Are you one of the many people who suffer from not-being-able-to-function-without-listening-to-music? If so, you may be entitled to literary compensation.
Ok, this isn’t actually an infomercial ad playing on whatever channel your grandparents are watching. As someone who does feel the need to have a constant soundtrack to their life, I often struggle to decide on what to listen to while reading. I know I can’t be the only person with this problem, so I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite books and what albums I think would pair nicely with them, easily compiled for your enjoyment - hopefully you get a few new read or listen recommendations. Happy reading (and listening!)
Pairing #1
Book: White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Classic)
Music: Loveless by My Bloody Valentine (Shoegaze)
One of Russia’s greatest novelists meets a soundscape evocative of the quiet, solitudinous snowscapes of Russia yet both radiate with a warmth of familiarity and nostalgia in a desperate, primal call of human longing. Grab a blanket, sit back, and lose yourself in the dark wintery streets of Saint Petersburg set against the backdrop of fuzzy guitars and vocals trailing like the wind. Despite its age, Dostoevsky understands something fundamental about loneliness, with my bloody valentine echoing a similar sentiment. Normalize romanticizing melancholic solitude!
You may also enjoy:
Book: The Trial by Franz Kafka (Dystopian) and Music: Chet Baker Sings by Chet Baker (Jazz)
Pairing #2
Book: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (Western)
Music: A Different Shade Of Blue by Knocked Loose (Modern Hardcore)
A brutal depiction of Wild West manhunters in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War, the bleak, painfully realistic perspective of Blood Meridian is complemented by Knocked Loose frontman Bryan Garris’ desperate, anguished vocals and the frenzy that is hardcore pit dancing (because circle pits are lameeee). Juxtaposing these elements are moments of deep introspection through both word and song, giving way to an uneasy, tense silence before the inevitable resumption of wanton violence. !!!READER DISCRETION ADVISED - GRAPHIC CONTENT!!!
You may also enjoy:
Book: The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (Classic) and Music: Gun by Ingrown (Metallic Hardcore)
Pairing #3
Book: 1984 by George Orwell (Dystopian)
Music: Ur kool ig (and all the other things i wish i had said) by Silver Material (Midwest Emo)
Originally I was planning on putting some more hardcore on this list, but after some thought I feel as though this is a much more fitting choice. The world of 1984 is an incredibly dreary dystopian, a twisted perversion of the world we live in today - so much so that it is virtually unrecognizable. Despite this, there are many times throughout the book that I personally can pick out a certain nostalgia, a fleeting glimpse of times long since passed; I can only imagine that Winston feels something to a similar degree. This feeling (along with a healthy dose of angst) is encapsulated by Ur kool ig (and all the other things i wish i had said) through its heartrending melodies and a lingering, haunting sense of loss.
You may also enjoy:
Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Dystopian) and Music: With Thorns of Glass and Petals of Grief by Balmora (Metalcore)
Post by: Isaac, Library Assistant
