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 Wifedom by Anna Funder, subtitled ‘Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life’.
It feels like an easy option to link to Animal Farm by George Orwell but I’m choosing it for a very particular reason – when I was quite little, my dad read it to me as a bedtime story.
He did the same with For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke. That might seem a strange choice for a bedtime story but I suspect it was influenced by the fact that Clarke’s book was turned into a miniseries. The eighties was the golden age of the miniseries, when the whole family eagerly awaited the next dramatic installment (and we were always allowed to stay up late for these tele-visual feasts).
Another eighties miniseries based on a book (that I was absolutely captivated by) was Ruth Park’s The Harp in the South.
Park’s book is set in Depression-era Sydney, as is Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor.
My next link is to Vida by Jacqueline Kent, on the basis that both are books about Australian female historical figures with their name as the title.
Two books in a row with a woman’s name as the title – lets make it three. The most recent I read that fits the category is Becky by Sarah May.
From the Orwells and Australian classics to the Depression. Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (October 7, 2023), we’ll start with a classic – I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
Great links! Here’s mine:
https://tasmanianbibliophileatlarge.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/6degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-mrs-orwells-invisible-life-by-anna-funder-to-the-once-and-future-witches-by-alix-e-harrow/
The publisher sent me a copy of Becky and I keep meaning to read it. (I recently read a pre-release novel called Rebecca, Not Becky, which is the more perfect title for me because I’ve always disliked that nickname!)
Ha! Vanity Fair is in my list!! https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-wifedom-by-anna-funder/
Oh woo hoo, finally a starting book I have read, albeit a zillion years ago!
I loved your links particularly from Park’s novel to Iris to Vida. Good ones
Here is my chain: https://whisperinggums.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-to/ And I started obviously too.
Yes, me too, I’ve read it too!
Here’s mine: https://anzlitlovers.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-to/
PS Did you cry when Boxer died?
What interesting bedtime reading your father exposed you to! What a gift. I’ve read quite a few of the books in your chain, and I look forward to next month’s. Here’s my chain here: https://residentjudge.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-to/
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation: From Wifedom to The Wind in the Willows (September 2023) – Literary Potpourri
Yes, your father did have make some unusual choices for bedtime stories. My father read us The Wizard of Oz!
Thanks for making this then month when I actually read the starter book! Yours is a well-realised chain. I struggled a bi, but here goes: https://margaret21.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-to-our-souls-at-night/
I also chose Animal Farm for my first link – a very obvious choice I’m afraid. This month my chain is mainly non fiction for a change. Glad to see that next month we’re starting with a book I have read!
That was an interesting starter book (even though I have not read it, as usual) and I liked your chain. One of my links also lead to George Orwell and I have actually read the first two books on your list. I probably could have used For the Term of his Natural Life as my last one because I needed a book with Life in the title and was looking for people who had changed their lives. Would have fitted well. But, my idea led me to another book.
I have not read the starter book for next month but I’ve always been curious, I like the title. If I find a copy in time, I might read it this month. Thanks.
My Six Degrees of Separation took me from Wifedom to Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs.
I haven’t read any of these but I do own a book by Ruth Parks called Missus. I’ve had it since 1997 without reading it – maybe the description sounded better than the actual book looked . . .
My chain: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2023/09/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom.html
I did end up really enjoying Romantic Comedy and recommend the audiobook. It was good company on my commute to work. My sisters read it too.
The chains this month have been really interesting – Wifedom was a great starting point.
Fun links! I have only read Animal Farm, but I may try Wifedom.
https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/09/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-wifedom-to-dream-or-nightmare/
Animal Farm is a really interesting choice for a bedtime story!
I was thinking the exact same thing. Wondered if Dad was pulling a book from his high school repository.
Love your dad’s bedtime reading choices! We worked our way through Roald Dahl and the Narnia books (my dad was a primary school teacher). And yes, the 80s was all about the TV mini-series. Do you remember Vietnam, with Nicole Kidman?! 😆
I remember that Kidman mini series?
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation – FictionFan's Book Reviews
Looking forward to reading wifedom. An Anna Funder fan here
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation – louloureads
Have been on holiday and was then jetlagged, so apologies for a very late participation to this book tag. I’m looking forward to reading Wifedom, although I’m not quite sure I want to have my impression of George Orwell destroyed.
Pingback: #SixDegrees of Separation September 2023 – findingtimetowrite
Another great theme following being adrift in Time, Friendship, Memory, and Romance and now Wives – really enjoyed this Kate (as ever!)
Well I haven’t read the starter book yet, but she is great writer and it sounds fascinating. Might well go on my Christmas list!
But here is my chain: https://travelwithintent.com/2023/09/18/tales-of-married-women/
very late to the party this time.. and as always looking forward to interesting chains all across. i have only read Animal Farm on your chain this time around..
https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/from-the-heart-seven-lines-seven-seas/#Six_Degrees_From_Invisible_Lives_to_Invisible_Elephants