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 Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. It’s a New York story, and although I had every intention of reading it over my summer holiday, I didn’t. Instead, I read another New York story – Rachel DeLoache Williams’s memoir, My Friend Anna.
In My Friend Anna, there is a reference to rapper, Lil Wayne. I’m alert to mentions of Lil Wayne because I sat next to his manager on a flight from LA to Miami – there’s a lot more to this story and if I’ve had a few g&ts, it’s a better yarn but, in the absence of gin, trust that I have good reason to notice references to Lil Wayne. Which leads me to John Kenney’s Truth in Advertising – the main character, Fin, plans to use Lil Wayne in an advertising campaign for orange soda.
The orange soda links to Lil’ Wayne’s use of sizzurp, as discussed by Louis Theroux in Gotta Get Theroux This. What are the chances of reading three books in a row that mention Lil Wayne? Is it a sign that I need another holiday in Miami…?
The same week I saw Louis, I also went to see the My Dad Wrote a Porno crew read the next instalment of Rocky Flinstone’s Belinda Blinked.
Belinda Blinked is a wildly successful series of erotic novels set in the cut throat world of pots and pans sales. I think the less said the better. Pots and pans leads me to a gorgeous novel about cooking – Mãn by Kim Thúy.
I’ve read dozens of books set in restaurants, but I’m closing this chain with a terrific story about a restaurant in New York – Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler.
I started and ended with New York, and linked to a con artist, salespeople, and kitchens along the way. Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (March 7, 2019), we’ll begin with Lucy Treloar’s Wolfe Island.
You can’t just leave us hanging over the Lil’ Wayne story Kate 😀
It really is very long and involved… just know that my brother will never forgive me for not taking the opportunity to party at South Beach with Lil Wayne.
What a cool way of doing this one! My son would be so jealous of the trip with Lil Wayne’s manager!
Yes, the Lil Wayne experience was wasted on me (apart from the fact that I still get a lot of mileage out of the story!).
I’ve fallen off the wagon already and not read this month’s book, despite my intentions. I shouldn’t have any troubles with reading the next one though since it’s waiting on my review shelf and is long overdue for a read.
But I still managed to make a chain:
https://theresasmithwrites.com/2020/02/01/6degrees-of-separation-from-is-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to-chasing-windmills/
You know I’ve rarely read the book, right? 😀
True! 😁 But it felt like something I could achieve if I just juggled a bit more efficiently…
Great post, even though I’ve never heard of Lil Wayne. Clearly I’ve not been attending to something. Anyhow, I decided to do something different this time. Here’s my link. https://whisperinggums.com/2020/02/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to/
You’re not the only one who hasn’t (hadn’t) heard of Lil Wayne! The weird thing is that since that trip, his name seems to come up all the time – classic example, as I was preparing this post, I thought I’d provide a Lil Wayne link. I searched his name and unbelievably, it was the exact time his new album dropped, so of course social media going crazy!
I am so relieved! I like to think I’m reasonably up on things, but then, I’d never heard of Kobe Bryant either as I’m not an NBA follower or American sportspeople follower. The last, probably only, male American basketballer I knew was Magic Johnson!
Of course you need another Miami holiday, though personally I’d rather … well, work till I died, shovel out sewers, spend consecutive days on the Gold Coast (Qld). Yes, have a few gins and tell us the Lil Wayne story.
Miami was one of the best places I’ve visited – glorious Art Deco architecture, superb beaches, and amazing food (which has not always been my experience in America). I will most certainly go back.
Haha, you’re right. I love going to the USA, but food isn’t one of the top draws. You can find some really good food, by our criteria, but it’s not necessarily easy.
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I am completely bewildered by your choices, but you knew that, didn’t you?!
I’ve never sat next to anybody famous on a plane, alas.
Here’s mine, positively fuddy-duddy by comparison: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/02/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to/
Fairly certain it’s the oddest chain I’ve put together but, after reading three books in a row that mentioned Lil Wayne, I couldn’t leave them out!
