most.’ Kate Mossman, The Guardian

‘A salutary corrective to a much mythologised musical era; it’s often extremely funny. But it’s also a nuanced portrait of personal survival.’ Kitty Empire, The Observer

‘From a difficult childhood to the absurdities of pop celebrity, the Lush singer’s story breaks the mould of music memoir’ Fiona Sturges, Guardian 

‘Infinitely superior to the average rock autobiography’ Record Collector

‘A great memoir requires an extraordinary life story and the ability to write it. Miki Berenyi is blessed with both.’ MOJO 

‘In this beautifully written memoir, she reveals the emotional damage of her childhood, the thorny navigation of becoming a front woman in a male-dominated industry and unpacks the complexity of her relationships with her beloved fellow band members.’ Stylist

‘A brilliant and engaging read.’ Classic Rock

‘Intelligent and searingly candid.’ Grazia

‘This is extraordinarily good. A memoir that reads like a novel, full of vivid characters, wild highs and lows and brutal honesty. And it’s the single best thing I’ve read on the sexism and toxicity at the heart of Britpop.’ Matt Osman, Suede

‘Beautifully and movingly written, this is a hugely entertaining read.’ Shaun Keaveny

‘A thrilling, moving and essential book for anyone who grew up in love with pop music.’ Samira Ahmed