The Next Best Book Clubdiscussion

I'm going to try like heck to complete an album at a time, but my reading can be kind of all over the place, so we'll see how I fare at that! I also review books for TNBBC's blog, so there's gonna be a TBR I'll be reading off of, which might make some specific album reading tasks hard to complete. Hence, the "challenge"!

I'm gonna list each album as its own post. In order of release.

CHRONIC TOWN(1982)

"Wolves, Lower" – read a book that centers on wolves or prominently features wild dogs
"Gardening at Night" – read a book that takes place primarily at nightNoctuidaeby Scott Nicolay
"Carnival of Sorts (boxcars)" – read a book about a carnival, or that features a circus
"1,000,000" – read a ‘doorstopper’ (a book that is more than 600 pages long)
"Stumble" – read a book that you just happened to 'stumble' uponBridget Fondaby Elizabeth Ellen

MURMUR(1983)
"Radio Free Europe" – read a book that takes place in EuropeEverything I Found on the Beachby Cynan Jones
"Pilgrimage" - read a book about a character who goes on a long journeyThe Revenant: A Novel of Revenge- Michael Punke
"Laughing" – read a book that will make you laugh
"Talk About the Passion" – read an erotica book
"Moral Kiosk" – read a book in which one of the characters is struggling with their moralityPuppet Skinby Danger Slater
"Perfect Circle" – read a book about a tight knit group of friends or family
"Catapult" – read a book set in medieval times
"Sitting Still" – read a book in which nothing seems to happen
"9-9" – read a book with 9 in the title, or a book that has only 9 chaptersIt Came From Anomaly Flats- Clayton Smith
"Shaking Through" – read a scary bookOnce Hauntedby JW Bouchard
("We Walk" – read a book about a protagonist, or group of characters, who’s main mode of transportation is walkingBrown Bottleby Sheldon Lee Compton
"West of the Fields" – read a book about someone who has gone away, or is gone from home too long

RECKONING(1984)

"Harborcoat" – read a book that is left open for interpretation, whose plot is ambiguous
"7 Chinese Brothers" – read a book about pain, loss, bereavement
"So. Central Rain" – read a book in which the character or characters are waiting for something
"Pretty Persuasion" – read a book that someone recommended to you
"Time After Time (AnnElise)" – read a book that spans a large period of time
"Second Guessing" – read a book that you’ve been hesitant to pick up
"Letter Never Sent" – read a book that is told primarily in letters or diary entries
"Camera" – read a book that centers on photography or on a particular photograph
"(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville" – read a book you promised yourself you would never revisit
"Little America" – read a book set in the western eraMesillaby Robert James Russell

FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION(1985)

"Feeling Gravity’s Pull" – read a space opera or a book that takes place in outer space
"Maps and Legends" – read a book that contains its own map/legendLost Everything- Brian Francis Slattery
"Driver 8" – read a book that prominently features a train as the main mode of transportation, or features a protagonist who has to travel a long distance
"Life and How to Live it" – read a self-help book
"Old Man Kensey" – read a book that features an old man as the protagonist
"Can’t Get There From Here" – read a book that seems to go nowhere
"Green Grow the Rushes" – read a book that is set in summertimeThe Summer that Melted Everything- Tiffany McDaniel
"Kohoutek" – read a book that revolves around astronomy, or prominently features stars, a sun, or a moon.Maybe Mermaids and Robots are Lonely: Stories and a Novellaby Matthew Fogarty
"Auctioneer (Another Engine)" – read a book about wanderlust
"Good Advices" – read a book written by an author you’d never heard of beforeSwallowing a Donkey's Eye- Paul Tremblay
"Wendell Gee" – read a book about a dream or in which dreams are prominently featuredThe Blizzard: A Novel- Vladimir Sorokin

LIFE’S RICH PAGEANT(1986)

"Begin the Begin" – read a book you’ve already read
"These Days" – read a book that takes place in present dayZero Lives Remainingby Adam Cesare
"Fall on Me" – read a book about oppression
"Cuyahoga" – read a book that takes place on or near a river, in which a river is prominently featuredDead Boysby Gabriel Squailia
"Hyena" – read a book with an animal in the titlePaper Tigers- Damien Angelica Walters
"Underneath the Bunker" – read a book about the end of the worldField Guide to the End of the World: Poemsby Jeannine Hall Gailey
"The Flowers of Guatemala" -read a book that takes place in a foreign country
"I Believe" – read a book about fairy tales or a book that is a spin on a fairy tale
"What if We Give It Away" – read a book about giving up or giving something up
"Just a Touch" – read a book that uses multiple formats or gimmicks in which to tell its storyThe Bohemian Guide to Monogamyby Andrew Armacost
"Swan Swan H" – read a book with a word repeated in the title
"Superman" – read a book about a superhero

