You guys, I love the theme that the ladies over at The Broke and The Bookish have chosen for Top Ten Tuesday this week. I always love them, but this one totally speaks to my heart because I’m the girl (ok, mature-ish woman) who carries her iPod everywhere, creates playlists for everything and has to be told by my kids constantly to turn down her music.
So why was this such a hard list to make? I mean, hello, we try as often as possible to include Soundtracks to our reviews. But therein lies the problem: I’ve already listed so many (but not all) of these in reviews that they don’t feel original to me anymore. But you know what? The songs still totally rock me. That’s what music should do. It should take you back to a moment or a certain emotion and it should make it come alive again.
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth – Bleed It Out by Linkin Park. Everytime I hear this song, all I want to do is say “HOLLLLAAAAA!!!” It’s lame, I know, but it’s me.
2. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson– Across the Universe by The Beatles. As with most people, The Beatles are my favorite band ever. I love the lyrics to this song. You have definitely heard it before, but have you really listened to the words?
3. Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins– Read My Mind by The Killers
I love this book so, so much. And I love that even though Cricket and Lola have known each other forever, there is that underlying sense of newness to them as they tiptoe toward a romantic relationship. There’s so much hope and uncertainty and such sweetness there. And there is a great set of lines in this song:
It’s funny how you just break down
Waitin’ on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
With magic soakin’ my spine
I just love how perfectly it hits that vibe of Lola and Cricket. They are both waiting on something and throughout the whole story, the whole relationship, there is such charm and such magic in their connection.
4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand– Run by Snow Patrol.
Oh my goodness, have you read this book? The words to this song fit it so perfectly.
5. Across the Universe by Beth Revis– Newborn by Muse
I loved this book like, in a crazypants way. Originally, I chose the theme from The Twilight Zone as its soundtrack (which totally still fits), but I think this song does too.
6. The Summer Books (The Summer I Turned Pretty,It’s Not Summer Without You, We’ll Always Have Summer) by Jenny Han- Smile Like You Mean it by The Killers
7. Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz– Time is Running Out by Muse
I can’t take credit for this one. She put it in the book. How can I think of anything else? Plus, it fits perfectly.
8. The Truth bout Forever by Sarah Dessen– Someday by The Strokes
9. Hourglass by Myra McEntire– If I Had a Gun by Noel Gallagher’s High lying Birds.
Lordy, I love this song.
And that’s all I’ve got! I’m looking forward to hearing everyone else’s picks. I need some new music!
YA Crush 
I love that we picked two of the same books but picked a completely different type of song for both! I LOVE music + book themes. I guess I could start adding them to my reviews from time to time. I should have thought more about how to fit Florence + the Machines in. . .I got Adele in, my first love.
Collective sigh for all things Adele. I just love her!
How fun! I’m not sure I could have done this as well as you did. I did think of “Falling Slowly” during a few of the grief-themed books, maybe because it’s how I measured my own grief. We’re big fans of Muse (loved seeing them for U2 a couple of years ago), The Killers, and the Beatles. Have you heard Snow Patrol’s new cover of “Mysterious Ways”?
I hadn’t heard that cover. I like it. I think that album (Achtung Baby) is one of my favorite albums ever. I mean, it’s like books–I can’t narrow it down too far, but that would be one of them. U2 and The Beatles are my top bands. We saw U2 a few years back when I was pregnant with my youngest (not even showing yet). King of Leon opened for them (but back then they sounded like The Black Crowes). We had tickets a couple of years ago too, but about 2 days before the show, Bono hurt his back (a sign that we’re all getting so old!) and they rescheduled the whole tour. My neighbor got box seats to see Muse from his employer and he gave them to me & Vee about 2 years ago. That was a fantastic show until someone offered to take us to the parking lot to get stoned. Then we had to go all “I’m A Mom” on them. 🙂 It was pretty funny. I like the same bands as you: U2, The Beatles, Muse, The Killers. I love The Strokes. Other than that, I’ll listen to pretty much anything except country and hard core rap. My iPod is usually blaring through the house when everyone is gone for the day…much like it is right now!
I actually really like KoL! it’s too bad they can’t get their brotherly relationships together or else they could’ve gone on tour last year. I’ve seen U2 four times — three times with my hubs and once in my teens. We missed them last year when Florence and the Machine toured with them, because I ended up being out of town at a writing conference and had to sell the tickets (boo)! You should check out the rest of the Achtung Baby covers. My 3 yo is currently controlling the iPod stereo. We’ll probably hear the Muppets soundtrack 20 times in a row.
OH my! I LOVE your list!! Great pick for The sky is everywhere!! And I’ve pur Run of Snow patrol for Blood Promise by Richelle Mead! And for Hourglass I’ve put a french song which is so so beautiful! 🙂 Awesome list, really! 🙂 😉
Thank you! I love your list too. I love talking music and books. Now if we had some chocolate life would be perfect.
I love Muse’s sound. They just have a unique voice and I feel their lyrics actually mean something. Great choices.
Seriously, I love them so hard. Often I find I can’t totally relate to the lyrics because they’re all seriously and angsty and yet…I dig them.
I’m pretty sure we could be music soul mates… I love all the Muse and Killers and everything else you picked! They really do fit these books perfectly! I don’t feel my picks were very deep… I think I might have gotten a little silly. Which, of course, is nothing new. 🙂
Silly is always good my friend. That is why we blog. Because we’re a teensy bit cray.
i really liked this Top Ten idea too! But it was kinda hard. i think the books + music combo was just too much of an awesome overload. 😉
So true.
I also have my iPod with me at all times and have random playlists (I may or may not have a cleaning playlist). This week’s topic took more thought than usual but I hope you still enjoyed making your list! Thanks so much for participating! We really appreciate it.
Jen @ The Broke and the Bookish
A cleaning playlist. Love it! I have grocery shopping ones, so why not cleaning? 🙂