It’s time for #6degrees. Start at the same place as other wonderful readers, add six books, and see where you end up!
This month we begin with Malcolm Gladwell’s debut, The Tipping Point. I read this book more than ten years ago and parts still stick in my mind, notably the chapter on Blue’s Clues, and the chapter on New York crime and the subway.
Which reminds me of a book I bought in New York – Subway Ceramics : A History and Iconography by Lee Stookey. I love the ceramic tiles decorating the stations in New York (Bleecker Street is my favourite) and this book was a nice memento of my trip.
From the NY subway to London’s Underground – a book that’s on my TBR list is Martin John by Anakana Schofield.
From all accounts, Martin John is an unnerving, sickening character. It reminds me of part of the storyline in Tom Perrota’s Little Children.
I found the movie version of Little Children terrifying, as I did with Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.
The Lovely Bones features a dead narrator, as does The End of Alice by A.M. Homes (there’s actually other links between the two books – the story topic and ‘Alice’ – do I get extra points?!).
My chain is going in a very dark, disturbing direction, so I’m linking to the book that’s next to The End of Alice on my Goodreads TBR list – Books That Cook: The Making of a Literary Meal by Jennifer Cognard-Black. It’s a book that combines a collection of American literature written on the theme of food with excerpts from influential American cookbooks – a satisfying end to this month’s #6degrees.
I started with trains, had far too many links that involved paedophiles and finished with food and literature. Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (July 7, 2018), we’ll begin with Tales of the City, the first in the much-loved series by Armistead Maupin.
I was fascinated by the Tipping Point – like you I found the subway graffitti episode memorable. I also read his next book but it didn’t have the same pull. My challenge is to link from Gladwell to anything else!
I reckon when all else fails, find common links in the author names!
Ah now that sounds a good strategy
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LOL I’m intrigued to know how your ‘dark thoughts’ re NY crime derives from a book about marketing!
Here’s mine, I went wandering about in the C16th century and ended up with a plug for my Indigenous Lit Week in July, cunning, eh?
https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/06/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-tipping-point-to/
The Tipping Point talks about how cleaning up graffiti in the NY subway turned around crime rates in the city overall – they had a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to graffiti and vandalism in the trains and soon the care, respect and civic duty people felt for their environment improved (the graffiti was the ‘tipping point’). I think the direct link between the two is probably far more complex than that but either way, it was a fascinating chapter in the book!
Great plug for Indigenous Lit Week.
I remember reading about that… it’s a very popular view that cracking down on crime improves the crime rate, but I suspect that if it were as simple as that the crime rate would be zero.
Enjoyed your links Kate. Love the sound of The books that cook. And, woo hoo, I’ve read Tales of the city.
Here’s my link: https://whisperinggums.com/2018/06/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-tipping-point-to/
I’m glad to have picked a book you’ve read! (I read it so long ago that I can hardly remember the detail, but I know I loved it and read the whole series, which is a rare thing for me).
Rare for me too to read a series – a point I’m planning to make in my post!
You’ve got an early start on the train! Lol
Happy June.
Quite an interesting ride you took us one. Always good to end with food 😉
I couldn’t keep going down the disturbing path I was on so food was a good diversion!
😄
I love this challenge. I enjoy reading the varied choices made by others. I went to Outliers by Gladwell. Followed by Odyssey by Homer; The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway; Moby Dick by Melvile; Don Q!uixote by de Cervantes; and finished with Invisible Man by Ellison.
Haven’t read all of Outliers yet but the bits I have read were good. Thanks for joining in!
Books That Cook sounds great. I haven’t read any of your chain.
I was on a big foodie-fiction jaunt for ages and came across it then… now to find the time to read it!
I remembered this month! https://kathryngossow.net/2018/06/02/6degrees-from-tipping-points-to-magic-points/
Thanks so much for hosting this meme. I enjoy it so much. Putting together my post, checking out others. I have added my link. I haven’t read Tales of the City but I am going to read at least part of it before the end of next month.
From memory (and it’s a long time since I read it), Tales of the City is a fantastic read. Hope you enjoy it.
I’m always so amazed where these chains go.
I’ve just looked up The Tipping Point and I want to read it now!
Fascinating list, Kate – love the first leap to the subway book. Here’s my list 🙂 https://leapinglife.wordpress.com/2018/06/02/six-degrees-of-separation-malcolm-gladwells-the-tipping-point/
Thanks for joining in Liz!
I love the idea of Books that Cook! Might have to see if I can get a hold of that one.
Acquired when I was on my foodie-fiction binge but still haven’t got to it…
Love all the subway links – I have Martin John on my piles, I’ve heard good things about it.
I like the way you brought us back into the light there. I need to get my hands on a copy of Books That Cook.
Like your chain – though I haven’t read The Tipping Point. Mine always goes a bit dark because it always cycles through crime novels. However, you did a good job of getting yours back to the lighter side. Thanks for doing this. I love thinking through the links in my head.
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The only one I’ve read in your chain is The Lovely Bones – not a favourite and I have no desire to see the movie. I like the way you ended it with a book on food in literature. My chain is all made up of crime fiction – like Kay’s.
The movie of Lovely Bones was truly terrifying.
As always, thanks for hosting. Here’s my chain: https://betweenlifeanddreaming.blogspot.com/
And I’m looking forward to next month’s chain – Tales of the City really takes me back to the days of my youth!
Thanks! For some reason I can’t leave a comment on your blog but I loved your chain, especially the inclusion of Atonement.
I think Tales of the City will produce some interesting chains!
You’re right, I could reply with my Google account – but none of the other usual options were offered, and I refuse to comment on blogs if I can’t comment with my Blog name/link. You might want to check this aparatchick, otherwise you’ll only be getting comments from other blogger bloggers, and many of us are not.
I enjoyed your links too – particularly the first three – Little Women, Atonement and Brooklyn.
Am I the only person in the world without a Google account…? 😀
I don’t know Kate, are you!!? I have one, partly because the first blog I set up, which I still administer, was a blogger blog.
Quite sure I am…
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“Far too many links that involved paedophiles” was not something I expected to read in your post 😀
And not something I expected to write 😐
Muse & Views Bookclub submits this chain from The Tipping Point to La Prisonnièrehttps://bookclub9.blogspot.com/2018/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-tipping.html
Muse & Views Bookclub from Ottawa, Canada submits this chain for June’s Six Degrees
https://bookclub9.blogspot.com/2018/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-tipping.html
Completed by Shirley and Michèle this month.
I haven’t read any of your books but I like the way you’ve linked them to each other. I struggled to get started with my chain this month but once I thought of my first link I enjoyed putting the rest together!
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I always enjoy seeing where your chain leads you, particularly because you seem to read so much (at least that’s how it seems from the number of reviews you write). Thanks for continuing to host 6 Degrees of Separation – it’s a lot of fun.
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What a great Meme, and only too happy to join in too with my own list, here: http://myfrenchfarce.ca/2018/06/six-degrees-of-separation/
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I like the look of the NY Subway ceramic tiles book. Two of my favourite things in one book!
My chain is here https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2018/06/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-tipping-point-to-the-heart-goes-boom/
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This one took me long enough but I got there in the end ….https://bookertalk.com/2018/06/06/six-degrees-from-the-tipping-point/
Have wondered if a non-fiction starting book is more difficult…
I think its harder when you haven’t read the book than it is with a fiction one that you haven’t read. It means you’re unlikely to have heard of the author so can’t start off by talking about another of their books you’ve read for example
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Love your links this month, Kate! I haven’t read any of these, but have seen the dark adaptations of Little Children and The Lovely Bones.
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