The Muffin Man

by André Rostant

The underbelly of London’s Soho has not seen much change in the last century. The disadvantaged face the brunt of society’s corruption, and this is becoming more common in the current climate of increasing fascism. Rostant’s frank exploration into the lives of those at the heart of bohemian Soho sheds much needed light onto the most pressing issues in society today and the desperate need for change. The vivid depiction of the lives of street beggars and bag ladies highlights the side of London that readers don’t often see and the protagonist, a Big Issue vendor who suffers delusions and commits suicide, is at the heart of the novel.

A novella that examines and contests commonly accepted narratives of exclusion, gender, sexuality and mental health. This is a transgressive piece of work that challenges cultural and religious hypocrisy, encouraging readers to reflect on their own views and perceptions, in particular surrounding poverty and homelessness, and to consider the ways in which they can incite change.

170 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2024

Reviews

[Gail Danks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soma parts are good others were just rambling pages.
Not for me sorry

[Maria Adaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Muffin Man is a gripping novella told from the point of view of a Big Issues Vendor, who recounts his experience with homelessness alongside a diverse cast of characters who inhabit Soho as sellers and street beggars.

When I began reading The Muffin Man, I was shocked by the stream-of-consciousness / free indirect narration style. For half of the story, I was enamoured by Rostant’s writing. It was clear that every sentence had a purpose, and every paragraph was carefully composed to include beautiful details. However, this style of storytelling can only hold a reader’s attention for so long, a problem commonly shared with Virgina Woolf and James Joyce. When dealing with so much metaphor and self-conscious awareness from the narrator, as well as a myriad of character introductions who all have their own short story within the novella, Rostant’s storytelling consistently slips into rambling.

That being said, I do want to step away from the writing style, and instead focus on how The Muffin Man is able to educate readers about the lives of people most of us ignore, or even avoid on the streets. In the UK, we all interact (or deliberately evade) Big Issue vendors, but few of us think about them beyond a momentary glance. As a consequence, Rostant has forced us to read about our lack of kindness and humility by showcasing the realities of the most disadvantaged in society: it is raw, often hard to read and not discussed enough.

As a result, though I have some reservations about Rostant’s narrative voice, The Muffin Man is a valuable piece of literature because of its investigation into exclusion, gender and mental health.

[Fay Flude · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard hitting, makes you stop and think book, which quite often lost me in terms of my understanding of the narrative. It is a sort of stream of consciousness format, mistakes deliberately kept in, and often a mad, random, eccentric jump from one thing to the next. However, in spite of this it truly did make me reflect on the way we (don't) see and treat homeless people. I don't often come across Big Issue sellers in the tiny place I live, but I will certainly buy the magazine as and when I do see a seller in the future.
Whether the money goes on food and a cup of tea is neither here nor there. In the past I have given food for someone who appeared on the ground in a sleeping bag with absolutely nothing else, and as a child I naively thought I could solve the problem by having anyone living on the streets come and stay at our modest 3 bedroom family home. Sadly, my mother decided that at the age of 7 it wasn't my decision to make.
It is a short book, very hard to read in places and the author does just what he claims he wanted to do; in a sea of feel good books he wanted to write a feel bad book. It is uncomfortable and very sad. The ending is quick, abrupt and devastating.
I wish Andrè Rostant well in his future endeavours.
With thanks to Pigeonhole for serialising the staves over a 5 day period.

[Goldie · Rating 3 out of 5]

To André Rostant's credit, The Muffin Man tackles critical issues like homelessness, mental health, and social inequality, offering an important reflection on the people who live on the margins of society with compassion and unflinching honesty. The novel’s social commentary is undoubtedly one of its strongest elements, shedding light on the harsh realities of street life and pushing readers to reconsider their perceptions of rough sleepers and Big Issue vendors.

That said, while stream-of-consciousness prose can create beautiful and impactful narratives, which we see fleeting moments of throughout the book, it's challenging to sustain and requires a delicate balance to keep readers fully engaged. Unfortunately, Rostant's writing style often felt rambling and hard to follow, which caused the narrative to feel disjointed and left me wanting more. It detracted from the overall message, making it difficult to stay immersed, even though the broader themes were undeniably compelling.

Despite the challenging style, I appreciated the book's raw depiction of Soho and its inhabitants, and the societal critique at the heart of the story is undeniably powerful. If you can look past the meandering prose, ‘The Muffin Man’ has valuable things to say about the human condition and the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muffin Man by Andre Rostant is one of those rare books that stays with you, heightening both your sense of people and place. It engages from its opening sentence and delivers on its promise to make you look anew at the lives of rough sleepers, beggars and big issue vendors. Indeed, you may find yourself wondering about those lives, their back stories and their fragile bonds for weeks to come.
The book's main character is George, a Big Issue vendor with a matching heart, who guides the reader through the chaotic streets of central London. Above the violence and despair
George's voice is uncompromising, yet warm and full of humour. Rostant's writing is sprinkled with poetry, philosophy and pithy reflections. His unique life experience comes across on every page and makes for a captivating read.

