« older | Main Largehearted Boy Page | newer »
April 21, 2022
Caitlin Barasch's Playlist for Her Novel "A Novel Obsession"
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, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Caitlin Barasch's debut novel A Novel Obsession is as engaging as it is insightful.
Kirkus wrote of the book:
"At once a compassionate portrait of someone so desperate for intimacy that she can’t help but sabotage it and an incisive study of female friendship at its most toxic and proprietary, this dread-laden psychological thriller is smart, jarring, and funny.... Propulsive storytelling and an irresistible narrator from a sharp new writer."
In her own words, here is Caitlin Barasch's Book Notes music playlist for her debut novel A Novel Obsession:
A Novel Obsession follows Naomi, a bookseller and aspiring novelist who becomes obsessed with her boyfriend’s ex. She stalks her on social media and in real life, crisscrossing New York City in pursuit, and then, before long, even begins to write about her. The book features complicated female friendships, identity crises, and artistic moral dilemmas; it grapples with the perils of social media performativity and explores why so many of us are compelled to narrativize our lives in an attempt to manufacture meaning.
The below playlist includes some songs that were directly referenced in my novel, songs that evoke the novel’s mood and themes, and songs that simply kept me company as I wrote the book over the course of several years.
“Jolene,” Dolly Parton
This Dolly Parton song is of course a beloved classic; I love it. “Jolene” was on replay during my revision process as I marveled at how it circled the very same themes of my novel. Naomi is fascinated and threatened in equal measure by Rosemary, her boyfriend’s ex, just as the speaker of the song admires and fears Jolene’s influence on the man she loves and longs to keep. And yet, in this song as well in my novel, the narrative focuses solely on the two women and the precarious connection between them.
“Happy,” Julia Michaels
This song pretty much sums up the plot of my novel in three (incredibly catchy) minutes. Naomi’s decision to write about her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend in a sense manifests as self-sabotage, and Julia’s song beautifully explores the sacrifices artists make for their art, often at the expense of their own happiness. Some lyrics:
“And sometimes I think I kill relationships for art
I start up all this shit to watch 'em fall apart
I pay my bills with it, I watch 'em fall apart
Then pay the price for it, I watch 'em fall apart, but
Oh, I just wanna be fucking happy."
“All My Friends,” Dermot Kennedy
This song is referenced directly in my novel. When Naomi’s emotional turmoil reaches a tipping point, and she is poised to make a decision about her romantic future, she plays this song for a healthy dose of soaring angst. Dermot has an aching, resonant voice that feels urgent as you listen to it, like he’s desperate to communicate something to you. I love every single one of his songs— seeing him play at Kings Theater in Brooklyn was a religious experience.
“Creep,” Radiohead
The song’s title seems self-explanatory since Naomi is the queen of creepy behavior (she’s a literal stalker…) but I also love how this song encapsulates her deeper, darker insecurities about not being “special” enough to be loved or even respected; she also wants “control,” and doesn’t “care if it hurts.”
“More Like You,” Orla Gartland
This song captures Naomi’s obsession with Rosemary perfectly, specifically her desire to emulate Rosemary’s confidence, to be “more like” her. It also explores how we perceive others on social media and project a desire for perfection.
“Oh, I heard it from a woman on the internet/
She told me to eat well and try to love myself/
Then maybe I won't wish that I was someone else/”
“Children and Art,” Bernadette Peters
What’s a playlist without some Sondheim? Naomi’s grandmother—who is also a writer—is an important character in my novel, prompting Naomi to ruminate on family legacies, on what we leave behind when we die: children, and art. The song itself is from the show Sunday in the Park with George, which has been on Broadway several times, and since theater is important to Naomi’s family—and mine!—it felt natural to include it here.
“Red River Revel,” Brian Blade Fellowship
So, unfortunately, a very problematic jazz musician character in my book loves Brian Blade—but the song is so damn excellent that the shitty character in my book could never ruin it for me! Brian Blade Fellowship reminds me of red wine and dark cozy underground jazz clubs, aka my favorite type of night out.
“Somebody Else,” The 1975
This might actually be my favorite song. (There’s truly nothing like screaming FUCK THAT, GET MONEY! at the top of your lungs at a concert surrounded by thousands of people screaming the exact same thing). I listened to this song on repeat during every single phase of my writing process, and it continues to get me in the ~mood~. It purports to be about a difficult breakup, and how hard it is to watch someone move on and replace you—even when you don’t necessarily want them back! But still, why should the other person get to be happy with somebody else?
Caitlin Barasch earned her BA from Colorado College and her MFA from New York University. Her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including Catapult, Day One, The Forge, and Hobart. A former bookseller, Caitlin currently teaches creative writing at the Writers Circle. She was born and raised in New York and now lives in Brooklyn. A Novel Obsession is her debut novel.
If you appreciate the work that goes into Largehearted Boy, please consider making a donation.
