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August 5, 2020
Arthur Nersesian's Playlist for His Novel "The Five Books of (Robert) Moses"
In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Arthur Nersesian's novel The Five Books of (Robert) Moses is a work of postmodern maximalist genius.
Kirkus wrote of the book:
"A postmodern masterwork that outdoes Pynchon in eccentricity--and electricity, with all its dazzling prose."
In his own words, here is Arthur Nersesian's Book Notes music playlist for his novel The Five Books of (Robert) Moses:
The Five Books of (Robert) Moses deals with a major catastrophe that hits New York in 1970, after which many New Yorkers are essentially shipped into internal exile. The novel attempts to capture the largely forgotten culture of New York City during that harsh, raw era. It also attempts to examine the relationship between government and the governed as new problems arise. As the title suggests, the novel is separated into five books, one for each borough of New York. My Book Notes are split accordingly:
Book One: The Swing Voter of Staten Island
1. “Jungleland” by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Uli, the protagonist of The Five Books of (Robert) Moses, suffers from amnesia. He finds himself lost in a strange and violent place, Rescue City, and learns that it was a former “military situation city” hastily retrofitted to house the underprivileged New Yorkers who were not able to afford housing after the city was hit with by a dirty bomb. The tidal wave of energy that Springsteen creates really captures the storm flows—as well as momentary silences—of a chaotic city, like few other songs are able to.
2. “Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Although “Two Tribes” is set during the height of the Cold War, its bass line and guitar riffs work equally well in describing the passionate hatred of the two parties/gangs who control Rescue City: the Piggers & the Crappers (it's not a pun on the Republicans and the Democrats).
Book Two: The Sacrificial Circumcision of the Bronx
1. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by The Hollies: Book Two goes back in time to why and how New York was destroyed in the catastrophe of 1970. This song is actually an ironic selection, as the two brothers in my book—Robert and Paul Moses—don't get along. The voice of the lead singer really captures the love and sacrifice one brother had for another. If the Moses Brothers had that love, there would've been no story. Indeed, over time, Paul comes to hate his younger brother Robert, who becomes New York City's primary city planner. Paul’s contempt for his sibling finally culminates in him planning an elaborate form of revenge.
2. “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire: At the last moment, Paul realizes the ramifications of his intended revenge, specifically thinking of the collateral fall out beyond the impact on Robert. He has a change of heart and chooses not to go through with his plan, but discovers that someone else has already carried it out. This song truly captures a sense of hopelessness, touching on everything from the conflicts in the Middle East, the draft, Vietnam, etc. At the same time, since it was written back in '64 and yet resonates so much in 2020, it shows me that we're always on the Eve of Destruction.
3. “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” by The Doors: Another major subplot throughout Book Two (and the overall series): escape. Jim Morrison’s relentlessness captures the persistence of Uli in attempting his own attempt to break on through to the other side.
Book Three: The Terrible Beauty of Brooklyn
1. “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed: Both Jackie Curtis & Candy Darling from this Lou Reed song are characters in Book Three. In short, this song selected me.
2. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil Scott-Heron: Another complex scheme to overthrow the political status quo of Rescue City is attempted again throughout this book. Scott-Heron's dogmatic narrative, to me, mirrors the political rhetoric of the complex political campaign that takes place in this book.
3. “She's Lost Control” by Girls Against Boys: There is a brief, intense (and illicit) love affair in this book. When the one who initiates the relationship is cautioned that her overtures might spark a violent outcome, she persists nonetheless, leading to dire consequences. There is something raw and inexplicable about this particular rendition of “She’s Lost Control” from post-hardcore Washington, DC band Girls Against Boys that compels me to choose it over the wonderful Joy Division version.
Book Four: The Post-Morphogenesis of Manhattan
1. “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray: In Book Four, one of the central characters start losing her mind—or, more aptly, “drifts away.” What I find beautiful about Gray's song is his acceptance of loss. It's not desperate, but rather he willingly surrenders to forces beyond his control and he passes the torch to others: “I'm countin’ on you / to carry me through . . .”
2. “Ball of Confusion” by The Temptations: Part of Book Four is set during the turbulent '60s, detailing the Columbia University student takeover, as well as the 1968 Chicago riots, and finally the (accidental) explosion of the townhouse on Manhattan’s 11th Street, which was a bomb factory for the Weather Underground. This song makes history sound like a giant boulder just rolling out of control, taking out everything in its path. Perfect for the occasion.
Book Five: The Cognitive Contagion of Queens
1. “Passion” by Peter Gabriel: Though this song has no lyrics, its use of repetitive drumbeats and hypnotic chants allows it to gradually grow in intensity, like a flood that moves irrevocably faster. For me, this is an apt metaphor for the events of Book Five, as Rescue City rushes toward its fate: a mix of pain, death, sacrifice, but hopefully and ultimately moving toward freedom.
2. “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons: “This is it, the Apocalypse.” The final devastating end when the key group of characters are finally “rescued” is best described by this song ending in the inauspicious line: “Welcome to the New Age, to the new age . . . ”
Arthur Nersesian is the author of fourteen books, including the cult-classic national best seller The Fuck-Up (more than 100,000 copies sold), Suicide Casanova, Manhattan Loverboy, East Village Tetralogy, and Mesopotamia. He is a native New Yorker who runs a writing workshop in the East Village and can be reached on Facebook.
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