The Wolves and Men Playlist Finale

         In my neat and tidy list of 25 songs, I actually had to go back and add one that was certainly influential and must have been removed for reasons that elude me now. So below are the final five, plus the very important number 26, which will undoubtedly be recognized by those who have finished reading the book. 

Blackberry Stone by Laura Marling

Marling makes another appearance due to her enchanting folk style and the conviction with which she tells her story. This song is mysterious, gritty, subdued, and yet passionate. So how specifically did it influence my writing of Wolves and Men? This song made a later appearance in my writing process, and was perhaps only involved in my rounds of editing and fine-tuning, though even those final stages produced a surprising amount of new content. When I play it now I am reminded of Charlotte’s introspective scenes, in which she is struggling to make sense of the real world- a world that is messy and complicated, and a world in which neither our nightmares nor our dreams turn out quite the way we expect them to. It is a song that I think communicates the personal growth in Charlotte’s journey, in which she learns to accept difficult truths and faces them bravely.

The Cave by Mumford and Sons

         Okay, I’m just going to say it: In the movie version of Wolves and Men that plays in my head (indeed, the entire story plays out visually for me and very much like a film), this song is the theme song. And if there was a trailer made to quickly convey the heart and soul of the story, to flash through the key characters and the events that shape them, this song would drive those images. Interestingly enough, this song communicates for me more of Roden's character than any other. And maybe the story was really always about him after all. On that note, I will sneak in a subtle nod to another song on the same album: Sign No More. It isn't on the official playlist, but I like to think that Roden's character is kind of drenched in the tones and lyrics of both of those songs. 

The Wolves by Ben Howard

Ben Howard necessitates a second appearance with this song, which probably comes across as a bit on-the-nose. The lyrics are once again surprising and intriguing, and communicates so much more than the canines that appear in my story. It speaks to me of relationships, both horizontal (man-to-man) and vertical (man-to-God), and does so with a compelling rhythm and energetic drive. Additionally, some of the vocals certainly evoke the impression of howling wolves, which lends the song a primitive and feral tone. As the song plays out, the passion in Howard’s voice increases in desperation, and becomes even more plaintive and more energetic. It is an incredibly dynamic song worth a trial listen. It’s relationship with Wolves and Men is hard to put my finger on, at least in terms of a specific scene or sequence. Looking back, I think the energy and themes that play out in the song sort of permeated the entire narrative of my book. 

Even if I Don’t by Rachael Yamagata

This song, even sung in the deep and sultry tones that are Yamagata’s trademark, conveys the feminine heart of my protagonist, Charlotte. It conveys a crossroad of decisions regarding relationship, romantic connection, and a sense of yearning for things we can’t have. The piano’s melody drives the song and lyrics beautifully and with an energy that makes the tender lyrics all the more interesting. “I miss you most in the morning, most every morning, I wake up crying,” she confides. It is perhaps a song for both the broken-hearted and the wistfully yearning. The song was highly influential in my writing of the last few chapters and my changing the book’s conclusion oh-so-many times.

Shake it Out by Florence+The Machine

This is another energy-driven song with dark, haunting lyrics and riveting melodies carried out beautifully and artistically by the lead singer. When I hear the song, I picture the stormy skies closing in on Willow’s Bend and, yet again, the scene in which Charlotte is running for her life. “It’s always darkest before the dawn,” Welch sings, conveying the very heart of the song. And perhaps this message is the heart of Wolves and Men as well. The song certainly influenced the story’s theme of strength and courage in the face of darkness, and helped me get to the core of Charlotte's character.

Come Softly to Me by The Fleetwoods

This song simply had to be added back into my playlist because it was very specifically mentioned in a crucial scene in the book. In fact, it is playing for Charlotte’s ears in that scene and means a lot to her character. The melody is haunting in its very simplicity and retro purity. It speaks simply of young love and nothing more. Perhaps it is the stark contrast to Charlotte’s story that made it all the more fitting for the scene, and all the more precious to Charlotte in such a crucial moment. 

          This concludes the Wolves and Men Playlist series. I hope it was insightful and allowed you to discover something new and interesting in the realm of music. And of course, I hope it enticed you to read the book if you haven’t yet. As an end note, I should add that I could have included more songs by many of these artists, and I think they're all worthy of your further interest. 

Below is the official list:

The Wolves and Men Playlist

1. Be Brave by The Strange Boys

2. And Then You by Greg Laswell

3. Are You Here by Corinne Bailey Rae

4. So cold by The Dodos

5. Paper Aeroplane by Angus and Julia Stone

6. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's A Shame) by Ray LaMontagne

7. Stay With Me by New Found Land

8. Meet Me By The Water by Rachael Yamagata

9. Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson

10. Into the Wild by LP

11. Ghosts by Laura Marling

12. Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine

13. Was it You by Joy Kills Sorrow

14. Rainy Day Blues by Willie Nelson

15. Let's Forget All The Things That We Say by Julia Stone

16. Bull Black Nova by Wilco

17. Someone To Watch Over Me by Coeur de Pirate (with Ben Charest)

18. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths

19. Yes I'm Cold by Chris Bathgate

20. Old Pine by Ben Howard

21. Blackberry Stone by Laura Marling

22. The Cave by Mumford and Sons

23. The Wolves by Ben Howard

24. Even if I don't by Rachael Yamagata

25. Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine

26. Come Softly To Me by The Fleetwoods

Below is the link to get to the playlist through Spotify:

Wolves and Men

As always, thank you for reading and listening. As I've mentioned on the Wolves and Men facebook page, this week is proof week. We are expecting to receive the proof copy of the Wolves and Men paperback any day now, so that we may evaluate the final product and make any last minute changes. Your prayers for this process would be greatly appreciated, as we continue to make difficult decisions about the production and publication of the novel. 

And just as a reminder, please head to Amazon.com to post your review of the book once you've finished reading. Currently this only applies to the ebook version, of course, but paperback readers will have their day soon! Thank you for your continued support! 

Below is the latest Amazon.com review, from Leah Taylor:

What a great read!! Finished this one in 48 hours!! Natasha definitely has a way of taking you into the story. I felt like I was running through the woods right along side Charlotte! I cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow with her. I felt her pain and heard her laughter through the pages. This book is amazing and I highly recommend it for your next Kindle read! Two thumbs up!

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What favorite book of yours would you like to see made into a film? 

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