[Nanny P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book was definitely not what I was expecting. I was shocked, saddened and embarrassed reading this book. It is based on the experiences of a Big Issue Vendor working in London’s Soho and it really makes you sit up and think about what these Vendors put themselves through to sell the Big Issue daily. Don’t expect any kind of fantasy story because this book is hard hitting and at times very confusing, but it will make you realise that people like André Rostant, the Author, are not looking for charity or handouts, although they do appreciate a bacon sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold wintery night, all they want is to be acknowledged and to spend a few minutes actually being heard.

[Ian Jipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muffin Man invites you into a rarely seen, if ignored, world. Seen through the eyes of George, a Big Issue seller, Soho comes alive with all of its ‘community’, darkness, depravity, excitement, mundanity and transigence. I immediately felt immersed in its time and space. It is surreal, hyper real, poetic, fantastic in its fantasy and ultimately tragic. I recognised the characters and felt like I know them, had seen them and perhaps, like everyone else, ignored them. This is a book like no other I have read and will sit with me for a long time. After reading this, I will never take for granted, my place in society, and the people I encounter. This book profoundly affected me and will continue to do so.

[Kim Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished reading The Muffin Man by André Rostant, stave by stave with The Pigeonhole. This book has hints of Dylan Thomas, James Joyce, John Lennon, Spike Milligan and Flan O’Brien. Not an easy read, but it kept me intrigued, as well as shocked by the story of George, a Big Issue vendor in London’s Soho. He writes about how he sees his pitch and its inhabitants, workers and visitors, including other Big Issue sellers, homeless people and beggars. It is full of literary and mythological references as well as Rostant’s unique poetic language. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but you should give it a try and see if it doesn’t change your outlook.

[Kayleigh McDougall · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Muffin Man" by André Rostant is an interesting and compelling exploration of the lives of Big Issue vendors and those experiencing homelessness. The story vividly brings to life the daily struggles of surviving on the streets. It also sheds light on the different ways society treats people, encouraging readers to reflect on their own assumptions and perceptions.

I have to admit, there were moments when I found the book difficult to follow due to the author’s writing style. However, the overall impact of the story made it a worthwhile read. It strikes a balance between humour, shock, and sadness, creating a moving and thought-provoking experience.

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

George is a Big Issue vendor in London. This stream of conscious style work weaves together stories of London's transient and homeless populations, tales of discrimination and bias, and different reactions to Big Issue.

As an American, it was interesting to learn about Big Issue and see how another country is attempting to combat issues of homelessness.

[Michael Martin]

What an excellent book - using surrealism to reflect on life on the street: the procession of the one legged parade people is interleaved with thoughts about where to sit to beg or stand to sell the Big Issue. You'll find echoes of Flann O'Brien and Borges in these pages and most importantly an original (and bold) talent.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is certainly not for the faint hearted, some parts were very disturbing to read. I read the book courtesy of The Pigeonhole over five days, some staves I enjoyed more than others. However I'm glad I had the opportunity of reading it so thanks to Andre and the Pigeonhole.

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a challenging read as it was written "stream of consciousness" style. I did find it thought provoking around the subjects of homelessness and mental illness. Thanks to the author and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.

[Joanna McQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Muffin Man is a harrowing read. I felt uncomfortable in so many places.

Reading a book that can make me FEEL uncomfortable while challenging my thoughts by merely depicting basic (but extraordinary) human nature is quite an accomplishment. The characters in this story depict a variety of people and their individual experiences - each one a story on its own. The dark humour is a perfect accompaniment to the bleakness of the prolific storytelling.

‘I am not sure what I just read,’ crossed my mind many times as I read The Muffin Man. But I know now that I’ve read something unique, vibrant and jarring.

The Muffin Man will haunt me forever. It is a book that sticks to you - no matter how hard you want to shake of the uncomfortable feeling it leaves you with, you can’t. No matter how much you want to forget the atrocities you’ve been exposed to, you can’t. No matter how much you want to dislike it, you can’t. There are too many layers, too many prolific phrases and too many emotional responses to let it go.

A fantastic story. Beautifully written. A jarring, awakening and enlightening read indeed.

I read The Muffin Man as a Pigeonhole serialisation and am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in reading the book with the author and other readers.