The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

25.6 - Ashley FL'S Task - "Summer Lovin"
"Everyone has songs that make them think of summer. Pick one of your favorite summer songs and read a book related to it. It can be related in one of the following ways:

A. Singer or songwriter or member of the band wrote the book. OR
B. Biography or autobiography of the singer or songwriter or member of the band. OR
C. Book has the same topic as the song (this needn't be exact, but should be pretty close). OR
D. Title of the book is also lyrics in the song.

When you claim points for this task, please identify the song, the connection to the book, and you must say why it reminds you of summer.

(Example: The song "One Particular Harbor" by Jimmy Buffett is one of my (Ashley's) favorite summer songs. So I (Ashley) might read A Salty Piece of Land (a novel by Jimmy Buffett), A Pirate Looks at Fifty (an autobiographical memoir), One Particular Harbor (book has same title as song), Too Much Stuff: De-cluttering Your Heart And Home ("too much stuff" is a significant phrase in the song), or any book about someone domesticated after years of wandering the world (same theme as the song).

Books may be fiction or non-fiction, but not children's books or juvenile fiction."

If you need suggestions OR have suggestions for books to read for this task post them here.

Can you use any piece of music for your song, or does it have to be sung? Is classical music okay?

Edit- Nevermind, I found something I liked better.

If I chose Summer of 69 and read The Ten Best Days of My Life would that work? I know the lyric is "best days of my life". Is it okay that the title has extra/different words?

Hmmm... 4 songs off the top of my head make me think of summertime:
Message in a Bottle - The Police
Doin' Time - Sublime
Speed of Sound - Coldplay
Island in the Sun - Weezer

Now to find the books...

I don't know that I'll get anything, but the song that makes me think summer is: What a Day for a Daydream by the Lovin' Spoonful.

I don't think I'll get anything either. Mine is Walking on Sunshine.

OK guys, need a little help here. I was floundering about thinking of songs when DH reminded me of a song that speaks summer to us - the old French Edith Piaf song "La Vie en Rose". I thought great, I would like to read her biography, but I can't get it at the library and it's a little pricy on Amazon...so help me, Ashley, Cynthia, gang - her soubriquet was "the Little Sparrow", and you've all heard this song, even if you don't recognize the title or the words in English, it just sounds like Paris, here are the words...romance, France, pink? rose? portrait? help!

LA VIE EN ROSE (English translation)

Eyes that gaze into mine,
A smile that is lost on his lips—
That is the unretouched portrait
Of the man to whom I belong.

When he takes me in his arms
And speaks softly to me,
I see life in rosy hues.
He tells me words of love,
Words of every day,
And in them I become something.
He has entered my heart,
A part of happiness
Whereof I understand the reason.
It’s he for me and I for him, throughout life,
He has told me, he has sworn to me, for life.
And from the things that I sense,
Now I can feel within me
My heart that beats.

In endless nights of love,
A great delight that comes about,
The pains and bothers are banished,
Happy, happy to die of love.

When he takes me in his arms
And speaks softly to me,
I see life in rosy hues.
He tells me words of love,
Words of every day,
And in them I become something.
He has entered my heart,
A part of happiness
Whereof I understand the reason.
It’s he for me and I for him, throughout life,
He has told me, he has sworn to me, for life.
And from the things that I sense,
Now I can feel within me
My heart that beats.

Endless Night
Endless Night
Endless Night

Hey those work for the Double, Double task too!

La Vie En Rose
La vie en rose

There seem to be many books about her, but I am sure you checked that already.

I don't know if these books are any good since I did not read them or the synopses!

Thanks Nicole!! My library does not have any of the bios, and I didn't want to buy one. I tried about 15 different word groups that I thought sounded like titles, and couldn't find any books..maybe that's why I'm not a book editor, I wouldn't know a good title if slapped me inthe face.

"Kokomo" by the Beach Boys
lyrics:
Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go
Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys
There's a place called Kokomo
That's where you wanna go to get away from it

Bodies in the sand
Tropical drink melting in your hand
We'll be falling in love
To the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We'll get there fast
And then we'll take it slow
That's where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

To Martinique, that Monserrat mystique

We'll put out to sea
And we'll perfect our chemistry


and so on and so on :0)

I'm searching for books with the islands mentioned in the song! Jamaica looks promising.

KOKOMO FANTASY GIRLS aka Bambi, welcome to murderland ahahaha.

Out to Sea had a few.

Deedee wrote: ""Kokomo" by the Beach Boys
lyrics:
Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go
Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys
There's a pl..."

You can do a book that has the same theme as the song. How about a book featuring a vacation to a beachy area?

