A recent article in the Radio Times on the Radio 2 presenters’ favourite book made for interesting reading!!

Radio 2 mid-morning DJ Ken Bruce’s favourite novel is “The Code of the Woosters” by PG Wodehouse, which delighted him as a teenager with it’s larger than life characters, so much so that it introduced him to the phenomenon of laughing out loud as he was reading. For Radio 2 lunchtime host Jeremy Vine, Agatha Christie’s “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” was given to him by his Mum at the age of eleven and set him on a journey whereby he read all 73 of Agatha Christie’s “whodunit” novels. Apparently he only guessed the murderer correctly on two occasions!!

Meanwhile Radio 2 drive-time presenter Simon Mayo’s favourite book is “Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone”. He was introduced to the Harry Potter novel by his 10 year old son. He quickly became a fan and read all seven Harry Potter books to his kids over the years. The Record Press author remembers that his brother in law Toby had exactly the same experience in the 1990s, being completely and compulsively drawn into the magical world of Harry Potter as he read to my nephews at bedtime.

For Claudia Winkleman, her favourite novel as a teenager was Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”. Claudia’s favourite childhood book was the children’s perennial favourite Roald Dahl’s “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory”, so much so that she named her daughter Matilda. Funnily enough, a friend of mine Laura named her daughter Pandora, having been a massive fan as a child of the “Diary of Adrian Mole” books by Sue Townsend. Vanessa Feltz lists three novels from her childhood as having had the biggest impact on her: “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery, “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott and Susan Coolidge’s “What Katy Did Next”.

The interesting point that comes out of the Radio Times article is that the books that the Radio 2 presenters list as their favourites are generally from their childhood. In truth the books that have often had the biggest impact on our lives were those read during our seminal, formative years. They introduced us to magical worlds and a route to total escapism. The Record Press author was late learning to read, probably six or seven, but when I did finally master the art of reading, it was like the proverbial  dam wall bursting, cascading books through my bedroom……..

Those books are far too numerous to mention, as in the school holidays I would lie on my bed and read a book a day. However if I had to pick out one book that inspired and moved me the most, it would have to be “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis from his “Adventures of Narnia” series. The concept of entering a magical, secretive world through the back of a wardrobe completely caught my imagination!!

That was it – I was hooked and avidly read the whole series of Narnia Adventures. The next time a single author and a series of books engaged me in the same way was as an adult when I discovered Nick Hornby in the 1990s. His novels “Fever Pitch” and “Hi-Fidelity” completely spoke to the 30 something me, not just because they were about my two greatest passions, football and vinyl records / music, but because fundamentally the main protagonists in the books thought and acted totally like me!! In fact we were one and the same person……..Never underestimate the power of books. They allow us to dream like nothing else in life!!

In our lives, books along with music, have the greatest power to inspire, move and entertain us. A good book that really engages us is like a best friend and we almost mourn and grieve the loss when we read the final word of that final chapter………

That is why as Proprietor of MyFirstRecord.co.uk, I have recently added a new product to our range of framed vinyl singles, framed vinyl albums and framed CDs………We are now pleased to be able to offer you the option of buying a framed favourite book cover!!   

Simon Sterland   Proprietor of MyFirstRecord.co.uk

Which is your favourite book? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

Celebrate your love of your favourite book, by ordering the front cover of your favourite book, framed with a personalised engraved plaque.  ORDER NOW… www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/framed-book-covers/framed-book-cover

Framed book covers with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a wedding, a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!