In my attempt to cover more great books, I'm introducing a weekly feature, creatively called Book of the Week. It will be here that I'll highlight a worthy read, one that deserves attention.
For the inaugural post, and in celebration of Black Music Month, I'm recommending SONGS IN THE KEY OF MY LIFE
by Ferentz Lafargue. Yep, the title is a play on Stevie Wonder's opus Songs in the Key of Life. Here's a quick book synopsis: In 2003, young professor Ferentz Lafargue traveled to Paris, where his fiancee, Tricia, declared she wasn't happy with their relationship, ending what he thought was a wonderful engagement. After days of "craying"--"that sorrow-laden blend of crying and praying delivered in perfect pitch by those in mourning"--Ferentz happened upon Stevie Wonder's 1976 classic double album Songs in the Key of Life. Listening to it anew was a healing, a spiritual trip down memory lane, helping him to come to terms with his breakup and reflect on how songs in general have been linked to his life.
I bumped into Lafargue at BookExpo and was glad I did. I've been wanting to read this book since it came out last month and finally got a copy.If you're like me and use music as a soundtrack to your life, you'll enjoy this melodic memoir. It's a quick, enjoyable read, that took me two days to complete.
Lafargue reminisces on how songs like Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen" (don't act like you didn't love that one), the Fugees' "Vocab," and Mary J. Blige's "Real Love," had an impact on his life journey. Lafargue, who received a Ph.D. from Yale and teaches literature in New York, also pays appropriate homage to the genius who is Stevie Wonder. Trust, by the end of the book, you'll want to revisit your music collection.
1. Not to seem petty, but Stevie's Songs In The Key Of Life was released in 1976. I know it's been a long time, but not 230 years :)
Tracy Smith at 12:09PM on Jun 9th 2007