“The Weight of Him”– The Mixtape

Ethel Rohan is a Bay Area writer by way of Ireland, one of the people I’m happiest to see at various local literary doings. Her debut novel, THE WEIGHT OF HIM, comes out on Valentine’s Day this year. Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural Ireland, THE WEIGHT OF HIM is about Billy Brennan, a 400lb man who loses his teenage son to suicide and then sets out to stop the epidemic, by shedding half of himself. Billy’s public weight loss fundraiser and other ambitious plans to stop suicide appall his family and pit this heartbroken dad against others, too, including his own demons. His startling journey makes for an unforgettable, deeply compassionate read.

Thrilled to have Ethel’s author mixtape on the site today! Make sure you read all the way to the end so you can enter for a chance to win your own copy…

Songs by My Side During the Ten Year Telling of The Weight of Him

by Ethel Rohan

Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May is a Dubliner like myself. I would love to be able to sing, but I do not have a note in my head. Song and music are powerful gifts to possess, and a great salve to share with the world. Imelda May is wonderfully gifted. “It’s Good to Be Alive” was the perfect novel-writing companion as so much of the The Weight of Him is about rescue, resurrection, and the sanctity of life. The song always lifts me.

I remember Phil Lynott’s music from my girlhood (my oldest brother was obsessed). This one line from this song, “This boy is cracking up, this boy has broke down” really helped me tap into Billy’s son, Michael’s, character. Michael kills himself five weeks before the book begins. I wrote so many scenes with Michael that didn’t end up in the book but were critical to my getting to know, understand and love him–in the hopes that readers will too.

Ryan Doyle wrote “Fall” two years ago, when he was 16! I can’t count the number of times I’ve listened to this song and every time, unfailingly, it touches something deep inside me and makes my eyes water and throat thicken. Heartstrumming.

The Irish band, HamSandwicH, are so great (despite their disappointing name, or is that just me?) and the pairing of this haunting song “Ants” with this unofficial video is especially fitting for The Weight of Him given the fictional world Billy creates with damaged toy dolls and soldiers. And the repetition of ‘start over.’ How hard this novel’s characters wish they could start over. So, yeah, a must-listen I played on repeat.

Well first off, it’s Beyonce. And who doesn’t want to love and be loved like this? Oh joy.

When I first emigrated to San Francisco and during the subsequent early years with my husband, we listened to Tracy Chapman all the time. She’s got such grit and ache in her voice, and I love that combination in just about everything. The characters in The Weight of Him want to be wanted. They want a reason to stay, too. Don’t we all?

Before his death, 17-year-old Michael was a budding singer-songwriter. He would have aspired to sing, play and write like Gavin James. If he could have stayed in his world, he would have continued to write songs with all the soul and ache of “Remember Me” too. You’re only alive in my book and heart, Michael, but I will always remember you.

I love “Brave.” I love Sara Bareilles. Her work shows her heart. “Let the light in.” I’m always trying to let the light in. I also want to see myself be brave(r). I wanted to see all my characters in The Weight of Him be brave(r). There’s such inspiration and a sense of promised connection in this song–like for every good, brave moment each of us has there’s a collective reaction–like maybe, just maybe the entire universe benefits because of each of our own tiny, shiny, brave moments. And this video. It’s fantastic.

Book Giveway

Want to read the book that inspired the list? Ethel is giving away a signed copy of  THE WEIGHT OF HIM to a lucky Midlife Mixtape reader! To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment below…we’ll use Random.org to select a winner on Monday, January 23 at 5 pm PST!

Book Launch Party

Bay Area Friends, join Ethel Rohan for THE WEIGHT OF HIM’s novel launch party at The Booksmith on February 16 at 7 30. She’ll be In Conversation with Edan Lepucki, author of CALIFORNIA. If that isn’t enough for a stampede, there will also be food, wine, Irish whiskey, and raffles prizes. Mark your calendars! And check out details of Ethel’s two other Bay Area book parties here.

Ethel Rohan is the author of THE WEIGHT OF HIM, a debut novel forthcoming from St. Martin’s Press, February 14, 2017. THE WEIGHT OF HIM won the inaugural Plumeri Fellowship. She is also the author of two story collections, Goodnight Nobody and Cut Through the Bone, the former longlisted for The Edge Hill Prize and the latter longlisted for The Story Prize. An award-winning short story writer, her work has appeared in The New York Times, World Literature Today, Tin House Online, GUERNICA Magazine, The Rumpus, and many others. Raised in Dublin, Ireland, she lives in San Francisco where she is a member of the Writers’ Grotto.