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January 27, 2023
Jonathan Carroll's Playlist for His Novel "Mr. Breakfast"
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.
Jonathan Carroll's novel Mr. Breakfast is as smartly put together as it is compelling, a genre-defying masterpiece.
Kirkus wrote of the book:
"Few recent works of fiction in any genre have touched on the vagaries of life, love, and art more movingly or with deeper understanding. An intoxicating, deeply affecting novel by the influential fantasist."
In his own words, here is Jonathan Carroll's Book Notes music playlist for his novel Mr. Breakfast:
"Take It With Me" by Rachael Price
Cover versions of really good songs often end up duds. "Take It With Me" is one of my favorite Tom Waits songs. Longing, loss, lust—they’re all there in one package, wrapped in Waits’ inimitable froggy voice. So I was skeptical when I came across Rachael Price’s version of it, especially because I’d never heard of her before. But she’s the real deal and this is a big bell ringer for me. In its very different way, just as good as the Waits original.
"Love Me Still" by Bruce Hornsby
One of the themes of Mr. Breakfast is who we (do or don’t) end up with in our lives and why. This was another song I heard for the first time sung by Rachael Price, only to learn it was written by the wonderful Chakka Kahn and Bruce Hornsby. I tracked down each of their versions and liked the Hornsby more. It’s quieter and more in line with what I think is the through line of the song—I love you now and am sure I always will. But do you feel the same way? A very dangerous question to ask any time, especially of someone close to your heart. Chakka’s version is brash and bluesy, Hornsby’s is more like a wary hymn.
"Wandering Boy" by Randy Newman
Brilliant as his lyrics often are, Newman holds his emotions pretty close to his chest. There’s a lot of irony/sarcasm/cynicism in songs like "Kingfish" and "Short Prople." But when he lets his guard down in songs like the recent WANDERING BOY, he can break your heart in a lot of different ways. ‘Sillage’ is a beautiful French word that means the trace of perfume still lingering in a room after the person wearing it has left. I’ve often thought the word could also be applied to the effect people who are no longer in our lives, still live on, sometimes very strongly, albeit only as memories. Who they were and what effect they had on us-- a kind of psychic sillage, both good and bad. “Where is my wandering boy tonight?” could stand for wondering about an absent member of the family, someone important who has died, or a once great love who haunts our memory even years later like sillage.
"Aquaplano" by Paolo Conte
Like Marcello Mastroianni or Giancarlo Giannini, Paolo Conte exemplifies that you can be the coolest guy in the room well into what most people would consider serious old age. With his great pitted face, black suits and most especially gravelly, singular voice, his debonair worldliness both in voice and demeanor make his music universal, even if you don’t speak a word of Italian. For years his music has been on in the background when I am writing right up until recently when I dotted the last I of Mr. Breakfast.
"Even the Darkness" by Barr Brothers
I think the first time I heard this song was on the closing credits of a TV show. All I remember was as soon as I heard the first few chords I put down what I was doing and started listening closely. I liked the song so much I posted it on my Facebook page and the response was as enthusiastic as my own. I’ve been listening to the song regularly ever since and it still has that new car smell to it for me.
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