One of my favorite books is Audrey Niffenegger‘s The Time Traveler’s Wife. If you haven’t read it, here is a short review of the book so you’ll understand my song choices better.This is a really fun read that will engage your brain while reading. At its heart, this book is basically about the romance and marriage of Henry and Clare. However, they have one big obstacle that both enhances and disrupts their relationship. Although Clare lives her life in the more “normal” way (by progressing through time linearly), Henry is a bit different. Henry was born with a genetic disorder (Chrono Displacement) that causes him to jump back and forth through time randomly. He can’t really control where and when he goes, but his time travel is limited to events, people and place that happen in his regular “linear” life. They meet when Clare is just a child and the grown-up Henry literally “pops” into her life. They form a relationship that changes as Clare ages and meets the grown-up Henry in real “linear” life (but of course he doesn’t know who she is because in his linear life, he hasn’t met her yet). I hope this makes sense; if it doesn’t, the book may not either. This is a “high concept” book that is executed in an interesting and fun way. The book’s narration alternates between Clare and Henry and jumps around throughout in time–just like their own relationship. You have to keep on your toes when reading, but the author does a brilliant job of putting everything together in a satisfying way. You get to experience their relationship in much the same way as Henry and Clare–getting a piece of the puzzle here, another piece there. Besides the time travel element, the book is a wonderful romance with depth and emotion. I must admit I cried at the end. This was one of the most interesting and satisfying books I’ve ever read.

“The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture ShowYou had to expect this, didn’t you? Of course it had to be the lead song on my soundtrack!

It’s astounding, time is fleeting Madness takes its toll But listen closely, not for very much longer I’ve got to keep control It’s so dreamy, oh fantasy free me So you can’t see me, no not at all In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention Well-secluded, I see all With a bit of a mind flip You’re there in the time slip And nothing can ever be the same You’re spaced out on sensation, like you’re under sedation Let’s do the Time Warp again!

“Once In A Lifetime” by The Talking Heads Whenever Henry travels through time, he never knows if he is going forward or backward or where he will end up (and he always ends up naked when he time travels). Sometimes, he doesn’t know where he is or what is going on around him. I think this song captures that feeling perfectly.

And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Ray Charles (lyrics by Cole Porter) I really wanted the version of this song by Annie Lennox but I couldn’t locate it easily so I’m going with Mr. Charles’s version.) This song captures the emotions that Clare feels when Henry disappears. When they are married, Henry can sometimes disappear for days at a time and then suddenly return in a terrible state. The hardship of loving Henry is very difficult for Clare, and I think this song captures what she feels whenever Henry vanishes.

Every time we say goodbye I die a little Every time we say goodbye I wonder why a little Why the gods above me Who must be in the know Think so little to me They allow you to go

“Across the Universe” by a little group called The Beatles (maybe you’ve heard of them?) I just think this song captures the melancholy feeling of Henry’s time travel — as well as the pull of love between Henry and Clare that keep bringing them together throughout time.

Sounds of laughter shades of earth Are ringing through my open views Inciting and inviting me Limitless undying love Which shines around me like a million suns It calls me on and on across the universe

“Clocks” by Coldplay This is another song that just fits the sentiments and feel of the book so closely. Henry questions and even tries to cure his condition and wonders why he is afflicted with this disease. And he is constantly trying to make his way to Clare — struggling to find her amidst the confusion of time travel. The entire song could be Henry singing to Clare. Seriously, listen to this song and tell me that Chris Martin didn’t write it about this book.

Confusion that never stops The closing walls and the ticking clocks Gonna come back and take you home I could not stop, that you now know Singing come out upon my seas Cursed missed opportunities Am I part of the cure Or am I part of the disease

“Birthday” by The Sugarcubes This is a weird little song that I’ve always like for some reason, and the reason I’m picking it for this soundtrack is because Henry and Clare first meet when she is a child and he is a man. They form a close friendship over the years as she grows up, which eventually turns into romantic love. There is a bit of that kind of relationship in this song in the friendship between a young girl and an older man. In addition, Clare lives in a big house and she and Henry always meet in the woods surrounding it, which seems fitting for this song as well.

She lives in this house over there Has her world outside it Scrapples in the earth with her fingers and her mouth She’s five years old Thread worms on a string Keeps spiders in her pocket Collects fly wings in a jar Scrubs horse flies And pinches them on a line Ohhh… She has one friend, he lives next door They’re listenening to the weather He knows how many freckles she’s got She scratches his beard

If you are interested in hearing any or all of the songs on my soundtrack, here is a little playlist for you to enjoy. (To navigate to all the songs, you may have to click on Pop Out Player as Blogger is cutting off part of the player.) I actually love all these songs, and I think I will add this playlist to my iPod and think of this book whenever I play it. This was so fun to do! If you decide to do this challenge, I would love to see what you come up with! And if you read this book, what do you think of my soundtrack?