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 The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles. I haven’t read this book but I remember my mum reading it (in the seventies) and being engrossed.
I also remember her being engrossed in Sophie’s Choice by William Styron.
Sophie’s Choice is set post-WWII but much of the story is about what happened during the war. Similar is Kate Atkinson’s A God in Ruins.
There’s a reference in A God in Ruins to how history might have been different if Hitler had died at birth – “I think if only I could go back in time and shoot Hitler, or, better still, kill him at birth.” (p.278).
I was reading Less by Andrew Sean Greer at the same time as God in Ruins and oddly, there’s a similar reference to Hitler in that book – ‘Arthur says, “We can never kill Hitler.”‘ (p.248).
Less is the story of an author on a pilgrimage, as is John Irving’s Avenue of Mysteries.
There’s a great scene in Avenue of Mysteries with an elephant and a circus tent – so Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is the obvious link.
The main character in Water for Elephants is adrift, and finds refuge in the circus, as did Lorena Hickok, whose story is told by Amy Bloom in White Houses.
Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (February 2, 2019), we’ll begin with Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.
TFLW is an all-time fav of mine so I was delighted to start the NY with it. It also allowed me to spend a little thinking about a wonderful trip I had to Lyme Regis ten years ago.
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/6degrees-january.html
Hey Brona, did you see that the ABC is starting a series based on Little Women, scripted by the same people as did Call the Midwife??
I did spot that the other night, but cannot imagine how I’m going to fit it in right now. Will have to record it for later on….
I haven’t read it (had the audio in my queue but didn’t get to it in time!). I recall seeing the film version decades ago!
I love books that remind you of holidays (because of place or what you were reading at the time) – I always have strong memories of what I was reading on holiday.
My comment on your blog post disappeared (but working on my phone at present so the problem will be my end). Anyway, the guts of it was – loved the Katy books as well; and have you read any Sarah Stonich? Her stories have a strong Northern Exposure feel.
No I haven’t but checking her out in good reads now – thanks 😊
Loved your responses Kate, and quite different to mine… Strangely 😂
Here’s my link https://whisperinggums.com/2019/01/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to/
But, am I supposed to put this into Mr Linky? I’ve never noticed that before.
No need to use the Linky – I add it because commenting can be challenging depending on your blogging platform.
Thanks Kate, that’s great.
The Muse & Views Bookclub offers this 6 degrees for the beginning of 2019. https://bookclub9.blogspot.com/2019/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-french.html
Great choices, I like the sound of The Piano Maker.
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What a fun idea! Here’s a link to my six degrees of separation. https://debrabooks.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/six-degrees-of-separation-french-lieutenants-woman-to-rebecca/
Glad you’ve enjoyed it!
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Here’s mine, LOL no Persuasion! https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/01/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to/
lol – sooo tempting to start with Persuasion!! I think we are all being very diligent in avoiding the obvious 😂
oh gosh – I wrote my previous comment before reading everyone’s lists. Absolutely no criticism of the use of Persuasion intended, sorry 😩
None taken Liz 🙂
Thank you Brona 😀💕
Great list, Kate, as always! A lot of people seem to be reading Less at the moment – would you recommend it? And here’s my chain… https://leapinglife.blog/2019/01/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to-first-in-the-world-somewhere/
I loved Less but it did take a little bit to get into, and to get a handle on the author’s sense of humour.
Thanks for the tip – I will bear this in mind if I get around to reading it!
Particularly pleasing set of links for me: Kate Atkinson + Amy Bloom + Less which I finished a couple of days ago having enjoyed it very much.
Yes, three books that I enjoyed far, far, far more than I anticipated!
Good links – very different from mine! I was tempted to link to Persuasion too, but didn’t in the end and went off the ending of TFLW for my first link.
The link connecting my first two books could have been used to connect your first two too 🙂
I think we’ve done that a few times in previous chains – great minds…?!
Oh my! That Hitler link, very clever. Less is sitting on my shelves. Loved Water for Elephants but haven’t read anything else by her.
The Hitler link was a fluke! That said, I often come across very odd but specific links between the books I’m reading.
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I see that a few people were tempted to start their chain with Persuasion. I wasn’t but perhaps that’s because I haven’t read The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Actually I’ve created a chain consistently mainly books I haven’t read – because they are on my TBR list for 2019:
https://www.melindatognini.com.au/6-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to/
Great idea to make your chain about your TBR list – I might try that next month.
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So that question about what if Hitler had died at birth? That’s essentially what Atkinson’s novel Life After Life is about. She takes that idea, explores it with a third party, then has that third party go back in time and try to prevent WWII by killing Hitler before it starts. REALLY great book!
Thanks as always for hosting! Enjoyed reading your chain!
I LOVED Life After Life – fascinating structure and concept. I read God in Ruins practically straight after finishing Life,
– I never normally read the same author back-to-back.
I know that she has a book that’s set in the same world as Life After Life, but following a different character (the brother maybe?). Is that God in Ruins?
Yes, God in Ruins follows the life of the baby brother, Teddy. There are overlaps with Life After Life so you get a few conclusions. God in Ruins could be read without having read life but I think it was enhanced by Life first.
Great list, enjoyed reading 🙂
I have read TFLW, but one my favourite novel’s is The Collector by John Fowles. Thanks for Six Degrees, I always enjoy doing it.
The Collector has been on my TBR list for ages – thanks for the reminder.
I am a day late, sorry. But at least I get to read everyone else’s connections now.
https://kathryngossow.net/2019/01/06/6-degrees-to-bad-boys/
There’s no time line ☺️
I read TFLW but I can remember practically nothing about it – I really should re-read it. Sophie’s Choice is in the TBR but I keep putting it off, it’s a bit of a chunkster. Maybe this will be the year! Great chain Kate 🙂
I haven’t read either TFLW or Sophie’s Choice – knowing how much the movie of SC made me cry, I wonder if I have the strength for the book – quite sure it will leave me in tatters.
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I like your connections, Kate. Some books on there that hadn’t crossed my radar before that I’ll seek out. Like Water for Elephants in particular.
Here’s my list, which attempts to recast fallen women as proto-feminists: https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to-the-essex-serpent/
I am always amazed at where I end up at the end of the sixth book. Thanks for hosting. My Six-Degrees List
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I enjoyed reading your connections Kate. Here is my offerings – https://wordpress.com/post/anglersrest.net/10491
I enjoyed reading your connections Kate. Here is my offerings –
https://anglersrest.net/2019/01/09/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-french-lieutenants-woman-to/
I especially love your first link, Kate, since it’s so personal.
Here are my six: https://soundslikewish.org/?p=12032
I was thrilled to be given a chance to think about the French Lieutenant and that poor woman.
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