This year, the UK is hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of last year’s winner, Ukraine. The contest will be held in Liverpool on Saturday, 13 May. Partnering with BBC Arts, The Reading Agency is joining the party and celebrating the proven power of reading and the power of music, in a reading for pleasure campaign called the Big Eurovision Read.
As part of EuroFestival, a Eurovision celebration in Liverpool, The Reading Agency and BBC Arts are sharing an inspiring booklist full of brilliant suggestions of great reads on the theme of the Power of Music. From fiction to autobiographies, the list of twelve – or ‘douze’ – titles has been crowdsourced from the library sector and curated by librarians from across the UK and with audiobooks and playlists available, features something for everyone.
Greetings from Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor (available as audio)
A charming and poignant memoir of growing up during the eighties as both a Pakistani Muslim and Bruce Springsteen fan, this book is Sarfraz Manzoor’s journey from the frustrations of his childhood to his reactions concerning the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7. It is an inspiring tribute to the power of music to transcend race and religion.
Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam (available as a book and audio)
My name is Ellie. Ellie Pillai. And I suppose I am a little bit weird, but then, aren’t we all, just a little bit? Most days, Ellie Pillai is somewhere between invisible, and not very cool – and usually she’s okay with that. But suddenly, Ellie feels different. Maybe it’s the new boy at school who makes her brain explode into rainbows every time she sees him (and also happens to be going out with her best friend), or maybe it’s her new drama teacher, the one who seems to have noticed she exists. Suddenly, her misfit style, her skin colour, her songwriting and all that getting lost in the music in her head seem to be okay too. Because maybe standing out isn’t a bad thing after all.
Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye (available as a book and ebook)
A history book with a twist, structured around a playlist of twenty eight songs, listed chronologically. Each song is a jumping off point for deeper social, political and historical analysis, tracking key moments in Black history, and the emotional impact of both the songs and the artists who performed them. The book redefines British history, the Empire, and post colonialism, and invites readers to immerse themselves in music and think again about the narratives and key moments in history that they have been taught up to now.
Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell (available as a book)
Utopia Avenue might be the most curious British band you’ve never heard of. Emerging from London’s psychedelic scene in 1967, folksinger Elf Holloway, blues bassist Dean Moss, guitar virtuoso Jasper de Zoet and jazz drummer Griff Griffin together created a unique sound, with lyrics that captured their turbulent times. The band produced only two albums in two years, yet their musical legacy lives on. This is the story of Utopia Avenue’s brief, blazing journey from Soho clubs and draughty ballrooms to the promised land of America, just when the Summer of Love was receding into something much darker – a multi-faceted tale of dreams, drugs, love, sexuality, madness and grief; of stardom’s wobbly ladder and fame’s Faustian pact; and of the collision between youthful idealism and jaded reality as the Sixties drew to a close.
Space Opera by Catherynne M Valente
A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented – something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding. Once every cycle, the civilisations gather for Galactivision – part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (available as a book and audio)
Do you know your desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split-ups? Rob does. He keeps a list, in fact. But Laura isn’t on it – even though she’s just become his latest ex. He’s got his life back, you see.
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce (available as a book and ebook)
This title tells the a story about the triumph of a quiet hero and how music can bring us back to life. It is the exquisite and perfectly-pitched novel from the author of ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’, ‘Perfect’ and ‘The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy’.
Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far by Stormzy, edited and co-written by Jude Yawson (available as audio)
In three years Stormzy has risen from one of the most promising musicians of his generation to a spokesperson for a generation. ‘Rise Up’ is the story of how he got there. It’s a story about faith and the ideas worth fighting for. It’s about knowing where you’re from, and where you’re going. It’s about following your dreams without compromising who you are.
Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (available as a book and ebook)
It’s hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe – especially when you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy. And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered Discworld.
Broken Greek: A Story of Chip Shops and Pop Songs by Pete Paphides (available as a book)
An extraordinary, moving and funny coming-of-age memoir about identity, chip shops and pop songs.
The Songs You’ve Never Heard by Becky Jerams & Ellie Wyatt (available as a book)
Dual-written by a BAFTA-winning children’s composer and a K-pop hit writer, ‘The Songs You’ve Never Heard’ is a debut YA novel that champions sisterhood, musical talent and body positivity.
The Madonna of Bolton by Matt Cain (available as a book and ebook)
Charlie Matthews’ love story begins in a pebble-dashed house in suburban Bolton, at a time when most little boys want to grow up to be Michael Jackson, and girls want to be Princess Di. Remembering the Green Cross Code and getting out of football are the most important things in his life – until Auntie Jan – who everyone says looks like the blonde one out of Bananarama – gives him a gift that will last a lifetime: a seven-inch single called ‘Lucky Star.’ On his 9th birthday, Charlie discovers Madonna, and falls in love. And his obsession sees him through some tough times in life: being persecuted at school; fitting in at a posh university; a glamorous career in London; finding boyfriends; getting rid of boyfriends; growing up; and family heartbreak.
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