Reading with Style discussion

20.5 Wunderkind McCullers studied for years as a concert pianist, practicing five hours a day. The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories includes McCullers first published work Wunderkind, a story about a musical prodigy. Read any work that features music or musicians. (Music or specific musician must play an important enough role in the story to warrant a mention in the book's summary on GoodReads.)

Some examples (all books included on these lists will work for this task):
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the...
http://www.classical.net/music/books/...

Can we use The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories here?

I have plenty of other options, but I'm going to read lots of Carson McCullers, too, this season!

Karen Michele wrote: "Can we use The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories here?

I have plenty of other options, but I'm going to read lots of Carson McCullers, too, this season!"

Yes, you can. This story of the prodigal musician is specifically mentioned in the GR description. (And thank you for embracing the theme, too.)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "Can we use The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories here?

I have plenty of other options, but I'm going to read lots of Carson McCullers, too, this season!"
..."

Excellent --- thanks!

How about Absolute Beginners? Jazz and rock'n'roll are mentioned in the description.

Rosemary wrote: "How about Absolute Beginners? Jazz and rock'n'roll are mentioned in the description."

Yes, that looks as if it fits!

How about Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
The description says the main character is a composer.

itpdx wrote: "How about Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
The description says the main character is a composer."

Yes, the combination of the word Sonata in the title and the composer character makes this fit.

Would The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy work?

Ed wrote: "Would The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy work?"

Ed, despite the title including the word Sonata, I don't recall this having anything to do with music, either as a subject or as an occupation.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Would The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy work?"

Ed, despite the title including the word Sonata, I don't recall this having anything to do with music, eith..."

ok...how about The Woman Who Wouldn't by Gene Wilder ?

Ed wrote: "ok...how about The Woman Who Wouldn't by Gene Wilder ? ."

Concert violinist in the first sentence of the GR description!

Just Kids by Patti Smith
Does this work?

Rebekah wrote: "Just Kids by Patti Smith
Does this work?"

Yes.

Does War for the Oaks work? The blurb mentions that she's trying to form a new band while dealing with a war between the Faerie courts.

Sam wrote: "Does War for the Oaks work? The blurb mentions that she's trying to form a new band while dealing with a war between the Faerie courts."

Yep! The threshold for having enough about music - without outside knowledge - is the GR blurb. You should be find there. Couple of combos, too, I see.

Great, thanks! I'm really trying to rack up the style points this season.

Would The Bards of Bone Plain work for the task. The title and cover sound as though music is a major factor.

Or Song of Kali?

Or Madame Verona Comes Down the Hill which mentions a cello?

I am trying to find something on my TBR shelf.

I'm working on entering all of the GR Choice Awards. As I don't read many new releases, most of these titles are completely unheard of by me. So, here's one for you: The Only Pirate at the Party. It doesn't combo with Illumination, but does for 2016/17 and it *would* garner not a novel points, too. I love the title and cover.

How about a memoir of a violin prodigy who loses her Stradivarius and can no longer play due to her emotions when it was stolen when she was 32? (she does buy another one, so must resume playing)
Gone: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung by Min Kym

Karin wrote: "How about a memoir of a violin prodigy who loses her Stradivarius and can no longer play due to her emotions when it was stolen when she was 32? (she does buy another one, so must resume playing)
[..."

The task definition says this works for this task. Are you asking if it qualifies for a combo with 20.3 Illumination?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "How about a memoir of a violin prodigy who loses her Stradivarius and can no longer play due to her emotions when it was stolen when she was 32? (she does buy another one, so must res..."

Yes.

Karin wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "How about a memoir of a violin prodigy who loses her Stradivarius and can no longer play due to her emotions when it was stolen when she was 32? (she does b..."

That task says the author must have written other works, and this is the only work by this author, so no, it wouldn't work for Illumination.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "How about a memoir of a violin prodigy who loses her Stradivarius and can no longer play due to her emotions when it was stolen when she was 3..."

Thanks, I'd forgotten about that this late at night.

It does get a combo for 10.3 2016/17 - does that help?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "It does get a combo for 10.3 2016/17 - does that help?"

Yes. I'm going for the completion rather than the most strategy, but getting style points is very helpful. I have a couple of other books I'm thinking of, but this one is the one I would prefer to read. More thinking is required, though.

Well, it works for this task, so you can slot it here.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Well, it works for this task, so you can slot it here."

Yes. I have two other music books on my tbr, at least, so will mull it over.

For short story collections, does the whole collection need to feature musicians/music, or is just one story enough to qualify for the task?

Sam wrote: "For short story collections, does the whole collection need to feature musicians/music, or is just one story enough to qualify for the task?"

One story will be enough if music is mentioned in the GR description.

Hmm, it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the MPE description, and one of the others just mentions a punk rocker but that's it.

Sam wrote: "Hmm, it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the MPE description, and one of the others just mentions a punk rocker but that's it."

Punk rocker will get it. We prefer the link to the MPE when you post (I'm easily confused), but if you want to take a moment to make a note about why you're linking to a different edition when you post, you can use it.

EDIT: Not that I think punk rock should really be classified as music, but I'm not the one to determine that in this task. ;-)

Haha, sounds good! I'll make a note when I post.

I have an odd appreciation for punk rock. Modern country on the other hand...barely qualifies as music ;)

I think this book should fit in ok?

Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs by Dave Holmes

Tien wrote: "I think this book should fit in ok?

Part of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs by Dave Holmes"

Yes, that works!

thanks, Elizabeth :)