Top Ten Tuesday: Inspired by HAMILTON

TOP TEN TUESDAY is a weekly meme hosted by THE BROKE AND THE BOOKISH where participants list their top ten lists of any given subject, given ahead of time.

THIS WEEK:

LOVE SONGS TO HAMILTON

We were allowed to be creative this week, with something romance-themed, and this is something I’ve wanted to do for a little while. So, let me explain this one really fast- These are the books that come to my mind for particular Hamilton songs, especially those of a romantic nature (or not- this could get crazy). I’ll also be including some “Hamilton Confessions,” so get ready to FEEL THE LOVE.

1. “TALK LESS, SMILE MORE. DON’T LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU’RE AGAINST OR WHAT YOU’RE FOR.”

Kestrel, from Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse series, is exactly this way, to me. She fights with her mind rather than impulse and brute force, and she’s obviously willing to do what it takes to survive and thrive, even when it isn’t want you would expect. And she won’t give that up, even for her own happiness. She suffers in silence, and even though that HURT MY HEART, I applaud her. Also, The Election of 1800 is in my top 3 favorite Hamilton songs, for every reason. Kestrel also applies to Wait For It- I AM THE ONE THING IN LIFE I CAN CONTROL…I’M NOT STANDING STILL, I AM LYING IN WAIT. Woo. Just got a couple shivers.

2. “THERE’S A MILLION THINGS I HAVEN’T DONE, BUT JUST YOU WAIT”

Darrow. What began as a revolution for a higher cause is becoming his own twisted vengeance, and I’m loving it. There are big things to come from him, and I can’t wait for Morning Star to destroy our souls. Darrow, like Hamilton, is not throwing away his shot on something that isn’t worth it.

3. “EVERY DAY’S A TEST OF OUR CAMARADERIE AND BRAVERY”

I really love this song (Stay Alive) and this line. It reminds me of Thane and Ciena in Star Wars: Lost Stars because they both have their friendship so severely tested in a time of war. Not only their own, but their relationships with others, as loyalty and duty clash and there is no way to escape. /STAY ALIVE UNTIL THIS HORROR SHOW IS PAST/

4. “ANSWER FOR THE ACCUSATIONS I LAY AT YOUR FEET, OR PREPARE TO BLEED, GOOD MAN”

Oh, Kate. She’s thirsty for revenge, and she won’t let anyone sway her from her purpose. Blood for blood is what she stands for, and after her father’s sacrifice, there is no chance that she will back down from this fight. The emotion and wild hate that eats away at Burr in these last few songs are so characteristic of the villain, and that desperation is what radiates from Kate during portions of Vengeance Road. She demands satisfaction. Read the book to find out if she gets it or not.

5. “THERE IS NO MORE STATUS QUO. BUT THE SUN COMES UP AND THE WORLD STILL SPINS.”

Oh, I’m so in love with Thomas Jefferson right now. He’s devilish and dangerous and a little bit conniving, but he and Madison are a wickedly wonderful (and often hilarious) team (SUCH A BLUNDER, SOMETIMES IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY I EVEN BRING THE THUNDER) See what I mean? Anyway. In Bone Gap, the status quo has been completely flushed down the drain. People disappear, strange figures creep through the mist, and no one believes the Finn O’Sullivan is telling the truth. But it’s true- life goes on.

6. “YA BEST G’WAN RUN BACK WHERE YA COME FROM”

The issue of immigration is not played around with in Hamilton, and it plays a large factor in Joyride as well. Carly and Arden aren’t supposed to be together, aren’t supposed to even be friends. But they overcome the odds (not just in that) to RISE UP above what everyone expects.

7. “WE LAUGH AND WE CRY AND WE BREAK AND WE MAKE OUR MISTAKES.”

If there was ever a book about how decisions affect us, it’s this one. The story of the same girl, paralleled in a ‘what-if’ format, trails through the books, offering us a look at the question we all ask- What if everything was different? This is two different stories, different mistakes: AND LIFE DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE.

8. “NOW I’M THE VILLAIN IN YOUR HISTORY.”

Captain Hook is the villain. But history books are written by the winners, are they not? Here’s a story that no one has heard- the story of Hook, and how Peter Pan ruined his life. BURR, (PAN) MY FIRST FRIEND, MY ENEMY…

9. “THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT THE WORDS DON’T REACH; THERE IS A SUFFERING TOO TERRIBLE TO NAME.”

Even though they’re about two different things, IT’S QUIET UPTOWN has some really relevant lines that apply to All the Truth That’s in Me. I love this book for the fact that the character works through her challenges- without words-and redeems her relationships with those she thought she had lost forever. She does the unimaginable. I’ll be completely honest- the first few times I listened to this, I wasn’t affected. Then one day, I was driving by myself and started BAWLING. And now it doesn’t stop. I cry every time- I can’t pay attention to the words when it comes on, because it makes me so sad, especially now that I know Angelica is there. Full Angelica disclosure to come.

10. “HE WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED. I WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED.”

This is my favorite one. Teach and Anne are both yearning for more, both yearning for each other, but they don’t rush in like foolish children. Teach is a little headstrong, yes, but he doesn’t go completely mad and act on every random impulse. Neither does Anne. She plans for her future, despite what her heart is telling her. In the same way, Hamilton chooses the path most obvious to find what he wants, and Angelica denies her heart selflessly. She does what she has to do.

So here’s my big confession: I can’t stand Eliza. I don’t listen to HELPLESS, SATISFIED breaks my heart every. time. and IT’S QUIET UPTOWN hurts because Angelica is seeing the two people she loves most from the outside. Until BURN, I don’t even want to hear about Eliza, and it’s drives me CRAZY that Hamilton has a stupid affair when he has TWO women who are hopelessly in love with him. And OH MY GOSH, Renee Elise Goldberry has a fantastic voice. But yeah, I don’t like Eliza. Half the time I don’t even like Hamilton. Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Washington hold my heart. Sometimes Burr does, too (curse you, Leslie Odom Jr., for giving him that delicious voice). Seriously, though. ANGELICA SCHUYLER. She’s amazing. And that comma…”My dearest, Angelica…” UGH. MY HEART. THOUGHTS OF YOU SUBSIDE, THEN I GET ANOTHER LETTER. I CANNOT PUT THE NOTION AWAY…

I’m DYING. But I’ll stop the Hamilton rant for now…because my TTT has gone crazy. But this is definitely the most fun I’ve ever had writing up a post. I hope you all have enjoyed it as well!