Florence Welch: What The Water Gave Me

   Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine wrote the song What The Water Gave Me, which was released in August of 2011. But this isn't just a song that was drawn from the 26 year old's experiences and poetic mind, it has allusions to art, writing, and history that can be found in the hauntingly beautiful lyrics of the song. And, if you just read the lyrics, you will understand that this song has further meaning that should be recognized.

Virginia Woolf

   Firstly, Florence Welch has explained that the song was partially inspired by a painting by Frida Kahlo entitled What The Water Gave Me, hence the matching title.
 But Virginia Woolf is the one who inspired the majority of the lyrics of the song. The chorus is a poetic depiction of Virginia Woolf's death that occured in England in 1941. She became a famed writer posthumously, and while she lived, she suffered from bouts of depression, beginning with the death of her mother in 1895.
   Once Virginia Woolf had finished her final novel, Between The Acts, which was published by her husband after her death, she fell to depression after the poor review of some of her work and the destruction of her home in the London Blitz. This she could not overcome, and, at the age of 59, she drowned herself in the River Ouse in England by filling the pockets of her coats with stones. She wrote a letter to her husband explaining that she loved him and the depression had finally become too much, but that she had always enjoyed their time together. This story of Virginia's life and death is reflected in the lyrics of Florence's inspired song:
Time it took us

To where the water was
That’s what the water gave me
And time goes quicker
Between the two of us
Oh, my love, don’t forsake me
Take what the water gave me
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
   Although this may seem like a tragic story that wouldn't seem to make a good song, it is a wonderful song that tells a tale rather than crowding the air with unoriginal phrases. I couldn't think of anyone who could have told it more tastefully or with more exquisite grandeur than Florence Welch.

The Great Gatsby

   The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, was written by the now famous F. Scott Fitzgerald. Being one of my favorite books, I have read it several times. I enjoy it for the beautiful language that builds the scene right before your eyes, and I am envious of Fitzgerald's way of creating beauty so easily with words. The story is best characterized as a slice of life, being that it is not an epic in which a hero battles the forces of evil. But it does delve into the characters and their flaws in the passion brimming scene of New York in the 20's. You get to know each character like you are shadowing them, and you learn that even the most powerful man that seems to have it all together may just be holding onto the past, and trying to change it.
   The story is told from the eyes of Nick Carraway, who moves into the same neighborhood as Jay Gatsby and near his cousin Daisy Buchanan. He is an honest observer who is not quick to judge until he has gotten all of the facts. Throughout most of the book, he is in a relationship with Jordan, a professional golfer who he doesn't quite trust, and with good reason. After being befriended by Gatsby at one of his extravagant parties, he soon learns that Gatsby is in love with Daisy, and is trying to make his dream a reality. Nick sees Gatsby's human side in many instances, including when Gatsby is overly nervous to meet up with Daisy and is desperate for Nick's help, which shows that Gatsby is not just a powerful millionaire with everything he could ever want, but a lovesick man who is trying to win back Daisy's love. When Nick, Jordan, Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom, Daisy's unfaithful husband, all go into the city to socialize, secrets are revealed, and Gatsby's plan begins to crumble. Then the true intentions of  this flawed group are exposed.
   This book makes you think about your intentions in your life, and whether they are honest like Nick's, a fantasy like Gatsby's, or careless like Daisy's. It also makes you feel deeply for the characters, whether that is a feeling of pity, gratitude, or anger, Fitzgerald has a true ability to make you care avidly about the characters he conjures up. I would recommend this to those who want to be transported through time or just know the story before they go to see the upcoming movie adaptation.

Hello Everyone!

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my blog. I will be posting book reviews, music reviews and recommendations, travel diaries, art evaluations, and more. I will post at least every Thursday, but I will probably post eclectically for the next while. Please feel free to comment and request reviews or recommendations of people, topics, books, etc that you would like to see covered on this blog. 

Thanks you so much for reading,

-Elise