The following books have mentioned songs within the narrative and as soon as they were mentioned, I really couldn't help but put my book down and rush to my YouTube app and play the songs that go along with these characters and these stories. And it makes me happy. I thought I would share them with you today, if you don't mind.
I'm starting with What's Up With Jody Barton? because it feels more interactional than the others with the inclusion of Jody's drawings (which are ace!). Plus I just really love this book. I loved not knowing much about it before I started reading it and then falling headfirst into this fantastic story completly blind.
And right from the beginning, Jody mentions love for two things: River Phoenix and The Doors. She mentions Light My Fire, so I immediately grabbed my phone and once I'd listened to it, I had the song spinning on a loop inside my brain. Which is no bad thing.
Here it is for you for your auditory pleasure:
Let me say again, just for the record, I love Sara Zarr! I think she's amazing and the stories she writes are so beautiful and emotional. I've been looking forward to How To Save A Life for absolutely ages and was thrilled to read an advance copy of it.
The reason I rushed to listen to a song on YouTube is a little bittersweet. One of our main characters, Jill, has recently lost her father. And at times, when Jill's snarky attitude gets in the way and she says or does something that could be a bit mean or hurtful towards someone else, usually Jill's mother, her dad would remind her to 'try a little tenderness.' Which I think is adorable but also a sad little memory to have. Of course, I had to remind myself of this ace Otis Redding song in order to fully capture the sentiment. For which I'm very grateful. Always nice to hear a little Otis.
Things are a bit different with The Twice-Lived Summer of Bluebell Joens, because Susie Day has included so many wonderful songs into the narrative (Blue's parents are part of a band!). But as soon as I read a snippet of the song, Everyday by Buddy Holly, that was it for me. That is the song that wound up going around and around in my head.
Mostly because it's one of my dad's favourite songs. He is a big fan of Buddy Holly and music in this era, so it's really the music that I grew up listening to. I've listened to it many a-time since I've finished this book and I just love it more and more.
I'm glad that it's part of Blue's story in this book, and it does really fit in well.
What do you think? Did you like it when a book has you experiencing the story in ways other than just through words on a page?
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