Book Club Midway Reflections/Questions
Hey Book Club!
Since we are halfway through this year/This Year, I wanted to reflect a little on the experience of reading this book of days so far and would love to hear everyone else’s thoughts. To structure it a bit, I had a couple of questions. Feel free to answer all of them, some of them, or none of them and add your own freeform thoughts.
- What is your favorite new song that the book has introduced you to?
The one that stands out the most to me now is “Store” (April 24), which has joined my general driving playlist. As with many of my favorite TMG songs, I like how its catchy tune hides a darker story and how that story becomes a bit more clear as the song goes on. Also “Ah, the blood!” Is just another all-timer refrain. Very satisfying to sing in the car.
- What is something new you noticed or learned about a song you already loved?
“The Coroner’s Gambit” (April 11) has long been on my list of favorite songs. For some reason, I had always had it in my head that the narrator was terminally ill and the song was them succumbing. Learning that the death of John’s friend, Rozz, inspired it has added a different flavor of sadness to the song and to some of its lyrics.
On a lighter note, I can now never unhear the fact that the first two words of “See America Right” (May 8) are from two different takes.
- In the commentary, John discusses many different cultural, musical, or literary inspirations. Was there any source that left an impression on you?
I had never heard of Dana Plato before Feb 17 (“Song for Dana Plato”) and reading about her short, troubled life was pretty upsetting, especially the fact that her son also died young. Then June 26 (“Tyler Lambert’s Grave”) rolls around and clobbers me again. That song has now joined my list of TMG songs that have made me cry.
- Any song from albums/EPs the book has already covered that you’re disappointed didn’t make it in?
I love “International Small Arms Traffic Blues,” especially the lyrics “There is a shortage in the blood supply/But there is no shortage of blood." Doesn't that deserve a day??