DEAD LETTER OFFICE(1987)

"Crazy" – read a book about a protagonist who goes crazyThe Last Projectorby David James Keaton
"There She Goes Again" – read a book about a prostitute or that features prostitutionFireworkby Eugene Martin
"Burning Down" – read a book that has the word burn or fire in the title
"Voice of Harold" – read a book that gives you goosebumps
"Burning Hell" – read a book that prominently features religion or a religious protagonist
"Toys in the Attic" – read a book that exudes nostalgiaUniversal Harvesterby John Darnielle
"Windout" – read a book with multiple twists and turns
"Ages of You" – read a book with the word You in the titleI Will Rot Without Youby Danger Slater
"Pale Blue Eyes" – read a book that gives you all the feels
"Bandwagon" – read a book that everyone else is reading
"Femme Fatale" – read a book that features a woman who plays hard to get
"Walter’s Theme" – read a book with a man’s name in the title
"King of the Road" – read a book that takes place mostly on the road or prominently features a motel/hotelWasteby Andrew F Sullivan

DOCUMENT(1987)

"Finest Worksong" – read a book that revolves around musicThe Hottest Gay Man Ever Killed in a Shark Attackby Douglas Hackle
"Welcome to the Occupation" – read a book about a blue collar protagonist
"Exhuming McCarthy" – read a book about politics or that features politics in some way
"Disturbance at the Heron House" – read a book about rioting or a world gone to chaos-Chimpanzee: A Novel- Darin Bradley
"Strange" – read a “bizarro” or “experimental fiction” bookBangface and the Gloryhole- Andrew Hilbert
"It’s the End of the World as We Know It" – read a book that deals with some form of corruptionThe Big Sheep: A Novelby Rob Kroese
"The One I Love" – read a book that is an anti-love storyIceby Anna Kavan
"Fireplace" – read a cozy mystery
"Lightnin’ Hopkins" – read a book that prominently features freakish weather
"King of Birds" – read a book that features birds, or has the name of a bird in the title
"Oddfellows Local 151" – read a book about firemen or that features a firehouse/firemen

GREEN(1988)

"Pop Song 89" – read a book that is about another book
"Get Up" – read a book that sounds boring
"You are the Everything" – read a book in which the protagonist is pining for someone
"Stand" – read a book that deals with direction (either literally or figuratively)Reel: A Novelby Tobias Carroll
"World Leader Pretend" – read a book that revolves around warFallen Land- Taylor Brown
"The Wrong Child" – read a non-YA book in which the protagonist is a child
"Orange Crush" – read a book about a protagonist who is called away or forced to leave
"Turn You Inside Out" – read a book that hinges itself on dishonesty
"Hairshirt" – read a book with a weird titleTables Without Chairs #1by Brian Alan Ellis and Bud Smith
"I Remember California" – read a book that takes place in CaliforniaCaliforniaby Edan Lepucki
"Untitled" – read a book that deals with protection in some way

OUT OF TIME(1991)

“Radio Song” – read a book that has to do with music, or prominently features a radio station
“Losing My Religion” – read a book that is considered an author’s “biggest” hit
“Low” – read a book about the morning after, or regretsArachnophileby Betty Rocksteady
“Near Wild Heaven” – read a book that deals with the end of a relationshipFirst, You Swallow the Moonby Kipp Wessel
“Shiny Happy People” – read a book about a utopia, or the search for utopia
“Belong” – read a book that revolves around a child, but does not feature a child as the protagonistEach Vagabond by Nameby Margo Orlando Littell
“Half a World Away” – read a book about a bandSingle Stroke Sevenby Lavinia Ludlow
“Texarkana” – read a book in which the main character is searching for somethingThe Juliet- Laura Ellen Scott
“Country Feedback” – read a book about heartbreak, about unrequited love
“Me in Honey” – read a book with the word Sweet or Sweetness in the title

AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE(1992)

