It’s time for #6degrees. It’s unquestionably the least demanding bookish meme on the interwebs, so join in!
This month we begin with Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock (thanks to Brona for the suggestion). My first link is to Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born to Run. That might seem an unlikely link but I’ve seen Springsteen twice in the last few years, and both times Hanging Rock was the backdrop.
I haven’t read Born to Run yet. Another musician’s book that is sitting in my TBR stack is Cyndi Lauper’s self titled memoir.
Lauper represents everything eighties – her bright, neon style reminds me of the cover of Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss.
Tuesday Nights is a story about art. The most recent story I’ve read about art (and I seem to read a lot of them, despite not seeking them out) was Sara Baume’s A Line Made by Walking.
A Line Made by Walking is spectacularly depressing, as is Cold Spring Harbour by Richard Yates.
Far more jolly (and linked by ‘cold’) is Nancy Mitford’s Love in a Cold Climate.
From the Australian bush and rock legends to art and depression, that’s #6degrees for another month. I wonder where other chains will lead? Link up below (or add your link to the Comments section).
Next month (August 5, 2017), we’ll begin with the universally loved classic, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.
Loved the movie of Picnic. Watched it at the drives in my Monaro. Had to tell my date, now ex-Mrs Legend to sit in her own seat and let me concentrate! You certainly took off in odd directions.
I love your memory of the movie 😄 I’ve seen the movie a few times but I think it must have been on TV. Was quite obsessed as a teen because, of course, we all wanted to be Miranda.
Thanks for using my book choice this month. I’m hoping to reread it again soon (when I finish the bio beyond the Rock).
I’ve visited the Rock once, but lucky you, seeing Springsteen there!! What a great place for a big concert.
I’ve been thinking about the Mitford book this morning after all the low temps in NSW and Vic last night 🙂
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on Beyond the Rock.
Hanging Rock is a pretty magical place – I have family who live up that way so we often visit.
And yes, cold is an understatement at the moment – Melbourne feels arctic!
Like Brona, I’ve visited the Rock once, too, but how amazing to see Springsteen there. This chain has made me want to re-visit both the book and the place now.
Hanging Rock is used quite regularly as a concert venue and for good reason – when the lights shine from the base at night, lighting it up, it’s a spectacular backdrop for the stage.
The book is a quick read and worth revisiting.
This month’s chain is certainly encouraging me to revisit it!
Pride and prejudice, woo hoo. Meanwhile here is mine for this month: https://whisperinggums.com/2017/07/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-picnic-at-hanging-rock-to-a-few-days-in-the-country/
It took be a while to get started – I thought about it on and off all month – because there were so many starting options. Which made it fun really.
Love the completely different direction you went in, particularly your first non-obvious link.
I wouldn’t call this the least demanding meme at all, actually!
Re: not actually the least demanding…. shhh! 😉
Please delete my link in Mr Linky to Our Spoons Came From Woolworths – my fingers slipped, sorry.
I haven’t read Picnic at Hanging Rock, but I’m going to – it sounds great. This meme is such a good way to find out about books that I would never have come across otherwise.
Thanks for joining in Margaret (not sure I can delete your first link but doesn’t matter!).
Picnic at Hanging Rock is in some ways a bit old-fashioned in style but it is a great example of early ‘gothic’ writing for the mainstream. And certainly, if you’ve read the book, a visit to the actual Hanging Rock takes on an eerie feel.
Your first leap to Bruce Springsteen – wow! That was clever. I’ve driven past the driveway to Hanging Rock. Would love to go further.
Here’s my contribution for the month: http://52-sundays.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-picnic.html
Pride and Prejudice feels like it could be a challenge.
I enjoyed your post Kathryn – loved the link to Norman Lindsay and then to Harry Potter, and loved how you ended up at The hate race. Good one. It looks like you don’t have comments open on your blog so I’m commenting here. Hope you see it.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Rock, it’s well worth it – a really lovely spot.
I think Pride is a challenge – I keep thinking of different ways to start and then think “No, that’s a bit obvious/ unoriginal…” – at least we have a month to think it over!
I finally joined the #6degrees meme….thanks to Brona’s encouragement!
I’m exhausted…but had fun!
#6degrees with n@ncy
Welcome and thanks for joining in! Glad you’ve had fun 🙂
I watched the Picnic film again only recently – it really does stand the test of time. But I never wanted to be Miranda, I wanted to be Anne Shirley:
http://wordsandleaves.com/six-degrees-of-separation-from-picnicking-to-murdering/
The story does stand the test of time. I really need to watch the movie again – it’s been decades since I saw it.
Think I probably wanted to be Miranda AND Anne Shirley…
Your first link is brilliant! Hard to better.
Thank you 🙂
picnic at hanging rock to Bruce Springsteen had me choking on my cup of tea!
I thought it was quite tricky 🙂
I didn’t want to be Miranda. I wanted to be Cyndi Lauper. I tried her orange hair and it was a bad mistake. Here is mine chain. https://kathryngossow.net/2017/07/01/six-degrees-of-separation-picnic-at-hanging-rock-to-beatrice-and-virgil/
‘my chain’ Fingers faster than my brain.
I like your creative Hanging Rock link! I’ve now posted mine (on the Mr Linky).
Here is the chain of the Views and Muse Bookclub from Ottawa, Canada on this July 1st, the 150th Canada Day. From Picnic at Hanging Rock to La’s Orchestra Saves the World
https://bookclub9.blogspot.ca/2017/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-picnic.html
I haven’t read Picnic at Hanging Rock (although I watched the film ages ago), so I’m not participating this month, but Pride and Prejudice is a huge favourite of mine, so you can bet on it that I will be taking part next month.
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation: Picnic at Hanging Rock – Hopewell's Public Library of Life
Love anything by a Mitford. Great list!
I didn’t even know Lauper has written an autobiography. Something more for the to-read list. 🙂 I’m excited that July will start with one of my favorites (and an historic novel, to boot).
I’m so impressed that you got from Picnic to Bruce in one move! Cyndi’s autobiography had somehow passed me by, I really want to read it & I hope it’s suitably bonkers 🙂
I think it was released a couple of years ago when she did her She’s So Unusual concert, playing the whole album in order. She did a LOT of talking at the concert, telling stories between songs. I suspect I’ve heard a lot of what’s in the book, which is partly why I didn’t read it straight away.
Love that you managed to get Springsteen and Cindy Lauper into your chain this month. Like most months, my chain went in a very different direction (although this time I was apparently thinking a lot about non-fiction too).
Pingback: 6 Degrees of Separation- Picnic at Hanging Rock – Dwell in Possibility
I love how you began your list with Springsteen and ended with Nancy Mitford!! Quite a bookish journey. I really want to read Picnic at Hanging Rock soon…
Here’s my list for this month: https://dwellinpossibilityblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/02/6-degrees-of-separation-picnic-at-hanging-rock/#more-3793
My first time doing this as well – great fun and so interesting to see where others’ imagination takes them. Here’s my link: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/six-degrees-of-separation-6degrees/
I always enjoy these! Excellent link to Springsteen… Here’s mine: https://ellethinks.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/6degrees-of-separation-picnic-at-hanging-rock/
I’ve never heard of this book (or the movie) so now I want to experience both. It was a fun start to the puzzle for sure.
I’ve re-read it a few times in the last ten years and I think it holds up (but I don’t read much gothic literature so can’t compare!). The movie is fantastic but I suspect might be hard to track down these days.
Here’s my late contribution to this month’s choice, which I enjoyed quite a lot, novel & movie! https://smithereens.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/six-degrees-of-separation-july/