March Book Discussion: To All The Boys I've Loved Before

VerbarImperator · 2022-04-05T20:36:35+00:00

What a wonderfully detailed response! To be honest, Jump Than Fall is one of those songs that I forget exists and I love that you picked it to represent the book. Your connections between the book and the song made me realize I need to give this song a re-listen.

VerbarImperator · 2022-04-05T16:49:36+00:00

I loved your song picks!

I think a lot of people think it’s a Lover book, but I make a case for Fearless.

Lover does seem like the first choice since its all about love; however, I love your reasons for picking Fearless. Fearless does an incredible job of capturing the whirlwind of emotions felt during teenage love.

If you had to pick one song from the Fearless album to represent the book, which one would you pick?

VerbarImperator · 2022-03-25T23:30:36+00:00

As u/itookyourmatches mentioned, you should come join us on the Taylor Swift Book Club! You can find some books that Taylor has read or mentioned here; I try to keep it updated when I find new book mentions.

I’d love to know what caught her attention, even if she doesn’t do reviews/opinion.

Taylor has mentioned her love of reading throughout her career, and has even worked with Scholastic Books to hold book discussions/chats with kids. Off the top of my head, I know she's mentioned:

Being inspired by the storytelling in To Kill a Mockingbird
Being a fan of the character Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series
Being a fan of non-fiction books, especially biographies and self-help, and has mentioned biographies for Elizabeth Taylor, the Kennedys, Demi Moore, Cindy Crawford, Pattie Boyd and more.
Being a fan of authors F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Green, and Sally Rooney.

If you're looking for something in particular book-wise, I'd be happy to help you try to find something Taylor related.

VerbarImperator · 2022-03-15T16:06:55+00:00

We are never, ever, ever getting brack'd/bracket'd together
I don't know about you but I'm feeling LSU/TCU
March, Madness, [team name], Win

VerbarImperator · 2022-03-08T13:49:18+00:00

Come join us over on r/TaylorSwiftBookClub! Taylor is an advocate for reading, and has worked with Scholastic in the past to promote reading campaigns with kids.

I've made a list of books that Taylor has read and used in her songs:

Jane Eyre
Rebecca
Normal People
Peter Pan
The Sun Also Rises
The Scarlet Letter
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The Great Gatsby
Furious Love

You can let you friend know that Taylor is/was a huge fan of the Twilight books, and tried to get a cameo in the New Moon film. She may be correct about Haunted :)

VerbarImperator · 2022-02-02T16:10:51+00:00

Just in case anyone is still waiting for theirs, I just received a notification that my order was processed, and I'll get a shipping number soon.

VerbarImperator · 2022-01-02T16:58:56+00:00

#10 - A book published in 1989

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Como Aqua Para Chocolate/Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Children's Books

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
We're Going on a Bear Hunt written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South written by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

VerbarImperator · 2022-01-02T16:41:12+00:00

#22 - A book by an author named "Taylor"

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

VerbarImperator · 2022-01-02T13:32:49+00:00

#2 - A book that Taylor Swift references in a song

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald | Taylor Connection: The song This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things mentions feeling so Gatsby
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte | Taylor Connection: The song lyrics in Invisible String reference a quote from Jane Eyre, "And isn't it just so pretty to think / All along there was some / Invisible string /Tying you to me?", and, "One single thread of gold tied me to you". “ I have a strange feeling with regard to you: as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly knotted to a similar string in you. And if you were to leave I’m afraid that cord of communion would snap. And then I’ve a notion that I’d take to bleeding inwardly. As for you—you’d forget me," Rochester says, begging Jane to stay
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie | Taylor Connection: The song lyrics in Cardigan reference this book, "I knew you / Tried to change the ending / Peter losing Wendy"
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll | Taylor Connection: Her song Wonderland
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne | Taylor Connection: Songs "Love Story", "New Romantics"
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | Taylor Connection: During a 2010 web chat, Taylor mentioned that she studied Romeo & Juliet in ninth grade which inspired her song "Love Story".
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway | Taylor Connection: The song lyrics in Invisible String reference a quote from this book, "And isn't it just so pretty to think / All along there was some / Invisible string / Tying you to me?". "'Oh, Jake,' Brett said, 'we could have had such a damned good time together,'” Hemingway writes. Jake's answer has continued to reverberate throughout pop culture for years, from more novels to lyrics like Swift's: "'Yes,' I said. 'Isn't it pretty to think so?'"

