It’s time for #6Degrees (and as the new-ish host, I’m asking you in the loveliest possible way to join in!).
We begin this month with the first book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet, My Brilliant Friend. I’ve only just started reading it, but the story focuses on two young girls who remain friends until adulthood.
A story that also examines the changing relationship between two friends is Judy Blume’s first novel for adults, Summer Sisters.
Judy Blume dominated much of my reading as a tween and although it’s hard to pick a favourite, for the purposes of this exercise my next link is to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Another favourite as a tween was Ruth Park’s Playing Beatie Bow. It’s an Australian classic and although intended for kids, is a magical story for all ages.
The plot in Playing Beatie Bow revolves around time travel, as it does in Evan Mandery’s unusual story, Q.
In Q, Mandery uses a nested narrative – stories within the story. Although I didn’t enjoy this device much in Q, I loved it in Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Blind Assassin.
The Blind Assassin opens with this line –
“Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge”
Which immediately reminds me of the opening line in Deborah Levy’s Swimming Home –
“When Kitty Finch took her hand off the steering wheel and told him she loved him, he no longer knew if she was threatening him or having a conversation.”
Same, but different.
From an Italian village and summers at Martha’s Vineyard to time travel, intricate stories and wild car rides, all in six moves. I wonder where other chains will lead? Join in and link up!
Next month (April 2nd, 2016) the chain will begin with the John Irving classic, A Prayer for Owen Meany.
Far too demanding for my little brain but I do enjoy seeing what you all come up with.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love these link ups! I was a massive Judy Blume fan, particularly Tiger Eyes.
Tiger Eyes, Deenie, Blubber – they’re all still relevant and all still hold up
Yep. Loved them all 😉
I do like these and thanks for the advance notice on the next one. Maybe the cogs of my weary brain will whir sufficiently to join in!
I hope so! Six books links in thirty-odd days – a cinch 😉
Love the link to Summer Sisters. Brilliant. My chain took a very different route.
Your chain started in a way that hadn’t even occurred to me!
I love these posts but sadly I haven’t read My Brilliant Friend although I do have it as an audio book! Love your links and Are You There God? It’s me Margaret was a huge favourite of mine too!
You don’t have to have read the starting book to participate 🙂 I more often than not have not read it and I just make my first connection based on something easy like the title, author or something from the synopsis.
The fact that you haven’t read the starting book can be reason for a link alone! I did one chain that was composed only of books that I hadn’t read (but had in my TBR stack) – some of the links were tenuous (eg. blue covers…). Anyway, there are no real rules, it’s a very forgiving and all-encompassing meme 🙂
Hope you can join in next time (or this time of you’re suddenly thinking of a chain!).
I really love this meme, and am hoping to get my post up later this week!
Life has been crazy lately – what am I saying, crazy busy seems to be our permanent state now! Oh well, I have good intentions to join in, I would like to join in, I’ve even written 2nd April down in my blogging book. Let’s see what happens next….
Lovely to see this meme still going round even though I haven’t joined in since 2014. And to see you featuring some Aussie books 🙂
Would love to have you onboard for April 2! (And if you have a suggestion for a book to start a chain, please let me know).