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 the challenge was to begin with a book you’d previously finished a chain with. I’m rewinding to May 2019 and my starting point is I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe.
There were so many directions I could have gone with this novel – campus-lit; another winner of the Bad Sex in Fiction award; books that I read pre-blogging that I plan to reread… instead, I’m linking to another of Wolfe’s books – From Bauhaus to Our House – it’s a book about the history of architecture in America and seems quite a departure from his novels.
Naomi Wood’s novel, The Hiding Game, is set in Germany in 1922, in the Bauhaus School. I still haven’t read it (despite ticking all the boxes on a list of Things I Like in a Story), and it sits in my TBR stack alongside another by Naomi Wood – Mrs Hemingway.
There are dozens of obvious links to Mrs Hemingway of the historical-literary-figures kind, but instead I’ll focus on the theme of love triangles and a recent read that had multiple love triangles – Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky.
A swimming pool is at the centre of Dermansky’s story, as it is in Deborah Levy’s Swimming Home.
Swimming Home takes place in a villa on the French Riviera – on that basis, a link to Fitzgerald or Hemingway is obvious, but instead I’m choosing a different kind of classic – Imogen by Jilly Cooper, which is also set in a villa on the Riviera (and contains more shirtless pool boys than found in the novels of Fitzgerald and Hemingway).
From campus-lit and architecture to pools in exotic locations – where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (December 5, 2020), we’ll begin with a book that is celebrating its 50th birthday this year – Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume.
I love your various linkages here, Kate. My associations often don’t seem very creative to me. Thanks.
It’s usually whatever pops into my mind first! I rarely spend more than a few minutes coming up with a chain.
Judy Blume! Such a long time between reads…
Here’s mine for this month, I almost had Mrs Hemingway on it!
https://theresasmithwrites.com/2020/11/07/6degrees-of-separation-from-gullivers-wife-to-the-railwaymans-wife/
Nice chain, nice idea for the last book of the year… Here’s my link with a poor URL: https://whisperinggums.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-turn-of-the-screw-to-2/ I’m on the road and prepared it in a hurry before I left… Forgot to change the title!
And I couldn’t believe we hadn’t done Judy before now!
Okay… I’m Jewish, and I was 13 years old when that Judy Blume book was published, and I have to admit… I never read it! I heard about it, sure… it was HUGE. Especially for young Jewish girls at the time. That and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” which I also didn’t read. I am truly an enigma!
Maybe you can frame your chain around huge sensations you DIDN’T read Davida. 😁
Oh… never thought of that… mind you, I do like to point people in the direction of my reviews of the books in my chain, but maybe…
Great job! I love the cover of Mrs. Hemingway.
There were a few covers for Mrs Hemingway but that one certainly the most appealing.
I loved Very Nice…the perfect escape read!
Here is mine: https://happiestwhenreading.com/2020/11/06/6degrees-from-how-we-fight-for-our-lives-to-the-death-of-vivek-oji/
Yes, such good fun (and I read it when I needed a bit of an escape).
I like these links, though I’m curious to know which campus-lit you’d have chosen, it’s a category I really enjoy.
I’m leaving my #6 for today, because I accidentally published a “review from the archive” which was meant to be for next Wednesday instead.
Probably the first campus-lit novel that comes to mind is Sittenfeld’s Prep, which I loved. Also Tartt’s Secret History. Others I’ve read in recent years that I’ve enjoyed – Bunny by Mona Awad, Penelope by Rebecca Harrington and The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer.
I love that we’re starting with Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret next month! And such an interesting chain this month.
Mine is here: https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-i-am-charlotte-simmons-to-imogen/
Except for some reason, I copied and pasted your link, Kate (I think I was trying to view your post in an alternative browser that would allow me to comment), so here’s my actual link: https://www.melindatognini.com.au/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-turn-of-the-screw-to-no-friend-but-the-mountains/
I think AYTGIMM will take us in some interesting directions! I’ll be curious to see if there are any bloggers who haven’t read it (it’s mandatory reading for teens, right?!).
Um… me! I haven’t read it.
I have a vague memory of sections of it being read out in an assembly at secondary school once, but I haven’t read it. Davida isn’t alone!
We must, we must, we must increase our bust!
I know the book has been banned in some places but it was very popular in Boston where I grew up!
Judy Blume is related to someone my brother-in-law used to work with and when she heard my nieces are big readers, she sent a care package of books, which was very kind.
I’m British and I haven’t read it! Is it worth it? I’m sure I could find a copy somewhere.
What an interesting chain.
