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 Ali Smith’s award-winning novel, How to be Both. I haven’t read this book yet but I do know that it has an interesting format (you choose where to start reading). 99 Reasons Why by Caroline Smailes also has an unusual format – it ends with a quiz and a ‘choose your own adventure’ conclusion.
Princess Diana was an important part of the plot in 99 Reasons Why, so the next link is to Andrew Morton’s biography, Diana – Her True Story.
A book featuring the Royal Family that is not a ‘true story’ is Morris Gleitzman’s gentle junior novel, Two Weeks With the Queen.
Two Weeks With the Queen examines the 80s AIDS epidemic, as does Sarah Winman’s heartbreaker, Tin Man.
A painting is an important part of the story in Tin Man, as it is in Jessie Burton’s The Muse.
Odelle, the main character in The Muse, is a typist, as is Veblen, the main character in Elizabeth McKenzie’s crazy novel, The Portable Veblen.
Experimental formats, the Royal Family, AIDS, art and typists – where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (May 4, 2019), we’ll begin with Jane Harper’s debut best-seller, The Dry.
Haha good one Kate. I’ve only read one of those books – Two weeks with the Queen which was good fun.
I’ve scheduled my Six degrees a bit later today than my usual 10am, so will come back and add my link later.
And again next month, I haven’t read the book. That will make 0/5 for the year to date! What am I reading?
Here’s my link now: https://whisperinggums.com/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to-be-both-to/
Excellent diversity in your six degrees! Always interesting to read about authors we don’t often hear of on this side of the world.
Yes, M & V, I think that’s one of the lovely things about this meme.
I’m happy to take suggestions for starter books!
Haha Kate … I’ve been thinking about that. I’ll consider making some suggestions.
Here are some suggestions for starter books : Barkskins by Annie Proulx; The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark; Rules of Civility by Amor Towles; The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Muse & Views is contributing again this month. Shirley is the main author of this month’s meme. Hope you all enjoy it!
https://bookclub9.blogspot.com/2019/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to.html
I haven’t read How to Be Both, but my connections are The Time Traveller ‘s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell ; Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov; The Harmony Silk Factory by A W Tash; Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami; and Happenstance by Carol Shields.
Very logical chain! It is so interesting each month to see where chains go. We are enjoying our participation in this project.
I love this idea (just found it). Here is my post!
http://colourmeread.com/six-degrees-of-separation-how-to-be-both/
oh my gosh, I haven’t thought about Two Weeks with the Queen by Gleitzman for a seriously long time!!! thanks for reminding me!! 💕
Clever links – I particularly like the link from Diana – Her True Story to the not a ‘true story’ Two Weeks With the Queen.
Yours is the fourth 6 Degrees I’ve read so far and none of us has got through the Smith! You’ve made me curious about 99 Reasons Why.
I’m another one who hasn’t read How To Be Both although reading the blurb has made me add it to my wishlist… I admire authors who can do clever things with a book’s structure although, of course, it still has to be a good/interesting/entertaining read.
Yup, me too, I haven’t read the starter book either!
https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to-be-both-by-ali-smith-to
Death is Hard Work is on my list of “to read” and your description will certainly move it up! And I have not read a book that made me laugh in a while so I am adding A Season on Earth to my list even though you say it is a serious book. Maybe one of these will be my choice for next year’s list of books for Muse & Views Bookclub. Michèle D.
Tin Man was so good, made me cry. I’ll have to look up the Caroline Smailes as I loved her Like Bees for Honey – not heard much of her lately.
Great list Kate! I have The Muse on my shelf after seeing Jessie Burton at a book festival – must dust it off! 🙂 Here’s my post https://leapinglife.blog/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to-be-both-to-fish-have-no-feet/
As a Canadian I am of course partial to our authors and Carol Shields is one of my favourite. I am reading Transcription at the moment, I like Atkinson’s writing. The connections you make are fun and we must try to find “way out there” connections more often in our Six degrees . Michèle Dl
So glad you enjoyed the chain! 🙂
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Nice links! I’m going to look into 99 Reasons Why
Here is my contribution to this latest #6 degrees https://anglersrest.net/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to-be-both-to/
This is always so much fun! I haven’t read any of these yet, but I’ve got The Muse waiting.
I haven’t read How to be Both either, but the format does sound interesting. I enjoyed The Muse and would like to read Tin Man. Great chain!
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I keep hearing good things about How to Be Both (and I quite like Ali Smith), but I haven’t read this one yet either. Still, managed to think of some links. I like the sound of the Royal Family one – if it’s satirical.
Oh, I’ll be reading a few of those! Great work! Royals always get my attention.
I’ve taken part for the first time https://readingmattersblog.com/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-how-to-be-both-to-moderato-cantabile/
And yes, I’m another one who hasn’t read the Ali Smith! 😊
Glad to learn this meme is still active, I’ll be rejoining next month!
How fun! I think I’ll join in next month… but I can see that this is harder than it looks!
I do enjoy this challenge because it introduces me to lots of new books. The Tin Man is on my TBR wishlist and I have been meaning to read The Dry for a while, so I have just downloaded a copy. I shall be visiting challenge posts now and over the next few days.
Meanwhile here is a link to mine https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-e98
I haven’t read any of these although How to Be Both is in the TBR and I’d like to read The Portable Veblen. I still remember the hoo-ha when Diana Her True Story was published, I don’t think a biography has caused quite such a stir since.
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I like the connections you have made. I didn’t get very far into How to be both (was a bit too complex for me), so I didn’t know that you can choose where to start reading. I wish I had known this before I started reading it.
Here’s my post: http://nishitak.com/2019/04/06/six-degrees-of-separation-how-to-be-both/
I haven’t read any of the books in your chain, but I love the starting book for next month.
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The Portable Veblen looks cute!
I’m really surprised at the number of people doing this month;s meme that said they couldn’t finish the Ali Smith. I loved it but I really think it was because my edition began with the medieval painter and not the very irritating mother….
A bit late but got there in the end – https://bookertalk.com/2019/04/13/six-degrees-from-ali-smith-to-susan-hill/
Hi, Kate. I got here through a 6 Degrees of Separation on another blog. I’d like to join the meme, but on your page about it, the link for its origin (in your opening paragraph) no longer works. I want to be sure to give credit where credit is due, but I don’t want to include a link that no longer works. Similarly, in the graphic of the rules for the meme, I guessing the part about including a link to Annabelle or Emma’s sites no longer works, either? I just want to be fair and accurate when I describe the meme, so could you please advise? Thanks.
Hi! Thanks for your message. I will fix all those links (although it seems Annabel has removed Six Degrees from her website) and I really ought to do a new graphic… In the meantime, a link to the #6degrees page is here – https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/6-degrees-of-separation-meme/
Thanks for joining in.