The Stories That Shaped My Songs
I’ve never considered myself to be particularly well-read, but when I look back at my life, I have always read books for pleasure and began at a young age. I remember sobbing at the end of On the Beach by Nevil Shute, during what felt like imminent nuclear war in 1980s America. Why my dad recommended that book despite my anxieties, I’ll never know! I loved To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Count of Monte Cristo (abridged version) by Alexandre Dumas, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, all of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Agatha Christie books, and so many others.
I read books because I wanted to live inside the stories. I read books because my parents read books, and our shelves were full. I remember titles of books I was supposed to read in school but didn’t (Cliff’s Notes!), but mostly, I remember books I wanted to read that stuck with me.
It's hard to know exactly how and exactly which books impacted my own songwriting, but I don’t doubt they all did in some way.
As a young adult, I discovered Charles Bukowski, cursing, crass, the underbelly of society! Also, Philip K. Dick, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler.
These are just authors that come to mind in this particular moment that I’m writing. My love of detective noir led me to The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon (a favorite!) and The City & the City by Chynna Mieville. I was lucky to be invited to join a book group about 20 years ago and we’re still going strong. It’s a group of smart, sassy, incredible women who keep me reading. And, of course, my job keeps me reading.
I’m constantly choosing material for my students that I want to read and am late to the party: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey to name just a couple. I learn so much from books: new words, new stories, new and beautifully crafted sentences! I’m reminded all the time that I love words, so naturally, I love writing songs.
The book that comes to mind as especially important in my life for some reason is Shadows on the Hudson by Isaac Bashevis Singer. It’s the story of an immigrant to America post-WWII, a Holocaust survivor who has lost his faith in God and is a compulsive womanizer. It had been recommended by a man I had been dating (subject of my song “Dreamboat”) and who just drove me crazy with his inability to meet my expectations and fit into the box I wanted him to fit into (we’re still friends, of course!). Somehow, reading that book helped me understand him in some way. I also love Singer’s writing style, how it feels simple and perfectly descriptive at the same time. Reading his books is like watching a movie: I can see the characters, the colors, the sights and sounds.
What books helped you understand someone that perplexed you? Which are your favorites? Which one should I read next? Send me a note and let me know!
My new album ‘Tailspin’ is out in the world and I would love to hear your reviews too! Go have a listen wherever you stream music or grab a copy at your favorite record store today.