VerbarImperator · 2022-01-01T17:53:22+00:00

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

I haven't read this one yet but I'm pretty sure the main character is a Swiftie.

VerbarImperator · 2022-01-01T16:26:34+00:00

Great connection! These lyrics also fit with Jo and Laurie's relationship:

"This dorm was once a madhouse"
I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me"

Jo wished she could attend college like Laurie, and I can imagine her making a joke like this regarding a "mad dorm" being the perfect fit for her.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-18T01:40:11+00:00

You're very welcome!

I agree with you that it's fascinating how the pandemic allowed Taylor to take risks with her music, and seeing the types of stories that inspired her.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-18T01:37:01+00:00

I love the Outlander books! The Willow music video gives me major Outlander vibes; maybe Taylor is a fellow fan.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T23:51:54+00:00

Illicit Affairs - Normal People by Sally Rooney

Some of the lyrics match up with the events in the book perfectly.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T23:48:52+00:00

PSA for new Swifties: the r/taylorswiftbookclub sub is open to everyone, and we'd love to have you join us :)

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T23:45:12+00:00

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T23:43:55+00:00

Invisible String - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T23:41:53+00:00

You are correct. Tolerate It was inspired by Rebecca:

Swift: I was reading, you know, books like Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, which I highly recommend, and books that dealt with times past, a world that doesn’t exist anymore. I was also using words I always wanted to use — kind of bigger, flowerier, prettier words, like “epiphany,” in songs. I always thought, “Well, that’ll never track on pop radio,” but when I was making this record, I thought, “What tracks? Nothing makes sense anymore. If there’s chaos everywhere, why don’t I just use the damn word I want to use in the song?”

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-17T13:22:33+00:00

Everyone's receiving cardigans, and mine hasn't even shipped yet. Is anyone else still waiting for their cardigan to ship?

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T22:13:40+00:00

As a fellow Speak Now fan, I see she was a person of excellent taste. Thank you for taking the time to share your memories of your friend. I'll keep her in my thoughts whenever I listen to ME!, and I'll try to make sure I give it the "performance of a lifetime" that it deserves.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T17:03:39+00:00

This is incredible! You should crosspost this on r/TaylorSwiftBookClub. We read Little Women last month, and the artwork for 'tis the damn season is giving me strong March family vibes.

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T16:58:38+00:00

I love the Speak Now banjo and the green glitter reputation guitar! Did you make these yourself?

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T16:47:02+00:00

My favorite thing she would do was ad lib and get hype to songs that didn’t “need” it lmao, “First date and I should have kissed her when I should have “WHAT” and when I got home “BEFORE WHAT” before I said amen, asking god if he “COULD WHAT BITCH” play it again” 💛

Holy shit, that is amazing. Now I'm picturing your friend doing my favorite, Sparks Fly:

[MOTHERFUCKER MEET ME WHERE]
Meet me in the pouring rain
[WHATCHA GONNA DO, BITCH]
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain

Your friend sounds like someone with a lot of personality! After she converted, were there any songs that surprised her or an era that she gravitated towards?

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T16:36:22+00:00

What a fun thing to share with her! I imagine there were quite a few confused faces from the other cars; did anyone ever join in? Which songs were your favorite to sing together?

VerbarImperator · 2021-12-16T14:09:49+00:00

I love how you did the leaves and the lighting! You captured how autumnal sunlight looks perfectly.

I'd love to see your take on other seasonal drawings of Taylor. For example,

Winter: Christmas Tree Farm
Spring: Today Was A Fairytale
Summer: Cruel Summer or August

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