“Drive” – read a book that revolves around youth
“Try Not to Breathe” – read a book about giving up
“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight” – read a book about a humorous love
“Everybody Hurts” – read a book about depression
“Sweetness Follows” – read a book about death, or that prominently features a funeralThe Shooting - James Boice
“Monty Got a Raw Deal” – read a book in which one of the characters gets “a raw deal”.Shit Luckby Tiffany Scandal
“Ignoreland” – read a book that similarly features the word ‘land’ in its titleAgents of Dreamlandby Caitlin Kiernan
“Star Me Kitten” – read a book that features the F-word, either in title or in text, or uses asterisks in the titleThe North Waterby Ian McGuire
“Man on the Moon” – read a book that is a tribute to someone or something else
“Nightswimming” – read a book on a dare (have someone dare you to read something)
“Find the River” – read a book with River in the title

MONSTER(1994)

“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth” – read a book that encapsulates Generation-X
“Crush with Eyeliner” – read a book about discovering identityThe Warrenby Brian Evenson
“King of Comedy” – read a book that makes you laugh
“I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” – read a fantasy book, as a distraction from real life
“Star 69” – read a book by an author you are crazy obsessed withSirensby Joshua Mohr
“Strange Currencies” – read a book that features a strange obsession, or OCDJordan's Brains: A Zombie Evolutionby J Cornell Michel
“Tongue” – read a book with a body part in the titleYour Glass Head against the Brick Parade of Now Whats- Sam Pink
“Bang and Blame” – read a book about a one night stand
“I Took Your Name” – read a book in which something is taken awayI Have Blinded Myself Writing Thisby Jess Stoner
“Let Me In” – read a book that messes with your emotionsI'm Thinking of Ending Thingsby Iain Reid
“Circus Envy” – read a book that revolves around jealousy
“You” – read a book written in second personSuper Giant Monster Time!by Jeff Burk

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI(1996)

“How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us” – read a book set in the wild westPig Ironby David James Keaton
“The Wake-Up Bomb” – read a book about drugs, or drug addiction
“New Test Leper” – read a book about a character who is struggling with a diseaseNothing but the Dead and Dying- Ryan W Bradley
“Undertow” – read a book that takes place primarily on or under the water/oceanAt Ocean- Oliver Serang
“E Bow the Letter” – read a book that revolves around two best friendsMarrow Islandby Alexis M Smith
“Leave” – read a book with the word leave or leaving in the title
“Departure” – read a book that is unlike the rest of a particular author’s bibliography
“Bittersweet Me” – read a book that features a bitter protagonist
“Be Mine” – read a collection of love poems
“Binky the Doormat” – read a book that is known for being strange or bizarre
“So Fast, So Numb” – read a book with a comma in the title
“Low Desert” – read a road-trip book
“Electrolite" – read a book that was written in the 20th century

UP(1998)

“Airportman” – read a book that takes place primarily in an airport or features a character who spends time in or around one
“Lotus” – read a book that is highly symbolic or allegorical
“Suspicion” – read a book you have been putting off
“Hope” – read a book with just one word in the title
“At My Most Beautiful” – read a book about goofy, silly love
“The Apologist” – read a book with ‘ist’ in the titleThe Night Cyclistby Stephen Graham Jones
“Sad Professor” – read a book that features a teacher as the protagonist
“You’re in the Air” – read a book with the words Your or You’re in the titleYour Sickby Colen, Guess, Magee
“Walk Unafraid” – read a book that others have found incredibly scary
“Why Not Smile” – read a book about a protagonist who is habitually unhappy
“Day Sleeper” – read a book that features a protagonist who works the grave yard shift
“Diminished” – read a collection of flash fiction or short storiesSome Possible Solutionsby Helen Phillips
“Parakeet” – read a book that’s told from an animal’s POV
“Falls to Climb” – read a book that features a character who is viewed as a martyr

REVEAL(2001)

“The Lifting” – read a prequel
“I’ve Been High” – read a book that is told in past tense
“All the Way to Reno” – read a book that features a protagonist who is trying to get their big break
“She Just Wants to Be” – read a book written by a female author
“Disappear” – read a book that involves magic or a magician
“Saturn Return” – read a book about a character who does what they want, who goes against the norm
“Beat a Drum” – read a book with an instrument in its title
“Imitation of Life” – read a book that revolves around art, or a specific piece of art
“Summer Turns to High” – read a book with Summer in the titleThe Summer She Was Under Waterby Jen Michalski
“Chorus and the Ring” – read a book about forgetting or denying
“I’ll Take the Rain” – read a book that takes place during a storm, or features a lot of rain
“Beachball” – read a book that is typically referred to as a ‘beach read’

