http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/04/20/mtv-music-book-club-lights-on-the-oath/

The books Lights talks about is The Oath by Frank Peretti.  I was not familiar with him.  According to Lights, the book fits under the fantasy/horror genre.  It is about a cult that has to do with a dragon.  She talks some about the themes behind it. 

I certainly want to read this book after seeing her talk about.  I was into fantasy books as a teen then kind of fell out of them for a while.  In the last few months, I have picked up more and more.  I think that pretty much any vampire books fall under this and if you look at my list of books I’ve read this year, you will see that is my main source of enjoyment these days.  Plus I’ve picked up a few Dan Koontz books which are probably along that horror/thiller type novel.  Oh and I’ve decided that I want to read the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.

The part of the interview that made me think the most was the last question about if a song or album can tell a whole story.  Lights answer not quite.  I would agree with her almost completely but there are some exceptions to that.  If you are looking at the whole album, there is some concept albums that tell an entire story.  A perfect example of this is What to do When You Are Dead by Armor for Sleep.   The album tells the entire story of a person that commits suicide for the one they love, goes into life as a ghost, then ends with moving on.  There is main characters, there is a plot, and there is emotions.  It definitely tells a complete story.

On the other hand, there is concept albums like Volcano by Gatsbys American Dream.  The songs are based on Lord of the Flies by William Golding.  Some songs are emotion driven, other are more story.  Overall, you get a feel of the novel but the album doesn’t tell the whole story.

As for songs, Lights definitely has a point that maybe a ten minute country ballad can but most songs just give a peak.  In the case of Meg and Dia, they write a lot of their songs based on novels.  They usually are about the emotions you feel after reading the books though.  Like in the song Indiana, based on the novel of the same title by George Sands, as a reader, you definitely notice the sad injustices going on.  That is exactly what the girls wrote about in the song.

The only example I can think of that is a relatively short song that captures a whole story is Bob and Bonnie by Houston Calls.  It tells the story of a couple that meets, falls in love, and lives happily ever after.  I can’t think of any songs that capture a whole novel though.  I do think that would be nearly impossible.

Man, I love when music and books combine! Nothing makes me happier.

PS, make sure to check out The Listening by Lights! It is amazing.  My favorite song is Pretend [Reprise].  Close behind it is The Last Thing on Your Mind which I actually plan to have a line from tattooed on me.

So if you haven’t already noticed, my other obsession in life besides reading is music. When they combine it is amazing.

Meg and Dia are a band that often brings the two worlds together. Especially, on their first album, a lot of their songs are based off of books the sisters love. On the new album, they tried to get away from that a little. In blogs, seeing them, etc it is obvious that they still read a lot.

Anyways, on the new album, Here, Here, and Here, they have a song called Hug Me Til You Drug Me. The song is based on the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It is an amazing song and they recently recorded it at Pop Machine Studios and put it, along with two other songs up for free download. Go to the link on top to check them out.

The other songs, in case you are interested are Halloween and Black Wedding. Halloween is about a friend passing away in a car accident. It makes me cry every time I hear it. It really gets me not only because of the real way they talk about feeling that come with losing someone but also, those in my life I have lose, have usually been around holidays.

Black Weddings is a song kind of about religion. Actually I saw Meg was say it was about getting carried away with love and Dia said about her thoughts on religion. Before this album she did a lot of searching into what she really believed religion was. I find it interested how they say it has different meanings because typically you think that a band comes up with a specific meaning, even if they don’t tell the fans it. However, Dia wrote the song but Meg saw it as something different entirely. It shows how songs really can have tons of meanings based on who you are. Another sidenote, the video for Black Wedding is absolutely amazing. The imagery in it is very different and interesting. It is beautiful, awkard, and fasinating all at the same time. Check it out on You Tube or wherever.

          I absolutely love when one form of art inspires others.  I find it such a cool concept.  For example of my favorite band is Meg and Dia and a large number of their songs were inspired by books.  I’ve read so many interviews of them where they say they were finishing a book, cry, completely overcome with emotions so they poured them into a song.

          The article I found today seems to be pushing the idea of something being inspired by something else even further. Margaret Atwood not only is touring for her new book but has made an hour long play to go with it that will also include music.  It sounds so different and interesting.

          It looks like it is coming to Seattle so I might consider going if work lets me.  It is only a discussing and signing in Seattle though which is sad.  I would rather see the whole production.  It would be cool to hear Atwood talk though.

          What do you think about Atwoods book tour?

          Another Hitchhiker’s Guild to the Galaxy sequal?  Didn’t the guy who wrote those books pass away?  The answer to both of those questions is yes.

          The six instalement of the space venture was written by Eoin Colfer.  If that names sounds familar it is because Colfer has made best sellers list with his own series, Artemis Fowl.   Being no stranger to sci-fi it makes sense that Colfer would decide to write a follow up to a book that he loved so much at a young age.  It is probably a series that had a lot of influence on Colfer deciding to be an author in the first place.

          I’m not entirely sure how I feel about someone writing another book to a series that is already such a classic.  Part of me wants to scream, no, don’t touch it.  Another part of me is curious.   It seems like perhaps Colfer could do it justice.  After all, being a fan himself, I’m sure he too did not want to ruin it.

          Lately I have been considering something along the lines of working off of someone elses work.  I don’t want to say too much about it but I was so inspired that I am just thinking about it.  It would be kind of different because it would be doing a story off of a different form of art besides prose.  Sort of like how Meg and Dia often write songs telling stories from classic books that they love like East of Eden, Brave New World, and Indiana (only to name a few of the many).

          What do you think about authors writing sequels to books by other authors?  Are you excited about another Hitchhikers book?