Ian S. Maloney’s South Brooklyn Exterminating is a captivating debut, a working class novel that immediately earned a place on my list of favorite NYC books.
Charles Bock wrote of the book:
“Ian Maloney has written a book that is at once steeped in tradition and wholly original…There are hints of Joyce and Selby and Yates in this prose. There is the violent orchestra of the American dream in these pages. South Brooklyn Exterminating is the graceful debut of a true American stylist.”
In his own words, here is Ian S. Maloney’s Book Notes music playlist for his debut novel South Brooklyn Exterminating:
In South Brooklyn Exterminating, I take readers back to the 1980s and 1990s in New York City, with my father and son exterminators working routes throughout the five boroughs. Music runs throughout the book, as you can see from the opening chapter. CBS FM provided a lot of the background noise in the book, so there are a few 1950s and ’60s hits which make their way into this list. I’m also a product of the 1990’s so a lot of the music I turned to throughout its composition provides a nod back to Grunge music.
Much of my novel takes place on NYC streets and highways, so I pulled on a lot of music which reminds me of the road with my dad, James J. Maloney. His tastes in music were always eclectic and shifting, so my playlist provides much of the same, jumping from songs in the book, throughout my life with him, and from my time writing this book. Some of my selections are referenced directly in chapters; others played on in the soundtrack of my mind as I was stitching it together. A lot of these songs pull me to specific times and places during the novel’s composition. Some of these songs move me to tears, thinking back on my dad’s life and the difficulties we faced together.
Music helped me to weather the storms of this autofiction story of fathers and sons, and I know I will continue to use music with new writing projects and genres as I move forward.
Star Wars (Main Theme)—John Williams and London Symphony Orchestra
Right from the opening chapter, Star Wars plays a key role in my lead character’s imagination and his desire to venture off into different places, particularly as he’s working on a plane in the middle of night at Kennedy Airport. My family laughs, or cringes, at this, but Dad took me to see the film when I was 2 years old.
Raiders March / From the Indiana Jones-Soundtrack to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”—John Williams Greatest Hits 1969-1999.
When I needed an immediate boost, Williams’ music always provided a lift. This was my favorite adventure film as a kid. Plus, Jonah mentions Raiders a few times during the novel, as he considers his options for Halloween costumes. Still was my favorite of all my Halloween costumes, but my parents wouldn’t let me have a real whip.
Sweet Baby James—James Taylor
As I wrote the first draft, I had this song on in the background, thinking of my dad, who passed away in 2008. Dad loved the Berkshires and wanted to retire there. Never got the chance. Whenever I hear this one, I consider him the cowboy living on the range, with his deep greens and blues as colors of choice. “There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway/ A song that they sing when they take to the sea/ Song that they sing of their home in the sky/ Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep/ But singing works just fine for me.” Those lines made the writing, my way to sing, come alive and kept me going to conclusion. Wasn’t a time that I didn’t tear up listening to this song and thinking about my travels with my own dad, Sweet Baby James Maloney.
Even Flow—Pearl Jam
Grind—Alice in Chains
Territorial Pissings—Nirvana
Pretty Noose—Soundgarden
I chose these four songs for a variety of reasons—they all come from Grunge albums which resonated with me during my teenage and early college years. There’s a lot of angst and rebellion here, and the need to keep grinding and keep balancing extremes. Here’s a sample of lyrics from each one:
“Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies…Oh, someday yet, he’ll begin his life again.”
“Hear a sound from a voice inside.”
“Gotta find a way, a better way, I’d better wait.”
“And I don’t like what you got me hanging from”
Cherub Rock—Smashing Pumpkins
I used to play this before mixed martial arts workouts/sparring and during difficult writing sections. Song always provides an immediate energy boost for me from the opening drums to the first guitar chords. Intensity just keeps building here and helps me break free of blocks. “Let me out, let me out…”
Killing in the Name—Rage Against the Machine
A lot of people along the way advised me to ditch this story, and it took a lot for me not to take a safer route with this novel. When I needed a song to vent against conformity and fight against the status quo, this was it: “And now you do what they told ya” to “Fuck you, I won’t do what you told me.”
Pressure—Billy Joel
This could be the whole of Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits, Volume 1 and 2, especially with songs like “Only the Good Die Young” and “New York State of Mind.” At one point, when Dad and I were driving across country, those albums played on a loop when we couldn’t find a radio station besides gospel music and fire and brimstone sermons. This song captures a lot of the tension in our house and on the road, especially as things start to bubble over and finances got tighter and tighter.
