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 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. One of the central characters is an accomplished chess player, which links to Tom Vanderbilt’s memoir, Beginners, where he describes his attempts to learn chess (among other things) as an adult.
The most significant and challenging thing I’ve learnt (from scratch) as an adult is scuba diving. The bits about scuba diving were the only thing that interested me in Jennifer Egan’s historical novel, Manhattan Beach.
Another novel about scuba diving is Whalefall by Daniel Kraus – I haven’t read it because it sounds terrifying.
The topic of whalefall has come up in a bunch of books I’ve read, but I first came across it in Rebecca Giggs’s remarkable book, Fathoms.
There are so many books about whales that I could link to but I’ve used them in previous chains, so bear with me for the next (tenuous) link. Fathoms is a thorough investigation of all-things whale; it’s a big book; and it’s by an Australian author. Same but different is Kate Cole-Adams’s look at anaesthetic from every angle in Anaesthesia: The Gift of Oblivion and The Mystery of Consciousness.
I saw Cole-Adams at the Melbourne Writers Festival in 2017, alongside Christine Kenneally, whose book The Invisible History of the Human Race offers a different perspective on DNA.
Where will other chains go? Link up below or post your link in the comments section.
Next month (December 7, 2024), we’ll start with a beach read – Sandwich by Catherine Newman.
LOL Kate, I was lucky that I lucked on a cover of the Rooney that took me to interesting places!
https://anzlitlovers.com/2024/11/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-intermezzo-to/
You and Lisa both went the chess route but in different ways. I enjoyed your links … got me thinking for example about the most difficult thing I’ve learnt as an adult. I tend not to do physical challenges so can’t think of anything there except maybe learning the foxtrot which is not an easy dance to get right! That sounds a bit lame though. Trying and failing to keep on top of WordPress perhaps?
I think I’ll leave it there before I make more of a fool of myself.
Here’s my chain: https://whisperinggums.com/2024/11/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-intermezzo-to/
I try to do something ‘new’ every year (it started after my scuba diving experience, but more on that when I finish and review Beginners). I couldn’t think beyond chess as the starting point and almost went with The Queen’s Gambit, until I started reading Beginners a week ago and it then of course my chain wrote itself 🙂
You could never pay me enough money to go scuba diving! Lol. I am firmly a creature of terra firma. I hate planes, boats, fairground rides too. 🤢
I love nothing more than being on the water, or in it, or under it but I have family members who are of the terra firma variety so I get it.
Well, you really made some interesting links here! Scuba diving? Cool! Not my thing, though. Here’s my post: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2024/11/02/tcls-6degrees-of-separation-for-november-2-2024/
Scuba – cool but challenging. I pretty much only do ‘resort’ dives now (that’s where someone else checks your equipment and navigates the dive).
You’re braver than me. I fancied learning to do scuba diving but was too scared and I have a great fear of drowning. I thought about beginning with The King’s Gambit at first and then decided to link with another book about brothers.
I am a confident swimmer and have done all sorts of water sports but scuba was easily the most challenging thing I’ve done (physically, mentally and emotionally). Everything about it is counter-intuitive to surviving!
Definitely not for me then!
I think I’m going to have to take a look at Fathoms because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen it posted about.
It’s an amazing book – track it down if you can.
I’ve finally read one of your six- the Christine Keneally book about DNA. I’d heard of Cole-Adams’ book about anaesthesia but I’m already so nervous about anaesthetics that perhaps it’s not a good idea to learn more. Here’s my link: https://residentjudge.com/2024/11/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-intermezzo-to/
If anaesthesia makes you nervous DO NOT read the book! I heard her speak and although I haven’t read the book (yet), some of the things she said haven’t left my mind, all these years later – I think that says a lot!
Pingback: Six Degrees of Separation: From Intermezzo to Emily of New Moon (November 2024) – Literary Potpourri
Interesting links, Kate with all new-to-me books. The Invisible History of the Human Race is book I’d like to look up!
I went through a phase of reading lots of popular science about DNA (I had returned to uni to study genetics) and I do recall that Invisible History was a bit different than the majority of the other books about genetics.
The only one of your books I’ve read is the Jennifer Egan. It is always interesting to read something about a place you have been that is so unexpected. I liked it better than her other books. Here is my chain: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2024/11/six-degrees-of-separation-from.html
Funny, because I’ve liked Egan’s other stuff better than this one! (think I was in the minority though on Manhattan Beach).
I’m a poor swimmer and going down a flume at Centre Park I was pushed by people behind me down under the water and thought I was drowning. Luckily my husband was behind me and pulled me up out of the water.
I started with a chess link this month too. I didn’t like Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Goon Squad very much, so haven’t read Manhattan Beach yet. At least you found the scuba diving bits interesting, if nothing else!
Great links!
I don’t think I have ever read a book with scuba diving.
https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/11/02/six-degrees-of-separation-from-dublin-to-chicago/
Quite a swerve with that fifth link! Here are mine: https://alifeinbooks.co.uk/2024/11/six-degrees-of-separation-intermezzo-to-good-day/
It’s always so nice to follow the journeys of all the other readers. Mine took me to the East of Eden.
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2024/11/six-degrees-of-separation-intermezzo.html
This was the hardest book ever! https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2024/11/02/six-degrees-of-separation-intermezzo-a-novel-by-sally-rooney/
I decided my list would be on a theme this week. I’m sure you will spot it.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2024/11/six-degrees-of-separation-from.html
Pingback: #SixDegrees November 2024 – findingtimetowrite
Apologies once again for being late as usual with this chain. Unlike you, I’m not a big fan of Sally Rooney (I wish I liked her fiction more), so it was a bit hard to start this chain.
Scuba diving sounds challenging and cool and now I am inspired to try something challenging in my adult life (not sure if I have so far)…
https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/exploring-the-beauty-of-the-in-between-and-beyond/#From_Intermezzo_and_Back_Again_With_More_In-Between