Soundtrack Saturday (61)

It's Saturday, and if you're familiar with my blog, you know that means that it's time for Soundtrack Saturday! So anyone who might be new to my blog (or oblivious to this meme) might be thinking, "What on Earth is Soundtrack Saturday?" Soundtrack Saturday is a bookish meme that I created so I could share my love of books and music. Each Saturday, I choose a book and post a playlist full of songs based on the characters, the plot, and the themes in the book.

But that's not all. You can participate, too! I'm inviting all interested book bloggers to participate in this meme! Each week, I'll be posting a linky at the bottom of my post so that you can share your Soundtrack Saturday playlist for other bloggers and blog readers to find.

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine as long as you can create a playlist for it
• Create a full (10+songs) or a mini (four songs) playlist for the book of your choosing
•  For more detailed instructions on the different types of soundtracks and how to make them, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post. It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly meme that was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

The Memory of Things

Title: The Memory of Things

Author: Gae Polisner

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

The powerful story of two teenagers finding friendship, comfort, and first love in the days following 9/11 as their fractured city tries to put itself back together.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, sixteen-year-old Kyle Donohue watches the first twin tower come down from the window of Stuyvesant High School. Moments later, terrified and fleeing home to safety across the Brooklyn Bridge, he stumbles across a girl perched in the shadows. She is covered in ash and wearing a pair of costume wings. With his mother and sister in California and unable to reach his father, a New York City detective likely on his way to the disaster, Kyle makes the split-second decision to bring the girl home. What follows is their story, told in alternating points of view, as Kyle tries to unravel the mystery of the girl so he can return her to her family. But what if the girl has forgotten everything, even her own name? And what if the more Kyle gets to know her, the less he wants her to go home? The Memory of Things tells a stunning story of friendship and first love and of carrying on with our day-to-day living in the midst of world-changing tragedy and unforgettable pain—it tells a story of hope.

The Soundtrack

The Memory of Things took me back to the morning of September 11, 2001 and the days that followed. I was twelve years old at the time, and I remember a lot of the popular music so clearly in my head just because it was a part of my life. I've included a few of the songs that I remember listening to back in 2001, but this soundtrack is also full of songs and artists that the characters listen to. Oh, and of course there are some patriotic songs that came after 9/11 that helped a lot of Americans heal.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book, and I really hope that everyone gives it a chance. I hope that I was able to capture both of the main characters, the time, the setting, and the hope that Gae Polisner presents in The Memory of Things.

They say that music is medicine, so I'm curious... If you remember September 11, 2001, what were some of the songs that you listened to? Some of the songs you listened to before the attacks? Some of the songs that you listened to after the attacks? Are there any songs that gave you hope that we would heal as a nation? Feel free to let me know in the comments. And if you've already read The Memory of Things, feel free to let me know what you think of my soundtrack and how it goes with the book.

How will you remember 9/11 tomorrow? I know that I will do a lot of reflecting and thinking about everything that happened that day. I'm thankful that the family I had in New York left the World Trade Center just minutes before the attack, but I realize that others weren't so lucky. I'm sorrowful for the many people who lost family and friends that day. But I'm proud to be American. I'm glad to say that I saw so many people rise up and prove to the world that we are resilient and tough.