One of my favorite things about reading a book is when it contains a reference to something—a novel, a song, a TV show, an anecdote—that leads me to something else.

For instance, as a child, in reading the brilliant novels for children by Edward Eager, written between 1954 and 1962, I discovered the equally brilliant children’s books by E. Nesbit, which were written the early 1900s. In fact, Edward Eager quite deliberately included allusions to Nesbit’s books, to help his readers discover her work, because he had been so inspired by her novels. He wrote of E. Nesbit’s influence,“I am always careful to acknowledge this indebtedness in each of my stories; so that any child who likes my books and doesn’t know hers may be led back to the master of us all.”

Through reading Thomas Merton’s acclaimed spiritual memoir The Seven Storey Mountain, I discovered the spiritual memoir of Story of a Soul by Saint Therese of Lisieux, a book that I have read and re-read many times, and which led me to a profound and lasting interest in St. Therese.

Often one book leads to another book, but a book can lead other places as well.

For instance, a few years ago, I read the outstanding novel Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. I highly recommend this book.

It’s the story of Cyrus, a twenty-something recovering alcoholic, an orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, as he wrestles with deep questions related to how to be an artist, his family roots, and the meaning of death. (It strikes me that this description may not make the novel sound very enjoyable, but I promise, it is.)

At one point, Cyrus calls his uncle, who describes how he once had a car that had a cassette tape stuck in its tape player. Because he couldn’t change the music, as he made long trips through the countryside, he listened over and over to a piece of music by composer Allegri called Miserere. The whole tape was just twenty minutes long, and over the years, his uncle listened to it perhaps more than a thousand times. His uncle said, “It felt like a miracle every time. It didn’t matter if I came in just for the last minute, the last ninety seconds of the tape. There were five voices and I heard something new every time.”

Of course, after I heard this description, I had to learn more about this music.

Its full title is Miserere mei, Deus, which is Latin for “Have mercy on me, O God.” It’s a setting of Psalm 51 by the Italian composer Gregorio Allegri. It was composed around 1638 for the exclusive use of the Sistine Chapel during the services during Holy Week. (A lot of fun myths have grown up around this music, but unfortunately, they aren’t true, so I won’t include them.)

After I read and learned about this music, I wanted to hear it for myself. It is beautiful and haunting. I haven’t listened to it a thousand times, but I’ve listened to it many, many times.

Through a novel, I was led to deep engagement with a piece of music. Something I’ve learned about myself is that for me, an appreciation of my senses almost always comes through words. I guess that’s why I wrote my book Life in Five Senses. I had to write my way toward a deeper sensual appreciation of the world.

I’ll post a link to Martry! by Kaveh Akbar (Amazon, Bookshop). I also did a Little Happier about something else that happened in the novel. I’ll post a link to that episode here, as well. 

So you can hear the music too, here it is: Allegri’s Miserere.