A Nice Pair: Jojo Rabbit

It’s Sunday and for today’s book and vinyl pairing, we’re recommending the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens alongside the Jojo Rabbit Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Caging Skies by Christine Leunens was the inspiration for the movie Jojo Rabbit directed by Taika Waititi. Johannes, a young Hitler Youth member in Austria during World War II, discovers his parents are hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa in their home. As the war progresses and his parents disappear, Johannes becomes responsible for Elsa, leading to a complex relationship filled with love, obsession, and manipulation. The novel explores themes of truth, lies, and the moral complexities of wartime. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking story about the impact of war on individuals and relationships.

The soundtrack for Jojo Rabbit is quite eclectic and thoughtfully curated to match the film’s tone. It features a mix of original compositions by Michael Giacchino and popular songs from various artists. Some notable tracks include David Bowie’s Heroes, The Beatles’ Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand, and Ella Fitzgerald’s The Dipsy Doodle. The score also includes pieces by Glenn Miller, Tom Waits, and Roy Orbison, among others. Giacchino aimed to emphasize the emotional depth of the story rather than its comedic elements, creating a score that supports the film’s heartfelt moments.