Well, if you like Miami… what an interesting chain – lot of twists! Here’s mine https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/02/01/6degrees-of-separation-for-february-1-2020/
Interesting… or probably just plain strange! 😀 It was all downhill after Lil Wayne.
HA!
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Any excuse for a holiday will do!
Yes, you don’t have to twist my arm to go to Miami.
The Lil Wayne story is intriguing, even though I have never heard of him! Anyway, great chain as always – and thanks for the reminder about Sweetbitter – I really must try to get around to that some time. Here’s mine 🙂
https://leapinglife.com/2020/02/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to-im-not-complaining/
I really enjoyed the book and thought the first season of the tv series was reasonable. I’m halfway through season 2 of the tv series now and it’s not great 🙁
Oh boo – what a disappointment
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Great chain – always pleased to see Mãn and Sweetbitter on anyone’s list – but I think we all need to know more of that Lil’ Wayne story…
wow, you lead us on quite a journey! Try mine: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/02/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-trouble-to-wedding/
I don’t have a clue who Lil’ Wayne is and Sweetbitter was one of my rare DNF’s, (I’m in the minority with both probably). I enjoyed the stories behind your links though.
https://bookdout.wordpress.com/2020/02/02/six-degrees-of-separation-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to-peace/
I enjoyed reading Fleishman Is in Trouble for this exercise. Here’s my chain: https://www.notesinthemargin.org/2020/02/01/6-degrees-of-separation-what-goes-around-comes-around/
I want to hear this story about Lil Wayne, preferably over a g&t.
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I promise to lead you to good restaurants in Boston if you come this far north!
Here is my chain. Can you tell I like sweets?
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/02/six-degrees-from-fleishman-to-cure-for.html
I love this chain! Admirable knowledge of taffy.
Those links were like a foreign language for me – or at least most of them. I want to know more about Lil Wayne (not sure who he is but have vaguely heard of him) and the erotic novels and Miami and all that jazz!
Bravo! The Lil Wayne midsection is just great. And how marvellous that his unretirement coincides with your chain.
I had a struggle to get started on my chain. It was almost the end of the day, my head was muzzy with cold remedies, and I’d just got back from seeing Alexei Sayle’s stand-up show. Not a combination for coherent linking. I lazily went Welsh, but tried to get a couple of extra links in there, too.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2020/02/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-fleishman-is-in-trouble-to-the-saga-of-erik-the-viking/
Hi Kate, I’ve never done one of these posts before (I think I misunderstood and thought you had to go from the start point to one particular stopping point) and I know it’s a little late, but do you mind if I post one tomorrow?
Of course not! Join in whenever and know that there are no rules 😊
Ok, I’ll see if I feel inspired (I can’t make it past 4 degrees yet!) to post this week; otherwise I’ll be sure I’m ready for next month’s.
I finally managed to put one together! It was such fun.
I’m impressed that you knew of the rapper. i’d have gone blank when the name was mentioned….We must find a way to get you some G&Ts so we can discover the full story…
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That’s funny that you found three books referencing Lil Wayne – I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that mentioned his name!
Here is my slightly belated attempt: https://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/2020/02/14/six-degrees-of-separation-from-fleischman-is-in-trouble-to/
How funny that Lil Wayne keeps cropping up in your books since that trip!! Thanks for sharing your fun connections with us!
It sure is a random theme!
I’m intrigued by the Lil Wayne manager story… But also, have you seen the adaptation of Sweetbitter? I think it’s on Stan. I watched a couple of the episodes, but not the whole series. I think it was cancelled (or ended?) after the first season.
I have seen Sweetbitter on Stan. I enjoyed the first season but recently watched the second season and it was a bit stupid… and I read somewhere that there won’t be a season three!
I didn’t know there was a season 2, so thank you!!
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Who knew?! https://www.thewrap.com/fleishman-is-in-trouble-adaptation-fx/
Ohhh! Will look forward to that.