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Bad Bread, Good Blues
The past is neither a foreign country, nor is it gluten-free, as a young man discovers to his detriment.
When Ronan is made redundant from his job, he struggles to adapt to the change, developing an unhealthy obsession with the past, poring over the decisions that led him to leave behind Prague, and his lover, Jana.
Seeking both to reclaim his former life and escape from his memories, he is ultimately forced to face the domino effect of his losses in order to find hope anew.
A searing, honest reflection on the moments that define us, Bad Bread, Good Blues is a novel about heartbreak and hope, life in a foreign land, tragically unsuccessful weekend breaks and nearly disastrous writing trips. It is about baking to stave off the blues, seeking solace in travel, and enjoying the unique characters we encounter along the way.
Written with frank honesty, Bad Bread, Good Blues explores love, life's micro-dramas, the trials we each face in our day-to-day lives, and how a nation's culture can be measured in the quality of its bread.
When Ronan is made redundant from his job, he struggles to adapt to the change, developing an unhealthy obsession with the past, poring over the decisions that led him to leave behind Prague, and his lover, Jana.
Seeking both to reclaim his former life and escape from his memories, he is ultimately forced to face the domino effect of his losses in order to find hope anew.
A searing, honest reflection on the moments that define us, Bad Bread, Good Blues is a novel about heartbreak and hope, life in a foreign land, tragically unsuccessful weekend breaks and nearly disastrous writing trips. It is about baking to stave off the blues, seeking solace in travel, and enjoying the unique characters we encounter along the way.
Written with frank honesty, Bad Bread, Good Blues explores love, life's micro-dramas, the trials we each face in our day-to-day lives, and how a nation's culture can be measured in the quality of its bread.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2018
About the author
Ronan O'Shea
2 books7 followersRonan O'Shea is an Irish writer from London.
His debut novel, Murphy Who Talks, was published by Indie Novella in October 2025.
'Murphy likes things quiet. As the barman at the Pursers’ Retainer, a half-forgotten pub in North London, he treasures the silence left behind by absent customers. The empty seats are both a blessing and a curse: his sanctuary is safe, but the pub is on the brink of closure. Murphy has a gift for talking people into leaving him alone—long, winding stories that trap questions rather than answer them. But when the threat of redundancy looms, he sees an unlikely win-win: turn the pub into London’s first silent pub. No phones. No chatter. Just the perfect place for peace—until Instagram and the media get hold of it.'
His debut novel, Murphy Who Talks, was published by Indie Novella in October 2025.
'Murphy likes things quiet. As the barman at the Pursers’ Retainer, a half-forgotten pub in North London, he treasures the silence left behind by absent customers. The empty seats are both a blessing and a curse: his sanctuary is safe, but the pub is on the brink of closure. Murphy has a gift for talking people into leaving him alone—long, winding stories that trap questions rather than answer them. But when the threat of redundancy looms, he sees an unlikely win-win: turn the pub into London’s first silent pub. No phones. No chatter. Just the perfect place for peace—until Instagram and the media get hold of it.'
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