Saturday 8 November 2014

Review: The Soundtrack To My Life by Dermot O'Leary

The Soundtrack To My Life by Dermot O'Leary
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release date: 09 October 2014
Rating: *****
Back cover blurb: Dermot O'Leary has always loved music. Throughout his life and career, music has been a constant companion, best friend, confidant and at times, tormentor. The Soundtrack to My Life is Dermot's personal memoir of a life in music told through the songs that were playing at key moments in his life. With a wonderful gift for storytelling, Dermot describes his journey from a childhood in Colchester with his Irish family, to some of the biggest jobs in TV and radio in the UK. It's a story which is accompanied, in every scene, by music. Dermot would be the first to admit, they are not all great songs. This isn't Desert Island Discs; the songs chose him, not the other way round. Dermot went to his first gig at the age of nine, and saw Irish troubadour Brendan Shine, he roller-skated to Baby I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz and got his first job in TV while ..... Contd.

Dermot O'Leary is a man that many of us feel we know, he has been in our lives consistently throughout the last fifteen years at least, from Big Brother's Little Brother through to the mighty X Factor. But of course, we don't really know him, we just think we do.

The Soundtrack To My Life is a chance to get to know Dermot a little better through the medium of music. 
Each of the book's chapters is based on a particular song, a suggested listen (sometimes helpfully accompanied by a you tube video) and what that song means to Dermot.

It could be a song he grew up with (some interesting Irish choices), a song that was prominent in his teenage years (Mr. O'Leary I salute your taste in Music; Morrisey, the Smith AND The Housemartins!!!!) or a song that was playing when he started his career in television (I won't spoil the surprise for those that haven't yet read!).

Dermot writes well, his book is engaging, warm and funny. Much like the man himself. You will find yourself reading it in his voice and laughing out loud at some points along the way. 
The Soundtrack To My Life is a book that you will find difficult to put down and a brilliant insight in to the life of a man who has become as much of a 'National Treasure' as the shows he has presented.

Dermot and I have never actually met properly, and there is no way on this earth that he could be expected to remember every single person who auditions for the XF, but from what I have seen, he always comes across as a thoroughly lovely bloke. Something that comes across well in this book.

'Soundtrack' is a brilliant book that will engage any reader and not just fans of Big Brother or the X Factor. A big Thank You from me Dermot for writing such a fab book!

The Soundtrack To My Life is available to buy from Amazon online and all good book shops.

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