AROUND THE SUN(2004)

“Leaving New York” – read a book that takes place in New YorkCondominium- Daniel Falatko
“Electron Blue “– read a book with a color in the title
“The Outsiders” – read a book that takes place primarily outside
“Make it All Ok” – read a book that makes you feel good
“Final Straw” – read the last book in a series
“I Wanted to Be Wrong” – read a book that you wish you could have changed the ending to
“Wanderlust” – read a book about a character who is running away from somethingI'm From Electric Peak- Bud Smith
“The Boy in the Well” – read a non-YA book that features a young boy as the protagonistThe Bad Gameby Adam Millard
“Aftermath” – read a book about the survivors of an apocalypse
“High Speed Train” – read a book that has a mode of transportation in the title
“The Worst Joke Ever “– read a book that others found funny but you did not
“The Ascent of Man” – read a book about books
“Around the Sun” – read a book that features space travel

ACCELERATE(2008)

“Living Well is the Best Revenge” – read a book that has a great revenge scene8th Street Power & Light- Eric Shonkwiler
“Man Sized Wreath” – read a Christmas themed novel
“Supernatural Superserious” – read a book that takes place in a summer or day camp
“Hollow Man” – read a book that has failed to meet the hype that surrounded it
“Houston” – read a book that is set in a big cityThursday 1:17 p.m.by Michael Landweber
“Accelerate” – read a book that is less than 125 pages longSmall Change: A Casebook of Scherer and Miller, Investigators of the Paranormal and Supermundaneby Andrez Bergen
“Until the Day is Done” – read a book in one sittingMarigoldby Troy James Weaver
“Mr Richards” – read a book that prominently features a president
“Sing for the Submarine” – read a classic dystopian/apocalyptic novel
“Horse to Water” – read a book that involves a fight of some sortThe Longshotby Katie Kitamura

Got my first one down but it was hard to place it. It's a book in which nothing much happens but it also went into detail on the two main characters dreams... so I figured, how many more books might I read in which dreams were featured so predominantly, right?

(The Blizzard, by Vladimir Sorokin)

Any books you can recommend where nothing happens? I'm completely stumped as I've never read any books like that outside of text books and other non fiction books.

Hm. That's tough Meredith. But I did create a thread where others can do that for you... I personally haven't read any, or at least, none that come to mind other thanSaturdayby Ian McEwan. I very nearly DNF'd it because of how frustratingly boring it was: )

Anyhow, here's that thread:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Knocked out my second one by applying the amazing Mesilla by Robert James Russell against "Little America" as a western era novel. Funny too, how both of the tasks are the last song on the album and the albums are back to back: )

(Mesilla by Robert James Russell)

3rd book down and it was a collection of shorts that featured a lot of death, dying, and disease. In one of the longer short stories, the protag was dying of bone cancer, so I thought it fit under "New Test Leper" the best.

(Nothing but the Dead and Dying - Ryan W Bradley)

4th book devoured in a matter of two days. I found a couple of song titles I could have used for this book.... but the revenge scene really wasn't that great (It was 100x's better in the movie!), so I didn't want to use it against "Living Well is the Best Revenge"... and I did want to change the ending because the movie's ending was no much more satifying...but....

ah, I just settled on "Pilgrimage", since Glass did have to go on a many-month-long journey to exact his not-so-awesome revenge.

5th book was a sci-fi noir and rang in at a mere 115 pages. So I used it against "Accelerate".

(Small Change - Andrez Bergen)



Also, I'm noticing that none of these books are coming off the same album yet... grrrrr....

6th book was a toss between a book with one word in the title or a book that prominently features motel/hotel... so I went with the motel/hotel task "King of the Road" because some of the characters reside in scummy, skanky motels and I figured, how many more books might I run across like that, right?

(Waste - Andrew F Sullivan)

7th book was tough one to select a task for. Because there were three or four that it could have fit so well into. It could have been a book with one word in the title, it could have been a book about giving something up, but I ultimately settled for "Disturbance at the Heron House" - a book about a world gone to chaos.

(Chimpanzee - Darin Bradley)

8th book could have been used as one I read in one sitting, however I did think the title was strange enough to apply it towards "Hairshirt", especially because the collection appeared to have nothing to do with tables or chairs in any way shape or form!

