In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Hanif Abdurraqib, Andrew Sean Greer, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Nicole Nelson’s novel Family Language is a powerful debut that explores the power of language.
Publishers Weekly wrote of the book:
“Bracing debut. . . the novel offers a credible depiction of her double bind as a woman, showing in many scenes how she faces societal pressures to become a mother even as she sees how motherhood has scuttled the careers of her colleagues. This is worth a look.””
In her own words, here is Nicole Nelson’s Book Notes music playlist for her debut novel Family Language:
My novel Family Language explores the challenges and expectations piled on a woman who faces overnight motherhood. The main character, an academic linguist on the verge of tenure, has to make unwanted choices about parenting after an accident orphans her six-year-old nephew.
As a linguist myself, and a musician also, communication through music feels natural and necessary. These playlist entries offer touches of the novel’s setting, tone, emotion, and character dynamics.
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
I do not endorse the world view offered in this song, but it best represents the background world that Mona, the protagonist, must constantly push against in her effort to self-actualize. Despite detesting Sinatra’s lyrics, Mona can appreciate his artistry.
“Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Edith Piaf
Mona’s full-throated response to Sinatra’s patriarchy.
“Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega
Along with her ambition, Mona’s traits include intellectualization and observation, like the photographer who is the subject of Vega’s song.
“Dreamland” by the B52s
A tragedy brings Miles into Mona and her husband’s lives. The loss of those characters is filtered through Mona’s poor relationship with both them and her own coolness. The heartbreak of what has happened, though, along with its impact on her family, looms in the background.
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
The tune may be a bit of a chestnut, but the whimsical ukulele accompaniment paired with the earnest longing makes it apt for the scene where Miles performs it for a showcase at school.
Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
This piece appears in the book, played in Mona’s car. Mozart usually wrote in major keys. This one is an exception; I love the optimism that escapes from the from the context of minor-key somberness. This tension resonates with Mona’s struggle to do right both by her nephew and by herself.
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke
This song exudes love for the sound of words. In that way, it encapsulates Mona’s passion about the musicality and pleasures of playing and working with language.
Nicole Nelson earned her MFA from Bennington Writing Seminars. Her work has appeared in The Masters Review Blog, Literary Mama, Fiction Writers Review, and elsewhere. For several years, she was a co-host of the podcast “Writers on Writing.” She also holds a PhD in linguistics from Rutgers.