Author Jess Walter ( nominated for a National Book Award for his novel The Zero) has a great guest post on the Powell’s Book Blog that is perfect for a Friday meme. Walter has contributed a story to a anthology called The Empty Page: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth. He suggests some additional titles in the post that may not be making their way to the publisher anytime soon. For example the post is titled: Muskrat Love: Ficiton Inspired by Captain and Tenille. Other possibly not so hot titles, Ridin’ the Storm Out: Fiction inspired by REO Speedwagon and Flirtin’ with Disaster: Fiction inspired by Molly Hatchet. So how about it. What band-inspired anthology of fiction would you like to contribute to? Which would make you cringe? (see the comments on the original post for some ideas). Send your best/worst to the comments section. Here are a few of mine, in no particular order:
- Bringin’ on the Heartache: Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Def Leppard (Bad)
- Does Anyone Really Know What time it Is: Fiction Inspired by Chicago (Bad)
- Stories in A Coma: Fiction Inspired The Smiths (Could go either way)
- The Man Who Sold the World: Fiction Inspired by David Bowie (Spectacular)
- Feels Like the First Time: Fiction Inspired by Foreigner (So bad it’s good)
- Tied to the Hitchin’ Post: Fiction Inspired by the Allman Brothers (Awesome)
I’ll take the opportunity to also note that my (hypothetical) collection of humorous yet deeply poignant and personal short stories set in the Southern U.S. will be titled, “Martin Luther Zen” after the R.E.M. lyric in Begin the Begin. Post ideas along those lines in the comments as well.
Lastly: In other music & books news, The Sweet Juniper Blog took matters into its own hands after coming across one too many celebrity-written books for children. Check out their preview of the wonderful children’s book, A Horse Named Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys.
November 24th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Can’t for the life of me come up with a contribution to the music/fiction meme (not feeling too creative today) but the ones you’ve mentioned and created yourself have me laughing.
I checked out that Sweet Juniper Blog - funny and weird. Wish my mind worked like that. Sometimes.
November 24th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Take on Me: Fiction inspired by Aha. (Cringe)
I Used to be Disgusted: Fiction inspired by Elvis Costello. (I could see standing in line for this)
November 25th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Elisabeth: I’ve taken the liberty of coming up with some Canadian entries on your behalf:
I’m an Adult Now: Fiction Inpsired by the Tragically Hip
Isn’t It Ironic: Fiction inspired by the misunderstanding of literary terms of Alanis Morrisette.
Sk8er Boy: Text Messages inspired by Avril Lavin3.
Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World: Fiction Inspired by Neil Young
November 26th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Nick: I’d stand in line for the Elvis Costello book, too. Should we send a “treatment” to a publisher now?
November 27th, 2006 at 1:45 am
…and of course, “Pay to Cum: Fiction Inspired by Bad Brains.” Seems gritty enough.
Maybe “Zig-Zag Wanderer: Fiction Inspired by Captain Beefheart.” Cryptic, pretentious — it’s gold!
“Feel What I Feel When I Feel What I Feel When I Feel It: Fiction inspired by Roy Ayers.” Uh… just happened to be listening to that right now — no idea.
I could do this for the next 36 hours, must stop.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Keep ‘em comin’ flava. Listening to the muzak at the hotel I just checked into ispired this one:
I Love a Rainy Night: Fiction inspired by Eddie Rabbit and the Proverbial Million Monkeys Typing on a Million Keyboards.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Would it surprise you it I told you I once started an anthology of short stories, each one using an R.E.M. lyric as the title?
Some other ideas:
Count the Rings Around My Eyes: Fiction Inspired by The Replacements
White Light/White Heat: Spoken Word Inspired by Lou Reed
I’m Afraid of Americans: Political Satire Inspired by David Bowie
November 27th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
You put me to shame by coming up with some titles on my behalf. I had to try. Only one Canadian on my list – and god help me – these are lame. Do I get points for effort?
Tales of “Insensitive” Men: Fiction Inspired by Jann Arden
Isn’t That Just Like A Woman?: Fiction Inspired by Bob Dylan
Does That Make Me Crazy?: Fiction Inspired by Gnarls Barkley
Life in the Fast Lane: Fiction Inspired by The Eagles
November 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Why Do the Heathen Rage? Life’s Imponderable Questions Provoked by Guadalcanal Diary.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Beth: Not only am I not surprised, I took it for granted.
Elisabeth: I think I’d stand in line to see what kind of fiction would be inspired by Gnarls Barkley.
Dr J: I would alos have accepted Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man - 10 points.
November 28th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Oy vey! It was hard to choose a “winner” with such an incredibly fertile source, but:
“Got More Funky Styles Than My Laser Jet Got Fonts: Celebrating the Worst in American Literature with 311.”
Seriously, go to their fan site, select “lyrics” and prepare to be amazed. Your eyes will literally bleed they’re so bad.