Would The Gamble work for The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers?
If not, I'll go with PS, I Love You for PS I Love You, by The Beatles.

Ashley - Can I do Flipped for this task? My favorite summer songs are Summer of 69 and Boys of Summer which both feature coming of age/first love/first heartbreak stories. Does that work?

Felina wrote: "Deedee wrote: ""Kokomo" by the Beach Boys
lyrics:
Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go
Jamaica

Off the Florida Key..."
That's a good idea! I'll see what I can find!

The 100 Greatest Summer Songs of All Time

Does anyone have any ideas for a book that would go along with Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero?" (you know, the song that the Fairy Godmother sings at the end of Shrek 2?)

Liz wrote
If not, I'll go with PS, I Love You for PS I Love You, by The Beatles."

I love love love that song. The Beatles are the best.

Liz wrote: "Does anyone have any ideas for a book that would go along with Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero?" (you know, the song that the Fairy Godmother sings at the end of Shrek 2?)"



Gods Behaving Badly might work.

Cait wrote: "Liz wrote
If not, I'll go with PS, I Love You for PS I Love You, by The Beatles."

I love love love that song. The Beatles are the best."

They really are the best! Their music makes me so happy!

I am thinking of doing cruel summer by Bananarama and then reading one of the Sisterhood of the traveling pants books. The song is basically about a girl whose friends have left for the summer. The girls in the books also separate for the summers. Is this good for this task?

I still need to know if titles that have the lyrics, but with added words, will work!

L wrote: "I am thinking of doing cruel summer by Bananarama and then reading one of the Sisterhood of the traveling pants books. The song is basically about a girl whose friends have left for the summer. The..."
I just noticed it can't be juvenile fiction so are the traveling pants books considered juvenile?

L wrote: "L wrote: "I am thinking of doing cruel summer by Bananarama and then reading one of the Sisterhood of the traveling pants books. The song is basically about a girl whose friends have left for the s..."

If juvenile is another word for YA, than yes.

I thought she meant actual kids books, like Dr. Suess, etc. as juvenile books, not YA or teen.

Cindy wrote: "OK guys, need a little help here. I was floundering about thinking of songs when DH reminded me of a song that speaks summer to us - the old French Edith Piaf song "La Vie en Rose". I thought great..."

Love Edith Piaf's voice and songs.

How about Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris? It seems to be about Paris life and culture and people.

I have my song choices narrowed down to:
American Pie
Feeling Hot
If You Like Pina Coladas

Any book suggestions?

Jayme wrote: "I have my song choices narrowed down to:
American Pie
Feeling Hot
If You Like Pina Coladas

Any book suggestions?"

Jayme,
I noticed this book, at my library, a few days ago. I haven't read it, but it would fit perfectly.
Miss American Pie: A Diary of Love, Secrets and Growing Up in the 1970s by Margaret Sartor

Will either of these work?

Hard Day's Night by the Beatles -


Summer Nights by Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta -

Diane - Hard Day's Night is amusing :)

Cruel Summer

Haven't read it, but it will work!

Katelin wrote: "Cruel Summer

Haven't read it, but it will work!"

Yeah I saw that one too, and will try to find that first. I was trying to think of other options to use with the song cruel summer should I not be able to get cruel summer, the book.

Lyn M wrote: "I thought she meant actual kids books, like Dr. Suess, etc. as juvenile books, not YA or teen."

I wasn't sure if she was lumping YA books in with it or not. Was leaving the judgement call to her as the owner of the task. Still not sure if it was a definite yes or no??

Yeah, aren't books like Matilda or Peter Pan or whatever considered juvenile books? I don't think it necessarily means YA. But better leave it for the the task maker.

"Catch a Wave" I worked at a water park for 3 summers when I was in high school and they played this song ALL THE TIME!!!!

Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
Don't be afraid to try the greatest sport around
Everybody tries it once
Those who don't just have to put it down
You paddle out turn around and raise
And baby that's all there is to the coastline craze
You gotta catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world
Not just a fad cause it's been going on so long
All the surfers going strong
They said it wouldn't last too long
They'll eat their words with a fork and spoon
And watch 'em they'll hit the road and all be surfin' soon
And when they catch a wave they'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and your sittin' on top of the world
So take a lesson from a top-notch surfer boy
Every Saturday boy
But don't treat it like a toy
Just get away from the shady turf
And baby go catch some rays on the sunny surf
And when you catch a wave you'll be sittin on top of the world
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world


I know I can read a book about surfing, but does anyone have any suggestions for a book featuring surfing or any titles or other books that would fit. I don't particularly want to read a bio on the Beach Boys.

Thanks!

