andy: a few that leap to mind: ellison 'invisible man' (which has some explicit references to music & jazz; but also affords the wonderful opportunity to have any students read this book!) anything by milan kundera, especially 'immortality' and 'the book of laughter and forgetting' (he knows music and has some thoughtful observations about music/musicians) albert murray's 'the seven league boots' got props in the late 90's but i have to confess that it did less than a little for me. music (blues & jazz especially) permeate the mostly awesome work of amiri baraka (aka leroi jones). i'm sure there are some other great examples, but there's a start. peace. sean -----Original Message----- From: Miller, James Andrew (UMC-Student) [mailto:jam189@mizzou.edu] Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 1:02 PM To: zorn-list@mailman.xmission.com Subject: fiction about music or musicians? Zornlist: Here's a question you all might be able to help me with. I'm toying with the idea of 'music in literature' as a topic for a class, and I'm trying to think of substantial fiction that is either about a musician, or about a musical milieu, or a type of music. Some examples of what I mean: Toni Morrison, 'Jazz' Michael Ondaatje, 'Coming Through Slaughter' Oscar Hijuelos, 'The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love' James Baldwin, 'Another Country' (at least the first section) Michael Thelwell, "The Harder They Come" I think Rushdies "Ground Beneath Her Feet" deals with rock music? what about MacInnes, "Absolute Beginners"? The book doesn't have to focus exclusively on music, but it ought to use it in some important way-- for example, Hanif Kureishi's "Buddha of Suburbia" deals with punk/glam at times. Or Langston Hughes' "Not Without Laughter" has some discussion of jazz/blues. Musics and/or literatures other than the US would be a great help. Thanks! Andy Miller