Books with mix tapes/playlists?
September 19, 2013 8:02 AM   Subscribe

When I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I made a copy of "One Winter," the mix tape that Charlie made. I find I like this odd way of interacting with a book, and I'm interested in finding other books that have mix tapes/playlists in them. I know some authors have web sites that include playlists of songs that they identify with a book and its characters, but that's NOT what I want--I want the mix tapes/playlists actually IN the books, as part of the characters' activity or interplay.

Books that I know fit this description are:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
Heavy Metal and You, Christopher Krovatin
The Nao of Brown, Glyn Dillon
Love Is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield

What else do you know? Genre doesn't matter. Obviously, bands must be real, since the whole point here is to recreate the mixes for listening pleasure. Please share!
posted by dlugoczaj to Media & Arts (16 answers total) 19 users marked this as a favorite
 
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.
posted by Ballad of Peckham Rye at 8:10 AM on September 19, 2013 [4 favorites]


A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan contains a chapter that has a short playlist of songs that have pauses in them. Plus it's a fabulous book.
posted by k8lin at 8:12 AM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]


Songbook by Nick Hornby
posted by stampsgal at 8:15 AM on September 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


Movern Callar by Alan Warner.
posted by editorgrrl at 8:19 AM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]


As Simple as Snow by Gregory Galloway.
posted by OolooKitty at 8:35 AM on September 19, 2013


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. I haven't read it and I have a vague impression that the events in the book are centered around a fictitious band, but real songs and bands are mentioned in the book.
posted by amarynth at 8:43 AM on September 19, 2013


Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove includes an album of the year and extended playlists per year, through the 1980s (I think), recalling his musical memories by year and by sources of music. And it's a great book.

Energy Flash by Simon Reynolds could be read as an extended mixtape, tracking electronic dance/club music from its roots in Kraftwerk up to Big Beat, and the latest edition (linked above) is updated to extend to recent years with dubstep and such. The 2008 US edition didn't include the "discography" for some reason, so Reynolds posted it online.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:54 AM on September 19, 2013 [1 favorite]


Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.
posted by Jeanne at 9:02 AM on September 19, 2013


Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice
posted by Leontine at 11:08 AM on September 19, 2013


Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (this has a playlist listed for many of the chapters)

King Dork by Frank Portman (the main character loves music -- don't know if there are specific lists, but real bands and songs are mentioned throughout)
posted by wsquared at 1:06 PM on September 19, 2013


Every issue of SCUD had a playlist.
posted by klangklangston at 1:40 PM on September 19, 2013


Discount Armageddon, by Seanan McGuire (part of the playlist gets used as soundtrack for a culminating scene in the book, the full list is in the back.)
posted by modernhypatia at 5:22 PM on September 19, 2013


Where Love Goes by Joyce Maynard has an author's note in the back listing the songs that inspired her writing, many of which are referenced in the story.
posted by justonegirl at 6:03 PM on September 19, 2013


Inspector Rebus reviews what's playing on his hi-fi, remembers snippets of lyrics, and reminisces over favourite records. So often, in fact, there's a drinking game.
posted by brushtailedphascogale at 2:52 AM on September 20, 2013


The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
posted by twoporedomain at 7:41 AM on September 20, 2013


House of Leaves is accompanied by Poe's Haunted.
posted by divabat at 6:44 PM on December 25, 2013


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