There’s a lot of books I read before I started this blog in June of 2010 and I figured it might be fun to spotlight those! They won’t be an actual review because OMG YOU GUYS THAT WAS SO LONG AGO but I’ll just note a few things about it, if I enjoyed it and what my Goodreads rating was. So thus “Before I Blogged I Read…” was born. Because you know…I’m so original with my names for things. Check out PAST “Before I Blogged I Read” posts.
Love Is A Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
(Amazon | Goodreads )
Rating: I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads
Date I Read it: September 21, 2008
1. It’s a memoir written by Rob Sheffield who writes for Rolling Stone magazine and tells the story of his love story and his loss when his wife suddenly passed away after only 5 years of being married.
2. Music plays a huge part in this book — he talks about his discovery of music, how music brought he and his wife together, their shared love of music and how music helped him through it. Their is a mix tape at the beginning of each chapter and, as someone who appreciates the power of a mix tape and music in general, I loved this. If you know the power of a song or a good mix, you’ll really love this.
3. I cried like a baby for him and thought about my own loss in my life with my mom and how music played such a powerful role be it in memories of certain songs, words that spoke to my soul and how, in my life, music has carried me through the good and the bad.
4. It was a beautifully sad, yet hopeful, true story to read and I really connected to how he spoke of love and loss and music. There were so many lines that I remember writing down in my quote notebook.
5. I also got to meet him and we talked about our own losses and I told him how I can never listen to Meatloaf without immediately thinking of my mom and he wrote me an incredibly awesome message in my book because of that that will always be special to me. He’s honestly a fabulous person and that made me feel so much more of a connection to his story getting the chance to have talked to him after I read it.
Favorite Quotes:
“The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mix tape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life.”
“Tonight, I feel like my whole body is made out of memories. I’m a mix-tape, a cassette that’s been rewound so many times you can hear the fingerprints smudged on the tape.”
“Our lives were just beginning, our favorite moment was right now, our favorite songs were unwritten.”
Have any of you read this one? Did you like it/not like it? Can you recommend any other memoirs or great books for music lovers?
Lily says
Jamie I love this post! I love how your highlighting books you read before you started your blog and it seems this book (and the message written inside it) have a special place on your heart! I’m a huge music person and I can honestly say music plays a large role in my life and helping me deal everything I go through, I think I may just look for this one in my library!
Jamie says
Thanks Lily! I feel like I read so many books before blogging (some that are my absolute faves to this day) so why not highlight them? This book (and definitely his message) has definitely a special place in my heart. I hope you end up reading it! It’s really short and quick but does a number on ya! haha
Ivy says
Thanks for sharing! I love how even though the details of a book may fade in memory, the emotional connection lasts, at least with a good one. This has been on my TBR list forever. Definitely will check out soon.
Jamie says
YES! It’s funny how some of the books I read years ago I can’t remember for the life of me but others are SO VIVID. Let me know what you think when you get to it!
Tara says
Oh my gosh, I probably can’t remember half the books I read before blogging! I know I read a lot more variety and definitely at a slower pace, but now you have me wanting to dig back into my archives. <3 this feature!
Jamie says
I realize what a godsend Goodreads really was when I joined it back in 2008. I never use to be able to remember but now I can see what I read and remember some things! And YES…I def read at a slower pace too.
Christa says
I’ve always been really curious about this book because I love the cover and the title. It sounds like such a fun yet touching read!
DannyBookworm says
I actually think this is a fantastic idea!!!!! Highlighting books out enjoyed before you started blogging. There are tons of awesome books I also read before and I loved them for a reason!!
Love is a mix tape sounds cute!!!
Anna says
oh my! I read this book last year (actually I didn’t finisht it). I don’t know why, because i LOVE pop culture (check out Chuck Klosterman, hilarious!) but I couldn’t get into this one, but maybe I was not in the mood, so I after your review I’ve decided to try again!