(Tables Without Chairs - by Brian Alan Ellis and Bud Smith)

9th book was an easy one to cross off. "I Remember California" - a book that takes place in California....

(California - Edan Lepucki)

10th book was fricken amazing! "World Leader Pretend" (one of my favorite REM songs) for Taylor Brown's Fallen Land (one of my favorite reads this year)

(Fallen Land - Taylor Land)

11th book was a tough one to place because there were so many tasks it could've completed. The protag pines crazily for someone, it's a group of people waiting for something happen, it's a group of people waiting for their big break.

But ultimately, I went with Half A World Away, because it really is all about a band.

(Single Stroke Seven - Lavinia Ludlow)

12th book was a toss up between A book with one word in the title and A book that takes place in NYC. I ended up scratching out Leaving New York....

(Condominium - Daniel Falatko)

Lucky number 13 - I don't know how many books I might read with a You in the title, so I applied this one to "Ages of You".

It's also strange and bizarre, and involves a fight of some sort, towards the end it took place in a storm, and it deals with heartbreak... gosh, so many options to choose from: )

(I Will Rot Without You - Danger Slater)

Book 14 was applied against "We Walk", because the main character walked (or hitchhiked) everywhere. And man did he end up a lot of places!

(Brown Bottle - Sheldon Lee Compton)

Book 15 was totally a one sitting reading. I finished it, cover to cover, in two and a half hours! So I crossed off "Until the Day is Done".

(Marigold - Troy James Weaver)

Book 16 neatly fit under "Just a Touch" in which the author used multiple formats to tell the stories. He had screenplays, emails, and handwritten notes as well as your usual storytelling.

(The Bohemian Guide to Monogamy - Andrew Armacost)

Book 17 was easy. The title is Your Sick, so I used it against "You're in the Air" - a book with Your or You're in the title.

(Your Sick - Colen,Guess,Magee)

Book 18 could have fit in a bunch of places. The two main characters were waiting for something, it was a book by an author I hadn't heard of, it takes place primarily outside, but the task I used it against was "Gardening at Night" - takes place primarily at night. And the song title itself is actually kind of perfect for this book as well!

(Noctuidae - Scott Nicolay)

Book 19 fits in a couple of tasks too. Ain't that a kick in the teeth. I can go with a book written by a female author, a book with an animal in the title, a book by an author I've never heard of before, or a book about pain and loss.

I'm going to use it against.... "Hyena" - book with an animal in the title.

(Paper Tigers - Damien Angelica Walters)

Book 20 fit it nicely with the task "Wanderlust" - where the character is running away from something.

(I'm From Electric Peak - Bud Smith)

Book 21 was "Strange" indeed!

(Bangface and the Gloryhole - Andrew Hilbert)

Book 22 was a tough one to place. It could have fit with the tasks that relate to young protagonists or friends, but I placed it against "Houston" because it's set in Washington DC. I think that qualifies as a big city, don't you: )

(Thursday 1:17pm - Michael Landweber)

Book 23 could have been used against "Stand" or "Turn You Inside Out", but it was so littered with the F word that I HAD to use it against "Star Me Kitten".

(The North Water - Ian McGuire)

Book 24 was an easy one to place. "Tongue" - a book with a body part in the title: )

(Your Glass Head Against the Brick Parade of Now Whats - Sam Pink)

Book 25 was a no brainer. I don't often read books that have their own maps, and this one did, so hello "Maps and Legends"!

(Lost Everything - Brian Francis Slattery)

Lori wrote: "Book 21 was" Strange "indeed!

(Bangface and the Gloryhole - Andrew Hilbert) "
That's quite a title!

Hahhaa. I know, right?

Book 26 was another no-brainer. The book is about a shit ton of people over the course of 100 years all searching for the same cursed jewel in Death Valley.

So Texarkana it is!

(The Juliet - Laura Ellen Scott)

Book 27 was a toss up between Turn You Inside Out (a book about dishonesty) or E Bow the Letter (a book about two BFF's)

I ended up going with E Bow because I'm not sure how many more books I might read about two best friends...

(Marrow Island - Alexis M Smith)

Book 28 was easy to place. It takes place in the old west so How The West Was Won it is....

(Pig Iron - David James Keaton)

Book 29 was a kickass choose your own adventure that was written in second person. So YOU it is.

(Super Giant Monster Time - Jeff Burk)