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 Siri Hustvedt’s What I Loved. It’s one of the few books that got five stars from every member of my book group.
Alas, another by Siri Hustvedt – The Blazing World – got a universal thumbs down from my book group. From memory, no one managed to finish it…
In the same category was The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson.
It’s not the only Booker Prize winner that I couldn’t finish – the other was A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (I’m comforted by the fact that Karen at Booker Talk had the same experience with both books).
I bought Brief History for my husband the Christmas before it won the Booker. Even though he rarely reads for pleasure, I buy him a book each year, to keep his hand in if someone asks what he is reading 😉 Last Christmas I bought him Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing (and promptly read it myself).
Say Nothing is undoubtedly one of the best narrative nonfiction books I’ve ever read, so I jumped at the chance to hear Keefe speak (via Zoom – thanks COVID!). He was in conversation with David Grann about the art of writing true crime. Obviously I immediately bought Grann’s book, Killers of the Flower Moon.
Killers of the Flower Moon focuses on the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. My reading of books about Indigenous Americans has been very limited, with the last one being Terese Marie Mailhot’s memoir, Heart Berries.
Books I loved, books I couldn’t finish and books I haven’t yet read – where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (August 1, 2020), we’ll begin with a niche non-fiction book that you probably haven’t read but has a COVID-timely title – How To Do Nothing by Jenny Odell.
A great bookish chain. Interesting. I could not finish Hustvedt’s What I Loved and liked it less than The Blazing World. I just devoured The Blazing World! Killers of the Flower Moon is a great book too.
Never even heard of next month’s book. A very entertaining chain Kate. How fascinating about your book group and those two Hustvedts. My group was Very mixed and mostly mystified by The Finkler question. But I loved it. The Jewish humour for a start just had me laughing.
I’ve scheduled my Six Degrees for this afternoon so will be back later today with my link.
Me Too: I couldn’t finish The Finkler Question or A Brief History of Seven Killings or Lincoln in the Bardo…
And here’s mine: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/07/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-what-i-loved-to/
Good that you buy your husband a fiction book every Christmas. (It is a great excuse to buy a book you want to read yourself.) Here’s my list. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/07/04/6degrees-of-separation-for-july-4-2020/
I sent mine out under the wrong title, but it’s right now! However the URL is up the creek! Here it is: https://whisperinggums.com/2020/07/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-road-to-2/
Both my hubs and I enjoyed Killers of the Flower Moon!
https://readingladies.com/2020/07/04/6degrees-of-separation-from-what-i-loved-to-learning-to-see/
I couldn’t finish The Finkler Question either – or Lincoln in the Bardo! I’ve never heard of next month’s starting book …
We made the same link to The Blazing World, a very tricky book indeed. Not only didn’t I finish The Finkler Question, I wanted to throw it across the room.
I had booked Patrick to come to HomePlace in June (his only reading in Northern Ireland) and was utterly gutted when we had to cancel due to Covid. Fingers crossed I’ll get him back next year!
I have heard of next month’s book though I haven’t read it. Like you, there seems to be more Booker Prizewinners that I’ve struggled with than those I’ve enjoyed. Nice chain, Kate!
Haha, I used to buy books like that for my husband too. I gave up ages ago and just get what I want in the first place! 😂
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I’ve had Heart Berries on my wishlist for a while. This was such a great Six Degrees link. Thank you for hosting. I have not heard of the book for next month but am sure I’ll enjoy the linking.
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I found Killers of the Flower Moon a very compelling read. My chain for this month is here: https://www.notesinthemargin.org/2020/07/04/6-degrees-of-separation-books-i-didnt-like-but-more-that-i-did/
I’ve only read one book by Howard Jacobson – his take on The Merchant of Venice. It didn’t inspire me to read anything else by him. I have A Brief History of Seven Killings languishing on my Kindle. I’ll get to it one day.
I hadn’t heard of the first book in this month’s chain, so I started at a tangent ended up choosing books at random that turned out to dovetail nicely.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2020/07/04/six-degrees-of-separation-from-what-i-loved-to/
Say Nothing and Killers of the Flower Moon are the both on my wishlist. Enjoyed your chain as always.
Mine is here https://bookdout.wordpress.com/2020/07/05/six-degrees-of-separation-what-i-loved-to-the-adventures-of-maud-west-lady-detective/
I’ve heard of Siri’s books but none of the others. Intrigued by Heart Berries! Here is mine with four minutes to spare!
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-what-i.html
Sandra of A Corner of Cornwall has sent me to your blog, and your challenge. I think I’d like to join in, First challenge … source the book! So pleased to have found your blog, thanks to Sandra.
Hello Margaret! Would love to have you join in (although no requirement to read the book – sometimes the blurb, the book jacket, or even the title/ author nae is enough to start your chain).
I’m thinking already!
Woo Hoo, hello, Margaret! I think Kate’s book choices in general may be a good match for you. (Quite what I’m basing that on is anyone’s guess, but I have a feeling…. 😉) And as Kate says, there’s no need to have read the book – most people haven’t read it each month. Statistically that’s hardly surprising and since we can link in any way we wish it’s easy to kick off with just the blurb etc. . But the meme is great fun! Looking forward to seeing what you make of it 😊
Enjoyed your chain! Thanks for hosting this enjoyable chain every month.
Love the 6 degrees tag! I’ve never read any of Siri Hustvedt’s books, but What I Loved has been one of those ones I’ve felt guilty about not having tried for years now! Maybe this will be the prompt that makes me read it 🙂
Here’s the link to my 6 degrees book chain:
http://thisgirlsbookroom.com/2020/07/05/six-degrees-of-separation-julys-journey-in-six-books/
I linked to The Blazing World too (also unfinished). Looks like we are in good company with our dislike of the Finkler Question and 7 Killings !
Here’s my attempt at this month’s chain
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I keep hearing about this Siri Hustvedt book and I do have it on my bookshelf, but I just need to make time to read it…
I realize this is a month old, but due to one thing or another, I didn’t get around to this until this month.
https://bookstooge.wordpress.com/2020/08/09/6degrees-what-i-loved-to/
I should get to August’s choice next week then I’ll be back on schedule. Ive had a lot of fun doing this and I want to thankyou for keeping this going…