It’s October. With only three months left in the year, it’s about the time to start gathering the books that I’m going to close the year out with. I like to choose my books with a certain rhythm in mind. For example, when a group of musicians decide to put together a great album, they have to keep in mind the progression of the songs. The songs have to fit together individually, as well as within the structure of the album. When choosing what to read, I try to do the same thing. This is my soundtrack based on the year as told through books.
(meta disclaimer. this blog will use describe books and music interchangeably.)
January
Track 1. Intro (Moby Dick): Kicking things off at the start of the album is the Intro. Many people choose to read classics at this time to get them in the right mindset for a year of reading. As far as releases go, publishers aren’t going to release the big name books at this time of year. With the start of the year being so dry (let’s face it, that backlist is not going to ever be read) this is the perfect time to read Infinite Jest, Moby Dick, Brave New World, or Dracula. I chose to take things easy and read the one book everyone lies about having read; Moby Dick. I did not finish it. Much like the intro on most albums, I got about a quarter of the way through, realized that better stuff was hiding behind this prerequisite, and pressed next.
February
Track 2. A Marker to Measure Drift: The first song on the album is often the best. Alexander Maksik’s novel fits this role quite nicely. The book is packed with mystery and intrigue. It builds suspense in a way that many authors try, but end up flailing. Like a duck. Or a flail. Anyway, A Marker is a winter read, despite it taking place mostly on a beach. Go figure.
March
Track 3. The Martian: The first radio hit single! The second song needs to have that reliable hook/gimmick to get people excited about the album (year in reading). This is the pivot point and for many, their entire memory of the album will be anchored with this song. Andy Weir’s brilliant first effort in The Martian is the 1901 of books. FOLDING, FOLDING, FOLDING readers onto mars with Mark Watney. This book is that anytime book that builds itself a little nostalgia house before you’ve finished. It accomplishes deja entendu while feeling fresh all the same. The perfect song(book) to turn your headphones all the way up (down) and get lost in the music (words).
April
Track 4. Communion Town by Sam Thompson: Well, they can’t all be winners. Communion Town is that song you just keep waiting to be great. Remember the 2008 VMAs when Kanye West came on stage and the DU DOO DU DOOM started. I was wild with anticipation but just like in the song, this book forgot to climax. It just kept going and DU DOO DU DOOMing. It’s the book you should skip the first time you listen to it.
May
Track 5. Interlude (My Brief History): After the garlic breath equivalent of books is in your mind, it’s nice to have something heartwarming and light. It is at this point, that most albums begin to fade. You’ve already heard the song everyone has been talking about and now you can’t get it out of your head. The last one was a complete hype vacuum. The best thing to do at this point is slow things down and lead the reader into the next phase of the album. The swing is up next and you need a sure-fire melody to restore your faith in the page. This past year, I chose Stephen Hawkins to play that part. My Brief History is the perfect interlude. The book is a short autobiography of the brilliant scientist’s life. It’s the first nonfiction book of the year and provides the introductory change of pace for the next song.
June
Track 6. The Answer to the Riddle is Me by David Maclean: Every great album has the halftime ballad and The Answer to the Riddle is Me gave me a great feeling after reading it. I still have that happy, “wow the human race is amazing” feeling months after shelving it. Now hear me out: the book is about taking malaria medication, developing amnesia and “waking up” on a train in India. I understand how terrifying that may sound, but the book is really about the kindness of strangeness and the lengths our love-ones would go through to get us back home.
Well, your drive to work is only so far. You have to get out of the car at some point. If you’re anything like me, you probably sit in your car with the book in your hands squeezing those last few paragraphs our before you have to walk inside. Let’s be responsible here people. Take those keys out of the ignition and turn the album off. There’s always the drive home.
Written by Andre
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