Rachel Lee wrote: ""Catch a Wave" I worked at a water park for 3 summers when I was in high school and they played this song ALL THE TIME!!!!

Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
Don't be afraid t..."

What about
The Year of Fog or Body Surfing: A Novel?

Thanks Petra, my library has that one and it is a love story.

My song is definitely Summer in the City. I have thought of other songs, but that one won't leave me alone! I worked at an amusement park and it really was a different world at night.
...But tonight it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright...
There was ballroom dancing in a dance hall called the Trocodero and many of the big bands played there and I would always watch as I carried money to the cashiers in the ballroom. I have a book, Ten Cents a Dance, that for me makes a strong connection to the song and my summer experience. It's about a girl with a secret life at night being paid as a dance partner in Chicago. There are mafia connections, and, sadly, our park was touched by tragedy with some mafia connections, too. May I use it, or is it too much of a stretch?
Thanks!

Hi Ashley, would On the Beach by Cliff Richard (I know, I'm a Golden Oldie!) and On the Beach by Nevil Shute work for part D?

For the song, "Holding Out for a Hero," could I use a book from the Outlander series? The song describes the main male character perfectly. And this is by far my #1 summer song. Oh summer memories! :)

Jayme wrote: "I have my song choices narrowed down to:
American Pie
Feeling Hot
If You Like Pina Coladas

Any book suggestions?"

"Escape" by Rupert Holmes is the Pina Colada Song -- it also deals with personal ads.

Though it's probably not a "summer" song, "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley always reminds me of summer since I listened to the St. Elsewhere album over and over again summer of 2006. I'm thinking of reading Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness.

Sorry, have been on vacation. I will go through and answer questions tonight, after the kiddies are in bed!

Karen wrote: "My song is definitely Summer in the City. I have thought of other songs, but that one won't leave me alone!"

Karen - I saw your comment and I wanted to let you know that there are a few books titled "Summer in the City." This song was on my list but I think I'm heading in a different direction. Here are the links:

Summer in the City by Robyn Sisman
Summer in the City by Elizabeth Chandler
Hot Mess: Summer in the City by Julie Kraut
Summer in the City by Pauline McLynn

I haven't read any of them so I can't offer recommendations. Hope this helps :)

Nicole wrote: "If I chose Summer of 69 and read The Ten Best Days of My Life would that work? I know the lyric is "best days of my life". Is it okay that the title has extra/different words?" Yes, because the key phrase is intack ("best days of my life")

Jayme wrote: "I have my song choices narrowed down to:
American Pie
Feeling Hot
If You Like Pina Coladas

Any book suggestions?"The last one is, I believe, actually called "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", so you could use anything with "Escape" in the title! That song makes me think of Key Largo and Islamorada, and definitely summer!

What I meant by no Juvenile fiction is books aimed at elementary school/ middle school kids. Some of them are definitely chapter books, but aimed at children. In my library, at least, Young Adult is different and aimed at teens. Juvenile would be the chapter books in the kids' section at Barnes & Noble.

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is Young Adult, so that's fine (and works really well with "Cruel Summer"!!)

Karen wrote: "My song is definitely Summer in the City. I have thought of other songs, but that one won't leave me alone! I worked at an amusement park and it really was a different world at night.
...But tonigh..."Sounds good to me!

I should say that you all are welcome to use ANY song that means summer to you personally. The song itself doesn't have to be about the summer or anything. It's supposed to be fun, to remind you of summer memories.

Liz wrote: "For the song, "Holding Out for a Hero," could I use a book from the Outlander series? The song describes the main male character perfectly. And this is by far my #1 summer song. Oh summer memories! :)" I'm going to say: Oh yeeeaaahhhh. . .

Shannon wrote: "Hi Ashley, would On the Beach by Cliff Richard (I know, I'm a Golden Oldie!) and On the Beach by Nevil Shute work for part D?" Looks great! The Shute novel is on my list of must-read-soon books!

Please help me find something in similar in spirit to the song bellow (one of my summer favorites: Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini). I guess some book about a girl who is shy but overcomes her shyness?

----
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see
One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the locker she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more

She was afraid to come out in the open
And so a blanket around she wore
She was afraid to come out in the open
And so she sat bundled up on the shore
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the blanket she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more

Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And I wonder what she's gonna do
Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And the poor little girl's turning blue
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the water she wanted to stay
(From the locker to the blanket)
(From the blanket to the shore)
(From the shore to the water)
Yes, there isn't any more

Ashley wrote: "Nicole wrote: "If I chose Summer of 69 and read The Ten Best Days of My Life would that work? I know the lyric is "best days of my life". Is it okay that the title has extra/differen..."

Thanks!!!