Sunday Times Bestseller, Adelle Stripe, Released Her Memoir, Base Notes: The Scents Of A Life

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK”, Adelle Stripe’s Base Notes is a poignant memoir chronicling the lives of the Northern working class in 1980s and 90s England, with evocative prose, droll humor, and a keen eye for the absurd.

 

Base Notes

Adelle Stripe’s “Base Notes” is a poignant and unflinchingly honest memoir that gives voice to a rarely represented segment of society: the Northern working class of 1980s and 90s England. With warmth, wit, and a sharp comedic edge, Stripe chronicles a world on the precipice of change, a pre-internet era where small-town life was steeped in tradition and fading memories.

Like a Proustian exploration, Stripe’s evocative prose is triggered by the scent of perfume, each fragrance unlocking a flood of memories from her adolescence and young adulthood. Her narratives, born from a uniquely Northern blend of droll humor and poetic observation, offer a captivating glimpse into a world of stark contrasts: daytime drinking juxtaposed with religious fervor, the ambitions of a workaholic farmer clashing with the dreams of his rebellious daughter.

“Base Notes” delves into the complexities of family dynamics, particularly the fraught relationship between mother and daughter, revealing a chasm of differing aspirations and desires. Stripe, a bedroom dreamer with an early fascination for Andy Warhol, navigates a world of low-income Tories, everyday sexual predators, and the poignant reality of small-town suicides. Yet, amidst the darkness, a vibrant spirit shines through. This is a story of resilience, a testament to the enduring human spirit, much like Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, but with a distinctively British, Billy Liar-esque twist.

With a keen eye for the absurd and an ear attuned to the rhythms of everyday conversation, Stripe masterfully avoids sentimentality. Her journey, from her Northern roots to London, New York, and beyond, is not a conventional tale of escape but rather a deeply personal and often humorous exploration of family ties, the pursuit of creativity, and the enduring power of memory.

Adelle Stripe

Born in 1976 in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, Adelle Stripe embarked on a literary journey after a diverse range of early career experiences. She pursued higher education later in life, earning a degree in Creative Writing at the age of 30. Initially establishing herself as a poet, Stripe published her first three collections as chapbooks and contributed to various literary journals and magazines.

Her literary breakthrough arrived with her debut novel, “Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile,” a captivating exploration of the life and work of Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar. Initially published by Wrecking Ball Press, the novel garnered critical acclaim, earning a place on the shortlist for both the Gordon Burn Prize and Portico Prize for Literature, and achieving “Observer Book of the Year” status. In 2019, the novel’s successful stage adaptation further solidified its impact.

Stripe’s literary accomplishments continued with “Ten Thousand Apologies,” a compelling biography of the cult band Fat White Family. This insightful work not only achieved Sunday Times bestseller status and was named a Rough Trade Book of the Year but also earned a place on the shortlist for the Penderyn Music Book Prize.

Find more from Adelle Stripe now:

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3WwnyzK

Apple Audiobook: https://apple.co/3WwsPqY

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3E3fEaw

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3WsujCI

Audible: https://amzn.to/3CnM9jc

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