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 Hydra by Adriane Howell, which made the Stella Prize 2023 shortlist.
In Hydra, the main character visits a Greek island, a trip that also marked the end of her marriage. Similarly, in Katie Kitamura’s A Separation, the main character’s marriage ends on a Greek island (but in a very different way).
Kitamura highlights the importance of the ‘wailing women’ as part of the Greek mourning ritual. In her book, From Here to Eternity, Caitlin Doughty examines the death and mourning traditions of various cultures around the world.
I recently added a book to my reading stack – The Good Death Through Time by Caitlin Mahar – Mahar looks at how the definition of ‘dying well’ has altered over the centuries, particularly in Western culture.
Much of Mahar’s text focuses on assisted dying, which links to Sigrid Nunez’s novel, What Are You Going Through.
My review of Nunez’s novel mentions an ‘elderly neighbour’. I can’t remember this detail but it immediately made me think of the neighbour with dementia in Monogamy by Sue Miller.
Despite the title, Miller’s novel focuses on the effect of an affair, which links to a recent read, The Margot Affair by Sanaë Lemoine.
Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (June 3, 2023), we’ll start with Elizabeth Day’s exploration of friendship, Friendaholic.
Such a different and interesting chain Kate. My first thought was to go Charmian Clift who lived on Hydra but I’ve not reviewed here on my blog so went a different direction. I have yet to read Nunez. Haven’t read any of your books in fact.
Anyhow, here you s my chain … https://whisperinggums.com/2023/05/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to/
I was trying to think of that same book about Charmian Clift, but couldn’t think of the title (and I am yet to read it, although it’s on my TBR pile)
I haven’t read any of your books either, though I have read books by two of the authors you linked to. The first is Sue Miller, whose books I have loved over the years, but I feel as if they are becoming a bit same-y. The second is Sigrid Nunez, whose novella ‘The Friend’ I have read, which revolves around a death as well. My link is here: https://residentjudge.com/2023/05/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to/
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I haven’t read any of these books, so more for me to explore. Here’s my chain – https://booksplease.org/2023/05/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to-see-what-i-have-done/
Fascinating chain here. I don’t know any of your books! Here’s mine. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2023/05/06/tcls-6degrees-of-separation-for-may-6-2023/
Nice chain Kate, I’m keen to read A Separation.
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I’m quite interested in From Here to Eternity and The Good Death Through Time. If nothing else, they might help me give some context as to family stories about attending or not attending funerals in previous generations.
I’ve read both A Seperation and Monogamy and will be reading The Margot Affair shortly, forewarned by your review!
Here’s my chain: https://alifeinbooks.co.uk/2023/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to-vacuum-in-the-dark/
I hadn’t read the starter book, but I did go a similar direction in that my books also featured dying. https://www.bookshelfdiscovery.com/blog/six-degrees-of-separation-may-23
I’m in Bendigo for the writers festival so I’m going to skip this month’s #6 degrees but I enjoyed reading yours:)
I remember that Sigrid Nunez book was our starting point a few years ago. I haven’t read any of these but I have enjoyed several books by Sue Miller. Here is my entry for May:
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2023/05/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to.html
Constance
What an interesting chain! Mine goes in a slightly different direction: https://margaret21.com/2023/05/06/six-degrees-of-separation-from-hydra-to-purple-hibiscus/
I haven’t read any of your choices, Kate, but The Good Death Through Time looks like an important and informative book. Thanks for hosting each month. My current entry is here: https://www.notesinthemargin.org/2023/05/06/6-degrees-of-separation-from-dark-to-darker/
Very interesting chain. I’d only heard of the older From Here to Eternity–which became a movie with Frank Sinatra.
I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned but I have read some with similar themes – assisted living, end-of-life, broken marriages and reflection. (I wonder if A Daughter’s A Daughter by Christie would fit.)
My blog post is based on mythical/mystical creatures and monsters (Hydra being one of them).
Here’s my post: https://thebookdecoder.com/2023/05/07/six-degrees-of-separation-6-may-2023/
Haven’t read the starter book but ended up with two chains (had three actually!!).. Here is my post: https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/swimming-with-krill-from-hydra-to-timbuktu-and-more/
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What an interesting chain, I absolutely loved it. My chain didn’t work with words in the title either, this time. My Six Degrees of Separation took me from Hydra to Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
A little late because I only discovered this wonderful way of linking books to day over on Lady in Read Writes ( https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/swimming-with-krill-from-hydra-to-timbuktu-and-more/) THIS MORNING and so I had to have a go – https://how-would-you-know.com/2023/05/six-degrees-of-separation-debut-post.html
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Absolutely love the 6 Degrees of Separation meme #6degrees and wanted to try my hand at this month’s book chain which starts with “Hydra” by Adriane Howell. “Hydra” links to another figure in Greek mythology, “Circe” by Madeline Miller. The next link is that Circe is a major character in Homer’s “The Odyssey”. The following link is that “The Odyssey” is one of the cornerstone texts in Columbia University’s core curriculum Lit Hum class and while I was at Columbia I also took a course called “Six Degrees” taught by Duncan J. Watts who wrote the book “Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age”. The next link is the title and the whole concept of #6Degrees connecting to the play “Six Degrees of Separation” by John Guare. The remaining links all build on the idea of the Biblionaut Book Club, focusing on characters who mention reading specific books in their text. Paul from “Six Degrees of Separation” discusses reading “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger in the play. The final link is Holden Caufield from “The Catcher in the Rye” mentioning how he’s crazy about “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Wish I had a book blog, but at this point just a bookstagram @Biblionautbookclub on Instagram. Thanks!