in which amy and roger's epic detour is told through awesome playlists

so, i recently read a really great book - amy & roger's epic detour, by morgan matson. it's about two people who drive cross-country while deviating from a pre-planned route. it's also about grief, loss, friendship and learning how to move on. although mostly told from amy's perspective, the story also unfolds through pages from a journal, a report card, excerpts from meaningful books, receipts, postcards, emails, travel brochures, and sketches.



what's this have to do with music, you may be asking? well, much to my delight, the story is also told through seven of roger's (and, eventually, three of amy's) handwritten music playlists sprinkled throughout their journey.

an excerpt:

"You ready to put on some of your music?" Roger asked, as his mix started over again.

"That's okay," I said. My suspicions that Roger didn't like musicals had been confirmed when I'd seen his playlist. He seemed to like the kind of music that the in-the-know people at school always seemed to be talking about, the kinds of bands with names that didn't even sound like real names at all. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin? That was a band? A real band, with fans other than Roger? So I had a feeling he wasn't going to be into my selection of Jason Robert Brown and Elvis. And I wasn't listening to Elvis anymore, anyway."

side note: when i read this passage to the husband, he said, "god, i love that band." and then, "you just read a book that mentioned someone still loves you, boris yeltsin?" which was sort of funny, and semi-proved amy's pov.

anyway, i was delighted to discover that roger had excellent taste in music - sprinkled throughout his playlists were many favorites, including frightened rabbit and the national (good arms vs. bad arms and fake empire respectively, hooray!), plus band of horses, neko case, owl city, vampire weekend, calexico/iron & wine, bee lee, the new pornographers, phoenix, and jose gonzalez. and, i know it's bizarre, but knowing these playlists really allowed me to enjoy the book further - because i'm one of those sorts who relates most life experiences to music, and to have that soundtrack in my head as amy and roger progressed across the country really helped me understand their frames of mind.

so today, i'm not only encouraging you to go out and read this fab book, but i'm also sharing a song from the first of roger's playlists (or, as listed in the book, "Leaving California" aka "Hitting the Road" aka "Snacks Are Important, But Not Quite as Important as Tunes" - amen, roger): vanilla twilight by owl city. applicable to both roger and amy's situations, this song, while light sounding, really strips loss down to the bone.

the stars lean down to kiss you
and i lay awake and miss you
pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere
because i'll doze off safe and soundly
but i'll miss your arms around me
i'd send a postcard to you, dear
because i wish you were here

i'll watch the night turn light blue
but it's not the same without you
because it takes two to whisper quietly

the silence isn't so bad
until i look at my hands and feel sad
because the spaces between my fingers
are right where yours fit perfectly

i'll find repose in new ways
though i haven't slept in two days
because cold nostalgia chills me to the bone
but drenched in vanilla twilight
i'll sit on the front porch all night
waist-deep in thought because when i think of you
i don't feel so alone

as many times as i blink i'll think of you tonight
i'll think of you tonight

when violet eyes get brighter
and heavy wings grow lighter
i'll taste the sky and feel alive again
and i'll forget the world that i knew
but i swear i won't forget you

oh, if my voice could reach back through the past
i'd whisper in your ear
"oh darling, i wish you were here"

(mp3) vanilla twilight by owl city

check out a fanmade trailer for amy & roger's epic detour:



buy amy & roger's epic detour by morgan matson HERE. buy ocean eyes, the album vanilla twilight is off of, HERE.