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 Anna Funder’s examination of the East German Stasi – Stasiland.
I’m usually reading a fiction and a nonfiction book concurrently. While I was reading Stasiland, I was also reading Confession with Blue Horses by Sophie Hardach, a story about a family living under the Stasi.
A painting is an important part of the story in Confession, as it is in Sarah Winman’s Tin Man.
Winman has made my picks for a ‘Year of Sample Saturdays’ twice – in 2017 for Tin Man and in 2016 for A Year of Marvellous Ways.
Marvellous Ways is about an old woman at the end of her life, as is Dimitri Verhulst’s Madame Verona Comes Down the Hill.
Dense forest is the setting for Verhulst’s story, just as it is for Emily Ruskovich’s memorable novel, Idaho.
I was drawn to Idaho because of its beautiful floral cover. Another gorgeous floral cover – Trent Dalton’s forthcoming novel, All Our Shimmering Skies.
From surveillance to shimmering skies – where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Given the current pandemic, the obvious choice for next month (May 2, 2020) is The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
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Love it! Just posted mine too!
And here’s Cathy’s link – https://746books.com/2020/04/03/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to-nobodys-fool/
I’ve never read Winman – clearly a huge oversight!
If you’re going to read Winman, you must start with When God Was a Rabbit – one of my favourite books.
Our first link is the same, but that’s no great problem — I know we both read that nonfiction/fiction combo at the same time. I loved Tin Man as well. And I am such a sucker for botanical covers!
I seem to recall you did a post about botanical covers…?? Yesterday I picked up another gorgeous botanical cover I had on my shelf – How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell – might be a good time to read it! 😀
So I did! And two years later, there are still just as many floral covers out there. https://bookishbeck.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/how-i-did-on-my-2018-reading-goals-the-years-cover-trends/
Mine will post at 10am, will come back then. But just saying I love your next pick!
I wondered if it was perhaps tone deaf….? I don’t want to make people any more anxious than they already are!
Enjoyed your links Kate, though I haven’t read any of them. I will probably read Dalton, and a couple of others might make good gifts. Is Marvellous Mays a good read for an older women near the end of her life ie is it positive? It can bee sad, but not grim, is what I’m asking?
Anyhow, here’s my link: https://whisperinggums.com/2020/04/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to/
Sorry, I mean Marvellous Ways and Madame Verona?
I haven’t read Marvellous Ways (yet) but Madame Verona is one of those happy/sad books and I have to say that the final scenes have really stayed with me. So no, not grim.
I might order it for Mum.
Just one book off from my first link being the same as yours!
https://theresasmithwrites.com/2020/04/04/6degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to-home-is-nearby/
I saw this week that Trent Dalton’s latest has been pushed back to September for release. Probably in the hopes he can tour then.
I saw that news about Dalton’s book as well… I had booked to hear him speak in Melbourne 🙁 On one hand I get why push it back but on the other, I think give the fans something to look forward to in June!
I was keen and have pre-ordered for a signed copy ages ago. While I understand the decision, my first reaction was disappointment for exactly that reason.
Out of yours I have only read Tin Man… it got rave reviews in the UK and there was a lot of “buzz” and hype about it, so when I eventually got around to reading it I didn’t think it was quite as amazing as I’d been lead to believe.
My #6Degrees is here: https://readingmattersblog.com/2020/04/04/six-degrees-of-separation-april-2020/
I think her first book, When God Was a Rabbit was her best – it struck the right balance between humour and sorrow. I read it many years ago and still think about it.
I think you have recommended this one to me before.
That was fascinating. I didn’t get into any fiction in my chain! https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/04/04/6degrees-of-separation-for-april-4-2020/
Extra points for degree of difficulty then 😀
I’ll take it, especially because I read so little non-fiction!
I really need to read Trent Dalton!
My post will be up tomorrow!
Dalton’s debut is a magical book – start with that.
I’ll look forward to your chain.
Oh Tin Man, what a beautiful book that is:)
Here’s mine: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/04/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to/
Did you read her first one, When God Was a Rabbit? I loved it even more than Tin Man.
No I missed that one, I think somebody suggested it at the time, but I didn’t add it to my wishlist and so…
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I linked up…l it my name auto corrected to something weird! Link #5. I meant to post as Carol (Reading Ladies) …. https://readingladies.com/2020/04/04/6degrees-of-separation-from-Stasi land-to/
Thanks for joining in Carol!
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Fabulous! Loving those covers, and a few titles for my TBR 🙂 Here’s mine https://leapinglife.com/2020/04/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to-the-mirror-and-the-light/
Not afraid to admit I regularly judge a book by its cover!
Haha don’t we all! 🤣
Tin Man made me cry, and Madame Verona is just wonderful. (I recommend Verhulst’s The Elephant – very different but brilliant).
Madame Verona is such a surprising story. I’ll check out The Elephant.
I’d forgotten how lovely that Idaho jacket is but All Our Shimmering Skies is even prettier. I loved Madame Verona, too, and thanks to Annabel for The Elephant recommendation
I read Idaho purely because of the cover – the story was quite different to what I was expecting!
As so often happens I haven’t read any of the books in your chain. But I do have a copy of The Road in my TBRs.
The Road is pretty grim Margaret! It’s not my kind of book really, but I read it years ago because it’s one that always pops up on those ‘100 Books You Must Read’ lists.
Great chain! I have read Madame Verona and thought it was a lovely book. I would like to read the Sarah Winman books too as I remember enjoying When God Was a Rabbit a few years ago.
When God Was a Rabbit remains one of my favourites – I remember laughing out loud and crying my eyes out (these are the best kind of books!).
I haven’t read any of these, Kate, but weirdly I saw an Idaho license plate today (it is 2700 miles away so I don’t think I had ever seen one before) and remembered the buzz around this debut novel when it came out. I think my book group would like it.
Here is my chain – just squeaked in by midnight https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from.html
It’s a sign! The story of Idaho is quite a contrast to the pretty cover…
I somehow overlooked adding Stasiland to my WTR list, I’ve corrected that now. With the delay in Daltons new book I might get a chance to read Boy Swallows Universe first.
I’d left Stasiland way too long as well (only read it a month ago) and when I finished it, I wondered why – it is as brilliant as everyone says. And Boy Swallows Universe is also brilliant (was my top book last year).
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Darn it! I thought it was this week. I’ve got Stasiland from the library and everytihng. I’ll do it tomorrow. Better late than never. Idaho was a DNF for me.
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A more hopeful chain than mine, Kate. Well done for finding shimmering skies.
Mine is so late it might as well be May. I’ve lost track of time.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/six-degrees-of-separation-from-stasiland-to-the-milkman-in-the-night/
I think you can be forgiven for losing track of time in these strange times!
I love how these chains can go in so many different directions. I have not read any of the books you mention, and only heard of a couple at that. So many new books to check out!
Here is mine if you are interested:https://www.literaryfeline.com/2020/04/six-degrees-of-separation-stasiland-to.html