Here’s mine:
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-still-life-to-bellewether/
Thanks again for joining in 🙂
Your chain is much lighter than mine! https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/11/07/6degrees-of-separation-for-november-7-2020/
“Very Nice” chain indeed. 🙂 Mrs. Hemingway has been languishing on my TBR pile as well. Happy #6Degrees!
My own post went here: https://lexlingua.co/six-degrees-sleepy-hollow-deadly-secrets/
Nice links! And I’m already wondering where next month will lead me – but first – let’s looks at what everyone’s got this month. Here’s mine:
https://margaret21.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-in-november/
I enjoyed your chain – and it’s made me interested in reading Mrs Hemingway.
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I’m going to check out the Naomi Wood books. I’m already excited about next month’s chain! Here’s mine: https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-from-anne-of-green-gables-to-moon-of-the-crusted-snow/
I haven’t read any of these. But I do like the cover for Imogen and I am Charlotte Simmons. They also “link-up”.
Enjoy your November and here’s my 6 Degrees of Separation – One, two, buckle my shoe
I hadn’t read any of the books you linked to, but here are the ones I wrote about: https://residentjudge.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-every-secret-thing-to/
Thanks for reminding me of From Bauhaus to Our House. I’m trying to widen my non-fiction reading and it might be woeth giving that one a go. I’d be amazed if you didn’t enjoy both the Woods.
From Tom Wolfe and Bauhaus to the pool-house. Fun chain! Here’s mine for November – Highsmith to Amanda Cross: https://www.josieholford.com/6degrees-freestyle/
Great chain. I also have a Hemingway! Here’s my link: https://victoriablakewriter.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/6-degrees-of-separation/
Great chain, Kate, as always. Thanks for the reminder about The Hiding Game, which I am really keen to read. Here’s my chain https://leapinglife.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-celebrating-nonfictionnovember/
Nice trip. I have never read anything really on Mrs Hemingway.
my chain: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-truth-to-a-notebook/
I would have chosen the shirtless pool boys over Hemingway and Fitzgerald too! 😉
I’m another blogger who hasn’t read Are You There God? I don’t know how I missed it.
Great chain! I look forward to next month!
The Hiding Game has even been on my radar for a while now. Great chain and I look forward to starting with the legendary Judy Blume next month!
I haven’t read any of the books in your chain this month, but I love the way you linked them all. Here’s mine:
https://shereadsnovels.com/2020/11/07/six-degrees-of-separation-from-uprooted-to-jamaica-inn/
Looking forward to starting with the Judy Blume book in December!
I haven’t read any of these although I did spend one summer reading a *lot* of Jilly Cooper. Somehow I missed Imogen. I wonder if Very Nice would be good for my book group? My library has many copies. I wanted to pick The Fortnight in September but it might be too hard to find.
Here is my #6Degrees:
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2020/11/six-degrees-of-separation-from-good.html
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I really enjoyed Mrs Hemingway – more than I expected to, as I don’t have a high opinion of Ernest and didn’t expect to like any of the women who ended up married to him. I didn’t like all of them, but I felt sympathy towards some.
The Hiding Game sounds like something I would enjoy as well. And the Tom Wolfe book on architecture.
I’ve gone full political in response to yesterday’s relief of a foreign election result.
https://thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2020/11/08/six-degrees-of-separation-from-the-handmaids-tale-to-red-dust-road/
I’m enjoying everyone’s chains. Mine is here: https://www.notesinthemargin.org/2020/11/07/6-degrees-of-separation-life-replete-with-questions-and-drama/
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Fun links! Though your mention of pools in exotic locations makes me miss traveling. At least we can travel through books while we’re stuck at home!
My #6Degrees post
My daughter adores Jilly Cooper, and I loved her early books – Imogen, Harriet, Prudence, etc. I think they appeal more than many similar books because they have strong plots and you can really identify with the heroines.
I struggle with her later ones (though daughter says I have tried the wrong ones.) I heard her on Desert Island Discs a while back and she is still funny and interesting. Her life hasn’t been that easy either – she couldn’t have children (they adopted) and her husband Leo had a long affair. When he later developed Parkinson’s disease she nursed him herself until he died. She’s still writing. On DID she said she now finds her early book ‘How to Stay Married’ quite embarrassing, though she still laughed when she said that – I think she’d be a fun person to meet, she’s very chatty.
The only campus novels I’ve read are the Amanda Cross books (which I love but I know some people loathe) and The Glittering Prizes – and that one seems a very long time ago now! I’d never heard of the Charlotte Simmons book, so thanks for that! I enjoyed your chain.
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