Monday, May 16, 2011

Pages and Pages of Music - Jonathan Lethem

Every now and then, I want to write about books I’ve read that are relevant to the subject of music.  The first author that came to my mind is the amazing Jonathan Lethem.   Start with his novel Fortress of Solitude.  This incredible story of two friends growing up in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood is awash in musical references.  In fact, there is almost literally a back beat to this novel.  Soul, Hip-hop, Punk, Brian Eno and “Play that Funky Music, White Boy” all play a major part in this epic and wonderfully written coming-of-age novel.  For another view of Lethem’s Brooklyn also read Motherless Brooklyn.

Fortress of Solitude:



The great thing about Jonathan Lethem is that he continually defies expectations.  If you follow-up  Fortress of Solitude with You Don’t Love Me Yet, you may feel like you are reading an entirely different author.  You Don’t Love Me Yet is the story of a fledging west coast alternative band – it is light and funny.  Lethem has said that intended the novel to read like a romantic comedy movie. I would add a very hip romantic comedy. 

You Don’t Love Me Yet:

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