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 Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld’s fictional account of what might have happened in Hillary Clinton’s life, had she not married Bill.
In her 2017 book, What Happened, Hillary Clinton gave her account of the 2016 US election campaign.
In What Happened, Clinton quotes Chanel Miller, whose memoir, Know My Name, describes the time following her sexual assault. I could link to similar memoirs, but I’ll steer this chain toward happier waters – Know My Name appeared in my Top 50 from the Best Books of 2019 List of Lists, as did The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
I enjoyed the fairy tale motifs in The Dutch House. Similar (in terms of the fairy tale bits), and also published in 2019, was Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi.
I finished Gingerbread feeling like I’d been on a rollercoaster. Or dumped by a wave. I had the same feeling when I finished Sara Stridsberg’s The Faculty of Dreams. It’s a fictionalised account of the life of the life of Valerie Solanas – this would circle back very neatly to Rodham, but I’m one link short, so I’ll end with another novel that examines the inner life of a person in the spotlight – Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates.
Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (October 3, 2020), we’ll start with The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
I had to give up on Gingerbread. I had no idea what was going on
Great chain. I had the best of intentions to read Rodham before this Saturday, it’s been sitting on my dining table the last 10 days, but I still didn’t get there. Now I have no idea about a chain…
Are there other books sitting on your dining table? If so, there’s your first link 😉
Oooh! There is one on top of it and there is a reason they are there…
*goes to brew a cup of tea to drink while writing a genius chain*
I’ll be back soon! 👌
😀
See? The links can be with ANYTHING! That’s what I love about this meme!
It’s still Friday, 9/4 where I am, so I’ll wait to post my link. But I (and my entire book club) loved Blonde. And I’m very excited about The Turn of the Screw.
Turn of the Screw was about as Halloween-themed as I get!
Great chain Kate. I haven’t read anything about Hillary so went in a different direction. https://whisperinggums.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-rodham-to/
PS love going from The Dutch house to Gingerbread.
I think both had elements of Hansel and Gretel from memory…
I want to read Faculty of Dreams, even more so now I know the effect it had on you. I always love to read a book that turns my world upside down a bit or has taken me on a real ride. My chain went from Rodham to Tampa via some very dark territory: https://readingmattersblog.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-september/
I loved Faculty of Dreams. It’s such a bizarre, loving, challenging book. One that I think about often.
Gingerbread, that one stays in my memory as a book that baffled me entirely. I reckon there should be a special medal cast for those of us who persisted right through to the end of it.
Here’s my chain: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-rodham-to/
I think I only got through Gingerbread because I was listening to it and the narrator was very good. That said, I frequently had to rewind bits!
I had a hard time with this one, but I tried something different with the first link which got me going! Next month… I think I already know the first link. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/09/05/6degrees-of-separation-for-september-5-2020/
I chose What Happened as my first link too, but then went off in a different direction. I said in my post that I’m not keen on fictionalised biographies, forgetting that I loved Blonde!!!
My chain is not very varied this month with three crime fiction novels in it.
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The only one of your chain that I’ve read is The Dutch House, which I remained fairly indifferent to. My own chain is somewhat different – but then, aren’t they all.
https://margaret21.wordpress.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-in-september
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Great chain, as ever, Kate. Always glad to see The Dutch House given a mention.
Great chain and great starting book! I really enjoyed doing the chain this month – one of those which almost materialised on its own account. Glad to see The Dutch House on your list – I enjoyed that one as well.
and my link… https://stargazer-online.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-identity-memories-stories/
Blonde is one of my all tkme favourites (and JCO pops up on my 6 Degrees this month) and I read, reviewed and loved The Faculty of Dreams for WIT Month.
I’m sure I’ve read Blonde and I just can’t remember a thing about it. I do keep meaning to read more JCO! The Dutch House is definitely on the list – I love Patchett.
Really want to read Gingerbread from this list. Thanks for hosting this amazing meme!
And here’s my first attempt at #6Degrees: https://lexlingua.co/six-degrees-of-separation-rodham/
I tried to comment, but I kept getting a ‘Blocked. Suspected Bot’ message when I tried to comment. An interesting chain nevertheless with a great theme.
Gah! How did this happen?! I’m so sorry, I just set up my blog and I’m still figuring it out. Thanks for letting me know, and thanks for reading through it 🙂
I’ve not read any of these – isn’t it interesting where one book can take us?
This is my list: https://sconesandchaiseslongues.blogspot.com/2020/09/six-degrees-of-separation-september-2020.html
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation: from Rodham to Hag-Seed – What I Think About When I Think About Reading
That’s an interesting range of books, as always, Kate. I still haven’t read What Happened. I want to read Rodham. I like biographical fiction a lot.
Joyce Carol Oates is an author I’ve had recommended to me but I’ve never made time to read. Maybe Blonde is the book to start me off.
I’ve gone with a theme of women in the shadow of men (or not) with my chain this month. https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-rodham-to-hag-seed/
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I love fairy tale motifs, so there’s a couple of books that really intrigue me.
I’ve heard so many good things about The Dutch House but I haven’t read it yet. There’s always a huge wait list at my library. I had it in my shopping cart the other night and then realized that everyone loves the audiobook. I deleted it. I need to just break down and get on the library list.
This is my first chain and I had fun with it! Thanks for hosting!
Fascinating chain. I love the sound of Blonde – I haven’t read anything by JCO and really must give her a try some time. Here’s my chain https://leapinglife.com/2020/09/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-rodham-to-when-women-were-birds/
Now that it’s finally Saturday where I am, my post is up: https://www.notesinthemargin.org/2020/09/05/6-degrees-of-separation-womens-voices/
I struggled with this one but got there in the end. And I’m enjoying seeing what everyone else has done, all so different of course. I have The Dutch House here and must give it a try soon. Next month looks a lot of fun!
I loved The Dutch House! I’m looking forward to next month’s chain as I’ve actually read the starting book for once!
I attempted to comment this morning but it looks like my phone may have swallowed it.
I’ve heard so many good things about The Dutch House. I almost bought it earlier this week but I realized how many people rave about the audio book. I’m going to finally join the queue for that at my library.
Disappointed that I missed all the fairy tale references in The Dutch House! Hansel & Gretel? Oh well.
Here is my 6Degree for September:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/09/six-degrees-of-separation-from-proud.html
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Well done! I did not know that Chanel Miller was in the Hil book. I gave up reading political memoirs years ago. I did want her to win instead of Trump though!
I had trouble starting my chain this month, but got there in the end.
https://bookdout.wordpress.com/2020/09/06/six-degrees-of-separation-rodham-to-life-or-death/
It’s always a bit of a challenge when you haven’t read the first book in the chain, but I managed… something… It turned out to be a chain about egos, somehow.
I’m late to the party but I love the way you took this. Some very original titles, too.
I really need to read The Dutch House,especially now that you mention fairy tale motifs.
Hi there Kate! I was late with my link-up. Again… But I just posted it and shared the link.
I love this meme! And your list is awesome. I still want to read The Dutch House and Blonde.
Hope you will have a good month, I will try my best to have my post done on time next month. LOL!!
6 Degrees of Separation Sep 2020