Bret Easton Ellis is an author who needs little introduction. For the past twenty years he has fascinated, impressed, and sometimes scared his readers with fine-tuned skill. His latest novel, Lunar Park, features himself as a character, fighting psychological and supernatural powers while defending his family. Lunar Park is hands-down my favorite novel of the year. The book's website contains an excerpt, an interview with the author, and even a game.

Bret Easton Ellis was kind enough to send along a list of music that influenced the book, a "list of songs and CD's that were in my head when writing the book." Many of these tracks are mentioned in the book as well.

"Fly Me to the Moon"--Frank Sinatra
"Late For the Sky"--Jackson Browne
"Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"--Elton John
"Someone Saved My Life Tonight"--Elton John
"Life in the Fast Lane"--Eagles
"Life's Been Good To Me"--Joe Walsh
"Everyday I Write The Book"--Elvis Costello
"Witchy Woman"--Eagles
"Thriller"--Michael Jackson
"Haunted"--Poe
"Evil Woman"--ELO
"Thunder Island"--Jay Ferguson
"Shining Light"--Ash
"Rhiannon"--Fleetwood Mac
"The Monster Mash"--Boris Puckett and The Cryptkickers
"Pet Semetary"--Ramones
"Bonzo Goes to Bitburg"--Ramones
"I'll Be You"--The Replacements
"You're So Vain"--Carly Simon
"The Drugs Don't Work"--The Verve
"Movies of Myself"--Rufus Wainwright
"I Don't Know What It Is"--Rufus Wainwright
The Jayhawks
"Someone To Lay Down Beside Me"--Linda Ronstadt
"A House Is Not A Home"--Mavis Staples
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"--The Walker Brothers
"Fake Plastic Trees"--Radiohead
"Rocket Man"--Elton John
"All Kinds of Time"--Fountains of Wayne
"Everything"--Alanis Morissette
"Midnight In Chelsea"--Jon Bon Jovi
"The Blowers Daughter"--Damien Rice
"Red Light Fever"--Liz Phair
"Breakaway"--Kelly Clarkson
"Desperadoes Under the Eaves"--Warren Zevon
"Sleeper Awake"--John Wesley Harding
Gattaca--soundtrack
Casino--soundtrack
Tommy--The Who
The Ego Has Landed--Robbie Williams
"Friday Night Is Killing Me"--Bash and Pop
"Inside of Love"--Nada Surf
"The Heart of the Matter"--Don Henley
The Rising--Bruce Springsteen
"Somewhere Only We Know"--Keane
"The Way We Were"--Barbra Streisand
"Bright Lights"--Matchbox 20
"The Whole of the Moon"--The Waterboys
"Pain Killer (Summer Rain)"--Turin Brakes
"This Is the Sea"--The Waterboys
"Better Things"--The Kinks
"What I Go To School For"--Busted
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"--Darlene Love
"Run"--Snow Patrol
"Miss You"--Blink 182
"Goodbye To Love"--The Carpenters
"Message To Michael"--Dionne Warwick
"Fairy Tale of New York"--The Pogues
"Waiting"--The Devlins
"Hasten Down the Wind"--Warren Zevon
"Carmelita"--Warren Zevon
"The French Inhaler"--Warren Zevon
"One"--U2
"I Can't Make It Alone"--Maria McKee
"The Pretender"--Jackson Browne

Previous Book Notes submissions:

Tom Piazza
Alix Ohlin
Steve Amick
Colleen Curran
Chuck Klosterman
Quinn Dalton
Lee Martin
Dallas Hudgens
George Pelecanos
Tom Bissell

first published at Largehearted Boy

tags: books music