Everyday—Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was a hero of my father’s, and he told me a lot about his death and legacy, so he made his way into the book. This song always made Dad introspective, like life was moving faster and faster, and he wanted to return to simpler times. “Love like yours will surely come my way.”
American Pie—Don McLean
I allude to this song directly in the chapter “Bliss” as the characters shuffle between basement rat jobs. Dad loved to sing along to this one and it makes me consider his passing. “But something touched me deep inside/The day the music died.”
I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair—South Pacific (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
In “Windups” Richard walks around the Yacht Club singing this song merrily to himself, as Jonah and Jim inspect trapped mice in the fireplace. I loved the disconnect created here, since the image in this chapter wouldn’t be washed away or forgotten anytime soon.
Ventura Highway and A Horse with No Name—America
These two songs always reminded Dad of his life out on the road, during his trips out to California in the late ’60s and early ’70s. That was when he left Brooklyn at 17, seeking something out west. These songs reminded him of that adventurous time in his life. Both songs were frequently played during weekend trips to visit family in New Jersey.
Forever in Blue Jeans—Neil Diamond
My mom and sister always linked this song to Dad. Jimmy Maloney wore blue jeans every day. Literally. Lyrics held some truth to his outlook on life: “Money talks/ But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk/ And long as I can have you here with me/ I’d much rather be forever in blue jeans.”
Ring of Fire—Johnny Cash
At a critical point in my life, I didn’t think I’d get out of my own way and get this book into print. Cash’s song captures where I was at that moment, struggling to find my voice and keeping the important pieces of my life together, as the flames rose higher and higher.
Hurt—Nine Inch Nails
For some time, I suffered with this story and yet the pain of the memories kept me going. “I hurt myself today/ To see if I still feel…Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair…Everyone I know/ Goes away in the end.”
Breakout—Foo Fighters
As I neared the end of this book’s journey, Foo Fighters gave me the needed energy to dig a little deeper and break myself out of writer’s block, self-doubts, and writing ruts I’d dug myself into. The energy of this song always got my creativity going. And the message of being frayed around the ends and needing to blast off and breakout has always stuck with me. Always will.
Something Just Like This—The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
My wife and I heard this song at our favorite hangout in Inwood, Manhattan, and it stayed with us, as we fell in love, and as I pitched this book near and far. “I’ve been reading books of old, the legends and the myths/ Achilles and his gold, Hercules and his gifts/Spider-Man’s control and Batman with his fists/ And clearly, I don’t myself upon that list…But she said, Where d’you wanna go? How much you wanna risk?/ I’m not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts/ Some superhero, some fairytale bliss/ Just something I can turn to, somebody I can kiss.”
It worked for both of us.
Still Breathing—Green Day
Many years ago, during a concert at Jones Beach, Green Day drummer Tre Cool motioned for me to come over and grab a beer with him. Like a dork, I responded, “Yes, I will!” Well, for some time their music has been a punk balance to my grunge proclivities from 2000 Light Years Away through their breakout album Dookie to the present. The lyrics of this song always stuck with me: “Am I bleeding? / Am I bleeding from the storm?/ Just shine a light into the wreckage…’Cause I’m still breathing on my own/ My head’s above the rain and roses/ Making my way away (my way to you)” SBE shines light into some wreckage, but it’s helped me find my way forward in the process.
Symphony No 1, Titan—Gustav Mahler.
Totally different track here, but my favorite symphony of all time. I love the shifts in this symphony, for it blends joyful movements of nature with darker funeral procession themes. Ultimately joy and sorrow learn to coexist in this symphony, and the finale with its stormy emotions concludes with exuberant victory jubilation. The range of this work provided a lot of inspiration for my hero’s journey in the book, to find his way to his calling in life.
Ian S. Maloney grew up in Marine Park, Brooklyn, where he worked as a NYS Pest Control Technician. He is currently Professor of Literature, Writing, and Publishing at St. Francis College, Director of the Jack Hazard Fellowship for the New Literary Project, and Contributor at Vol. 1 Brooklyn. Ian serves on the Literary Council for the Brooklyn Book Festival and on the Board for the Walt Whitman Initiative.