The Penguin Tank discussion

Hi There,

Working on a website about music related books I am building a list of Penguin Classics to add to our database next year. Since this group reads his way through the Penguin top 100 list, and probably encounters some more Penguins along the way, I was looking for advice on music related Penguin books.

Here is my blogpost regarding this topic:
http://booktunes.wordpress.com/2010/1...

I will update the list on a dedicated blog page. Any advice?

Regards,

Erik

Hi Erik,
Sure, we are happy to report on any music-related themes in the Penguin Classics. We're only about 8% through our list, but so far I would nominate the following titles as appropriate for your blog:

"A Clockwork Orange"

Classical music plays a pretty big role in this book. The main character derives pleasure in life from three things - violence, sex, and Beethoven. (Or "Old Ludvig Von" as he refers to him in the story.) Later, classical music is also used as part of the famous psychological conditioning process that this character goes through. I forget exactly which pieces of music they mention in the book, and I know they mention more than one composer, but Beethoven is the main focus.

"A Spy in the House of Love"

I'm only halfway through this book, but it is clear that classical music is a device that the author uses frequently to allow the heroin of the story to escape her boring life, through flights of sexual fantasy. She is transported to the Black Forest of Germany where she imagines frolicking with fairies under rainbows when she hears Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde." She imagines Hatian men and women doing feverish naked tribal dances and making love in the ocean when she listens to Debussy's "Ile de Joyeuse." Haven't gotten to the end yet, but I read in a review that she ends up breaking down emotionally at the end of the story while listening one of Beethoven's quartets. (Again with the Beethoven!)

I hope this info is helpful!

-Anna

Hi Anna,

Thanks for your answer including the short motivations.
Very helpful! I will add them to my list and keep you posted on my plans regarding the Booktunes Vs. Penguin Classics.

Would you mind if I repost your answer on my blog?
Or do you prefer to do that yourself?

Thanks again,

Erik

No problem! You can go ahead and repost whatever info you want.

Cool, I did a repost of your reply on the blog...ok?

Thanks!!

https://booktunes.wordpress.com/2010/...

Erik