A Classics Challenge- September Prompt

This month's prompt is to select a piece of...

Music
...that you feel reflects the book. Modern, classical, jazz, anything, it doesn't have to be from the period of the novel but share what it is about the piece that echoes the novel in someway.

My Classic for this month is George Orwell's Animal Farm. I'm only 3 chapters in but so far, it's riveting. I don't listen to music when I'm reading. I find myself unable to concentrate on the story because music always gets me dreaming. 

     That said, Animal Farm has an anthem in the first chapter which would be fun to listen to as an accompaniment to the story. It is suggested that the anthem be set to the music of 'Clementine' or 'La Cucuracha' . Here are some of the lyrics if you want to take a stab at singing it :)

Beasts of England, Beasts of Ireland

Beasts of every land and clime,

Hearken to my joyful tidings

Of the golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming,

tyrant man shall be o'erthrown,

and the fruitful fields of England 

shall be trod by beasts alone.

Rings shall vanish from our noses,

and the harness from our back,

bit and spur shall rust forever

cruel whips no more shall crack.

Riches more than mind can picture,

Wheat and Barley, Oats and Hay,

Clover, Beans, and Mangel-Wurzels

shall be ours upon the day.

Bright will shine the fields of England,

purer shall its waters be,

sweeter yet shall blow its breezes

on the day that sets us free.

for that day we all must labour,

though we die before it breaks;

Cows and Horses, Geese and Turkeys,

all must toil for freedom's sake.

The Short Story Initiative: Getting to know each other

I've been a fairly regular participant of Short Stories on Wednesday ever since Risa started the event on Breadcrumb Reads. I had planned to keep it up when Nancy took over but I've been sporadic. Largely because this year has been super busy and my blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. Also, one Wednesday seems to follow the other at an alarming pace and I've barely managed to read a short story, leave alone blog about it. So, I think Nancy's idea to re-invent Short Stories on Wednesday as The Short Story Initiative is just the ticket. It takes away the weekly deadline while still giving me a structure to my short story reading. She's also posted a list of monthly themes which we may or may not adhere to. I think this is a great way to venture into genres that I would normally pass up . Read all about the it in this post.

      As part of the Getting to Know Each Other theme of this month, we answer some questions about ourselves and our short-story-reading ways :) Here's my bit:

1. Why do you want to join The Short Story Initiative?

I love reading short stories and I've learnt about a lot of new authors through bloggers participating in Short Stories on Wednesday.I'm guessing The Short Story Initiative will be even more informative with less pressure.

2. What kind of short stories do you read? Is there a specific genre or culture or nationality you would like to explore through short stories?

     I love all sorts of short stories and I'd like to read the great masters of short story writing. I also want to explore the literature of different cultures and nationalities. Nancy's focus on Philippine literature has been enlightening.

3. Who is your favorite short story writer? Why?

     Impossible to pick one favorite so I'm going to list a few. Fitzgerald, Chekov, Kate Chopin and Saadat Hassan Manto.

4. What is the most memorable short story you have read?

      Putois by Anatole France, Bernice Bobs her Hair by Fitzgerald and A Good Day for Bananafish by Salinger.

5. What is your experience with short stories in the past? Is it a good or bad experience?
     Mostly good. Largely good in fact. The great thing about short stories is that even if the story is not to your taste, you don't waste days over it.

6. Share one book confession when it comes to short stories?
     hmmmn... cant think of anything really. I think I've been good, so no skeletons in my short story closet.

7. Share something about yourself that has nothing to do with short stories.
     I'm gearing up to tackle Chaucer's Canterbury Tales once again . I hope to do a series of posts about it in 2013.