Kelley (Another Novel Read) says
Aww, those quotes are just lovely! And they make me think of my husband so much; he and I often make playlists (the mix-tapes of today, I guess) for and with each other. <3
I also really like this feature, highlighting books you read before you started blogging. I was thinking recently that I want do something similar, since I started blogging so recently, but I'm still not sure how I want to go about it. In any case, I love this post! So glad I found your blog. 🙂
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) says
I didn’t know you started in June of 2010. That’s only two months before I started. Woooo! Our blogs are almost three years old. Ahhhhh!
Also, I’ve never heard of this book and I’m off to add it. 🙂
Ashley says
I know I tell you this a lot, but you really continue to be the cutest. And yes, adding this to my TBR list.
Alexa Y. says
Whoa! I’ve never heard of this book, but I think I want to read it now. It sounds really good! I love that music is a HUGE part of it, as I always love it when that’s incorporated into a book.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) says
What a great post! I’ve never heard of this book, but I love your story about meeting the author. Signed books are great, but with such a personalization would make them greater. I like the idea of sharing books you read before blogging … I’d love to do the same, but I feel like I wouldn’t remember any of them!
Shannon says
I really love this idea! I’ve always been curious about this book, because I’m a big music geek, too. High Fidelity is my favorite book for music lovers – if you haven’t read it, it’s an absolute must!
Laurie C says
I think I looked for this book on audio and never found it, and then forgot about it. Great idea to post about older reads!
Stephanie Sinclair says
This sounds like such a great book, Jamie. I can tell I’d have to be in the right frame of mind to read it, as it’ll probably bring back memories of my little brother. I love those special books that just *get* you, ya know? I’ll def. be checking this one out one day.
Brie @ Eat Books says
Ohhh, I bought this book years ago when I was in an airport, yet it sits on my bookshelf unread 🙁 I must rectify this soon!! I loved this style of “review”.
Cassie says
I’d never even heard of this til this post. A- LOVE that cover! B-love the pic 😉
and i’m so glad you featured this because though i’ve never read a memoir, this sounds like just the one to pop that cherry with! I’m so glad it resonated with you and that you and the author connected <3
Olena says
I’ve never heard of this book before, but your unique review has made me want to go out and get it now. I can tell that it’s going to be one of those books won’t leave you after you’re done reading it and I know I’ll be shedding some tears as I read it. Great review and the way that you featured it! 🙂 Good idea on talking about older reads.
Anna says
Dude. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Also a pre-blogging read. So happy to be reminded of it again!
Leticia (@osoordinary) says
I will definitely be reading this! Added to my TR shelf on Goodreads! Sounds like it’s great! Music is such a universal language! 🙂
Kim says
I ordered this book upon reading your review =) Like books, music has the ability to affect me and make me feel less alone in my feelings. That’s awesome that you were touched by this book on such a personal level.
Have you read How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie Debartolo? It’s another book (fiction) about love, loss and music. The author is the co-founder of a successful independent music label (acts include The Wombats) and is an AMAZING writer. I swear, I have the e-book and paperback version of this book and it’s filled with countless highlights (even the paperback), notes and sticky tabs. I hope you get the chance to read and review it. If you do, I recommend avoiding reviews because of a plot twist that you would NOT want to read spoilers of.
Danielle says
I just met Rob last weekend at a signing for his newest book, Turn Around Bright Eyes, so it was awesome to find this review on your page! I love Rob and his writing! He is such a down to earth awesome guy, which obviously you know! haha! 🙂 Great review! xoxo!
Chrystal @ Snowdrop Dreams of Books says
I read this book on my honeymoon in Mexico. And I cried too. I really do need to write a review about it someday soon. And the first quote you put in the post is a favourite and absolutely true.
There are times that I hear a song and it reminds me of my Mom and I just break down bawling and other times a song will make me smile and remember how much she loved me. I think music has a way of bringing people together and of helping us remember good times.
Thanks for reminding me about this book. I think it might just need to be a reread in 2014 for me.