Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Romance in Muscial Terms

Truth: I'm not a musician. I can read music, and I can pluck out Fur Elise on the piano, if you force me to. But in general, I'm not a musician. But lately, I've been thinking about the romances I read i musical terms.

For example, I just finished Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh. I think of it as hard core alternative music. Not obscure in any way, but fresh, and unlike anything else out there. Also, compulsively listen-able. Whereas I think of her Psy-Changeling series as Rachmaninov. Dynamic, changable, and epic in scope.

I think of Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas as Air on the G String by Johann Sebastian Bach. Gorgeously crafted, and very romantic.

When I read romance, I almost always have a soundtrack going in my mind. I adore it when authors give readers the soundtracks that inspired their work, and often when I listen to the music, I can see why. In particular, this works for me with Young Adult literature. I look forward to each time Melissa Marr publishes a book and then gives the soundtrack that goes with it.

Think about the last romance you read, what music goes with it? Or, think of your favorite romances, what music would best unveil the romance of the story?

7 comments:

Carolyn Crane said...

I love Kleypas as Bach!!

Jessica said...

I never thought of books as music. Great concept. My problem, I don't know the title's to the music I love music, just to lazy to track down the musician and the title's.

Heather D said...

I love this concept! I don't know much about music... just listen to it. But I am always fascinated when an author shares what music she had playing while writing the book. Most memorable is Amanda McIntyre's post about Tortured and the soundtrack to King Arthur.

Tracy said...

Great post Kati. I always go through different phases of the kinds of music I listen to. With the hard rock I'm listening to know it really only fits the UF and paranormal books I read. The historicals? Not so much. lol Although I was just reading a book where someone was dying and it was very sad and I had Mozart's Requiem Mass going through my head.

Kati said...

@CC: :smile: It kind of fits, doesn't it? Although I think of "Crazy" by Patsy Cline for her contemporaries, especially Smooth Talking Stranger.

@Jessica: I don't always know music either. But I got to thinking about this topic as I read Archangel's Kiss and how I thought of it like hard rock. I dunno, it might be silly.

@Heather: Hm, I don't know who Amanda McIntyre is. I'm off to search.

@Tracy: Oh, I love requiems! Does that make me morbid?? ;o)

Tracy said...

Kati - as long as it's a well done requiem, probably not. :)

Shannon said...

jOK, you may not be a musician, but you have a musician's soul. I love this post and your picks for each book.

The last book I read would be some gritty, dirty Blues. No vocals, just instruments. Perhaps some B.B. King or one of Jimmi Hendrix's Blues pieces. (I'll be talking more about this book starting tomorrow.)


And no, liking a good Requiem does not make you morbid. I can listen to Mozart's Requiem any time. LOVE.

(And now I have Bach stuck in my head.)

Copyright © 2008-2011 Desert Island Keepers All Rights Reserved. Proudly powered by Blogger

  © Blogger template Starry by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008 Modified by Lea

Back to TOP