Monday, February 9, 2015

An '80's Mixtape List, in Honor of Eleanor and Park

Here's what you need to know about Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.  It's a young adult novel set in the 1980's.  You will meet two bright, creative high school kids who find each other:  the bold and defiant Eleanor, who comes from a deeply troubled family, and the sweet and sensitive Park, who comes from a loving Korean-American family.  You will glimpse first love again from this book, with all the messy feelings and complications that come with it.  You will remember the 1980's.  You will think of mixtapes and the music of your own youth.

With all of this said, I made a mixtape list from my 1980's years: 

  1. "Someday, Someway" (Marshall Crenshaw)
  2. "Every Day I Write the Book" (Elvis Costello)
  3. "Swan Swan H" (REM)
  4. "Hounds of Love" (Kate Bush) 
  5. Behind the Wall of Sleep" (The Smithereens)
  6. "Tenderness" (General Public)
  7. "True" (Spandau Ballet)
  8. "Raspberry Beret" (Prince)
  9. "You Spin Me Round" (Dead or Alive)
  10. "Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order)
  11. "Tainted Love" (Soft Cell)
  12. "Tempted" (Squeeze)
  13. "Oh L'Amour" (Erasure)
  14. "Here Comes the Rain Again" (Eurythmics)
  15. "When U Were Mine" (Cyndi Lauper)
  16. "Desperate But Not Serious" (Adam Ant)
  17. "Let's Dance" (David Bowie)
  18. "Under the Milky Way" (The Church)
  19. "Time Clock of the Heart" (Culture Club)
  20. "I Melt With You" (Modern English)
I would love to hear from you in the comments - thoughts on Eleanor and Park, thoughts about '80's music, about mixtapes ...

10 comments:

Unknown said...

This sounds like a novel I would enjoy. I love your soundtrack picks. Those were the good old music days.

ricci said...

Ok, I have seen Eleanor and Park floating around for a while now and not read it. You have just made me want to run out ASAP and get it so I can read it! I love anything 80's based so this sounds perfect!

ricci said...

Ok, I have seen Eleanor and Park floating around for a while now and not read it. You have just made me want to run out ASAP and get it so I can read it! I love anything 80's based so this sounds perfect!

Mikki said...

I haven't read this book, but have heard of it. Sounds like fun!
And seeing I'm an 80's kid myself.. I loved all these music choices.

When I clean my house, I love to put the 80's mix on from Pandora and just laugh and dance.. what crazy music there was!

Unknown said...

You had me at 80's love story! This looks like a great read! I love 80's music and the soundtrack it right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation, I'm putting it on my reading list.

Bob Gilliland said...

It does sound like a fun book.

Great mix tape choices! I don't think I could make just one: 80s pop, 80s rock, 80s college radio, etc...

Bob Gilliland said...

It sounds like an interesting book.

Great mix tape list. I don't think I could make a single list, too many choices. 80s pop, 80s rock, 80s college radio, etc...

Donna said...

I almost started this book today! Maybe tomorrow.

Mary Hill said...

I loved mixtapes. I used to create my own. This sounds like a great novel. Thanks for sharing at Literacy Musing Mondays.

Birdhouse Books said...

Thanks for the visits and comments. I like young adult fiction, and the '80's setting made it even more appealing.

Nice to know there are other fans of '80's music out there too! I listen to the new wave channel on SiriusXM a lot.

Trish